Knowledge Management Center for Illuminating the Druggable Genome (U24) | RFA RM 16 024

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Knowledge Management Center for Illuminating the Druggable Genome (U24) (RFA-RM-16-024)

1) What is this NIH funding opportunity?

This is an NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Knowledge Management Center for Illuminating the Druggable Genome (U24)" with FOA number RFA-RM-16-024. It supports the creation of a single, dedicated Knowledge Management Center (KMC) for the Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG) program, a Common Fund initiative.

2) What is the purpose of the Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG) program?

The broader purpose of IDG is to accelerate scientific understanding of selected understudied proteins within the "druggable genome" that could plausibly be targeted by therapeutics, but whose biology, function, and disease relevance are not well characterized.

3) What is the main goal of the Knowledge Management Center (KMC)?

The KMC is intended to serve as the informatics and coordination hub for the IDG program by integrating, harmonizing, and making searchable and usable the information and data produced across the IDG consortium, translating heterogeneous evidence into coherent and accessible knowledge about understudied targets.

4) How does the KMC fit into the overall IDG program structure?

The KMC is designed to operate within a larger IDG research consortium structure rather than as a standalone project. The consortium includes multiple Data and Resource Generation Centers (DRGCs; referenced as RFA-RM-16-026) and a Resource Dissemination and Outreach Center (RDOC; referenced as RFA-RM-16-025). The KMC functions as the central knowledge and data integration engine connecting these components.

5) What are the roles of the other IDG centers mentioned in the FOA context?

Based on the provided information, DRGCs generate experimental datasets and resources, while the RDOC focuses on distributing resources and engaging the broader community. The KMC aggregates and integrates what is produced, ensures it is usable and searchable, and supports consortium-wide coordination and alignment.

6) What does it mean that this award is a U24 cooperative agreement?

A U24 cooperative agreement indicates substantial NIH involvement in execution and oversight. In this context, the KMC is expected not only to deliver technical outputs (such as data platforms, integrated knowledgebases, interfaces, and pipelines) but also to participate actively in consortium governance, planning, and coordination with NIH program leadership.

7) Is NIH expected to be actively involved after an award is made?

Yes. The cooperative agreement structure signals substantial NIH involvement, including alignment on priorities, milestones, and cross-center integration goals, and active participation by the KMC in consortium governance and coordination activities.

8) Is this opportunity intended to fund more than one KMC?

No. The expected number of awards is listed as one, consistent with the intent to create a single, dedicated KMC serving as the unified knowledge management backbone for the entire IDG consortium.

9) What phase of the IDG program does this FOA support?

The FOA is positioned as part of the IDG program's Implementation Phase, emphasizing the integration of experimental and computational approaches so the community can more rapidly connect targets, pathways, phenotypes, and potential therapeutic opportunities.

10) What kinds of outputs or deliverables are expected from the KMC?

The KMC is expected to produce technical outputs such as data platforms, integrated knowledgebases, interfaces, and pipelines, and to provide a searchable, harmonized, and usable knowledge environment that aggregates information produced across the IDG consortium.

11) What types of collaboration are expected of the KMC?

Collaboration is inherent to the KMC role. The KMC is expected to work closely with DRGC sites to support data standards and consistent metadata capture, coordinate with the RDOC to support broad dissemination and adoption, and align with NIH program leadership on priorities and milestones.

12) Does the FOA mention future informatics initiatives beyond the KMC?

Yes. The FOA notes that, if funds become available, NIH may later pursue a separate initiative for Cutting Edge Informatics Tools (CEITs), indicating an intent to further strengthen advanced computational capabilities around IDG data over time.

13) Who is eligible to apply for this FOA?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

14) Are specific institution types explicitly highlighted as eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible groups 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, certain tribal governments and regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

15) Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations allowed to apply as the main applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization for this FOA.

16) Are foreign collaborations allowed at all under this FOA?

Yes. "Foreign components" (as defined by NIH policy) are allowed, meaning certain project activities or collaborations may occur abroad under NIH rules, even when the prime applicant organization is U.S.-based.

17) What agency administers this funding opportunity?

This is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is characterized as a discretionary health-related funding opportunity.

18) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The information provided identifies the opportunity under CFDA 93.310.

19) When was this FOA created, and what was the original closing date?

The FOA was created on 2016-11-10, and the original closing date was 2017-03-14.

20) Is the funding ceiling provided in the information shared?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided excerpt.

21) Why does the FOA emphasize consortium-scale operation?

The FOA anticipates a single KMC award that supports multiple data-producing centers and a dissemination/outreach center. This structure requires the KMC to operate at consortium scale to aggregate, harmonize, and translate heterogeneous evidence into a coherent, accessible knowledge resource for the broader research community.

22) What scientific connections is the IDG Implementation Phase trying to accelerate?

The FOA emphasizes enabling the community to more rapidly connect targets, pathways, phenotypes, and potential therapeutic opportunities by bringing together experimental and computational approaches and integrating evidence across the consortium.