Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 26 006
The NIDDK Catalyst Award (DP1, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases aimed at backing individual investigators who want to pursue bold, high-risk, high-reward research ideas that could reshape thinking or practice in areas tied to NIDDKs Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases and its Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition. The program is meant to complement, not replace, NIDDKs standard investigator-initiated mechanisms by creating room for unusually innovative projects that may not fit neatly into more traditional funding lanes. The central emphasis is on tackling major scientific challenges with a clear line of sight to unusually high impact on diseases and conditions that sit at the core of these two divisions missions, such as metabolic disease, diabetes and endocrine disorders, and digestive disease and nutrition-related conditions.
A key feature of this award is the expectation that the proposed work represents a genuinely new direction. To be considered responsive, an application needs to point to a new and novel scientific trajectory that is distinct from what the investigator is already doing in their current research program and also distinct from approaches already being widely pursued elsewhere in the field. In practical terms, the application should make a convincing case that the idea is pioneering and transformational rather than incremental, and that the strategy or conceptual framing breaks from established paths in a way that could unlock major advances if successful. As indicated in the title, clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity, so proposed studies should be structured accordingly.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category as listed); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
There are also important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which means certain project elements may be conducted with foreign collaboration or performance sites if structured in a way NIH allows and justified within the policy framework, even though the primary applicant organization must be domestic.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed as RFA-DK-26-006, falls under the grant funding instrument type, and is categorized under Food and Nutrition and Health (CFDA 93.847). The posting indicates an award ceiling of $500,000. The original closing date is July 18, 2025, and the opportunity was created on December 18, 2024.Apply for RFA DK 26 006
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDDK Catalyst Award (DP1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NIDDK Catalyst Award (DP1, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
The NIDDK Catalyst Award (DP1, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a discretionary NIH funding opportunity from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It is designed to support individual investigators pursuing bold, high-risk, high-reward research ideas that could significantly reshape thinking or practice in areas aligned with NIDDK's missions in diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism, digestive diseases, and nutrition.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program aims to create space for unusually innovative, potentially transformational projects that may not fit neatly into traditional investigator-initiated NIH funding mechanisms. The emphasis is on tackling major scientific challenges with a clear line of sight to unusually high impact on diseases and conditions central to NIDDK's relevant divisions.
Which NIDDK divisions does this opportunity align with?
This opportunity is tied to NIDDK's Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases and its Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition.
What research areas and conditions are in scope?
The opportunity targets high-impact research relevant to diseases and conditions central to the two divisions' missions, including metabolic disease, diabetes and endocrine disorders, and digestive disease and nutrition-related conditions.
How is this program different from standard NIDDK investigator-initiated mechanisms?
This program is intended to complement, not replace, standard investigator-initiated mechanisms. It is specifically meant to support unusually innovative projects that may be too novel, unconventional, or high-risk for more traditional funding "lanes."
What does NIDDK mean by "high-risk, high-reward" in this context?
Based on the opportunity description, the award is meant for bold ideas that could be transformational if successful. The work should go beyond incremental advances and instead propose a path that could unlock major advances or reshape existing thinking or practice.
Does the proposed project need to represent a new direction for the investigator?
Yes. A key expectation is that the proposed work represents a genuinely new direction. To be responsive, the application needs to identify a new and novel scientific trajectory that is distinct from the investigator's current research program.
Does the project also need to be distinct from what others are already doing in the field?
Yes. The application should also be distinct from approaches already being widely pursued elsewhere in the field. The opportunity emphasizes pioneering and transformational concepts rather than well-established or commonly used approaches.
What kind of project would likely be considered non-responsive?
Based on the stated expectations, projects that are incremental extensions of an investigator's existing work, or projects that closely follow approaches already widely pursued in the field, would not match the stated emphasis on a new and novel trajectory and transformational innovation.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. As indicated in the title of the opportunity, clinical trials are not allowed. Proposed studies should be structured accordingly.
What is the funding opportunity number (RFA)?
The opportunity is listed as RFA-DK-26-006.
What type of funding instrument is this?
It is categorized under the grant funding instrument type.
What CFDA listing/category is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Food and Nutrition and Health (CFDA 93.847).
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The posting indicates an award ceiling of $500,000.
When is the application due date?
The original closing date is July 18, 2025.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 18, 2024.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic (U.S.) organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments
- Public housing authorities
- Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category as listed)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Are specific institution types explicitly highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights additional eligible applicant types, including:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Eligible federal agencies
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories or possessions
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed in any form?
Yes. Foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This means certain project elements may be conducted with foreign collaboration or at foreign performance sites if structured in a way NIH allows and justified within the NIH policy framework, even though the primary applicant organization must be domestic.
Does this award focus on individual investigators or organizations?
The program is described as backing individual investigators pursuing bold, high-impact research ideas. The application is submitted by an eligible organization, but the emphasis in the description is on supporting the investigator's pioneering research direction.
What does it mean that the award is "discretionary"?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary NIH grant opportunity. The provided description does not add further detail on how "discretionary" affects application or selection processes beyond identifying the opportunity type.
What should an application emphasize to align with the program's priorities?
Based on the description, an application should emphasize (1) a new and novel scientific trajectory, (2) a clear break from the investigator's current research program, (3) distinctness from approaches widely pursued in the field, and (4) a credible path to unusually high impact on major scientific challenges relevant to NIDDK's diabetes/endocrinology/metabolism and digestive/nutrition missions, while ensuring the proposed studies do not include clinical trials.
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