Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence, Basic Research Program (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AI 18 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 18 002

The Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence (ACE), Basic Research Program funding opportunity (RFA AI 18-002) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) cooperative agreement (U19) designed to support a coordinated, multi-institutional research network focused on autoimmune diseases. The overall goal of the ACE network is to improve understanding of autoimmune disease biology and to speed progress toward better strategies for prevention and treatment. A central idea behind the program is that tightly organized collaboration between basic and clinical scientists can move the field faster than isolated projects, especially when mechanistic laboratory studies are intentionally linked to clinical observations and therapeutic testing occurring within the same network.

This specific announcement solicits applications for the Basic Research Program component of ACE, while a separate companion announcement supports the Clinical Research Program. Under this Basic Research FOA, funded teams are expected to conduct innovative studies of human autoimmunity through a structured set of activities that can include Principal Projects, Pilot Projects, and Collaborative Projects. The emphasis is on mechanistic and pathogenesis-oriented research in human autoimmune disease, with the expectation that projects will be designed in a way that benefits from, and contributes to, the larger ACE collaborative environment. In practice, this means applicants are not only proposing strong individual science, but also demonstrating how their work will integrate with other ACE sites and with the Clinical Research Program to address shared questions in autoimmunity.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its cooperative agreement structure. Unlike a standard research grant where the investigator has primary control, a U19 cooperative agreement typically involves substantial programmatic involvement from NIAID staff. The intent is to keep the network aligned around common goals, facilitate multi-site collaboration, encourage sharing of data and resources, and ensure that basic research efforts meaningfully inform clinical research directions within ACE. Basic and Clinical ACE investigators are expected to work together on studies that clarify autoimmune disease pathogenesis and that explain mechanisms of action for immune-modulating agents being tested in ACE clinical trials. Even though this particular FOA is labeled “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” the basic research groups are still expected to interface with and support the clinical trial efforts happening under the companion clinical program, for example by helping interpret immune responses, biomarkers, or mechanistic signals observed in trial participants.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), tribal governments (federally recognized), tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights categories of organizations often emphasized in NIH outreach and inclusion efforts, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA places clear restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In addition, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. These restrictions mean the proposed work must be led and carried out within eligible U.S. organizational structures without foreign components, even if the science involves globally relevant autoimmune disease questions.

Key administrative details provided include the opportunity category (discretionary), funding instrument type (cooperative agreement), activity category (health), CFDA number 93.855, and the original closing date of June 22, 2018, with a creation date of March 8, 2018. While the summary information does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the overall framing indicates the program is meant to build coordinated, multi-project centers that contribute to a larger, actively managed research network rather than fund single, stand-alone studies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence, Basic Research Program (U19 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): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-06-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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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