Continuation of the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN) Scientific and Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DK 23 018

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 23 018

This funding opportunity, RFA-DK-23-018, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement (U24, clinical trial optional) to continue support for the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN). The overall aim is to sustain and expand a coordinated national effort focused on clinical and translational research in rare pediatric liver diseases, where single-center studies are often limited by small patient numbers and inconsistent data collection. Under this FOA, the network structure includes a Scientific and Data Coordinating Center (often called the Data Coordinating Center, or DCC), multiple Clinical Centers (CCs) that enroll and follow patients, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK/NIH) serving as the sponsor and active partner in network oversight.

The award specifically supports the Scientific and Data Coordinating Center function for ChiLDReN. In practical terms, this kind of center typically provides the operational backbone of a multi-site research network: it harmonizes study protocols across participating clinical sites, designs and maintains data systems, oversees data quality and security, coordinates network communications and meetings, supports statistical design and analysis plans, and helps ensure consistent regulatory and reporting practices across studies. Because the funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, NIH involvement is more hands-on than a standard research grant, with substantial programmatic collaboration and shared decision-making on priorities, study conduct, and network governance.

ChiLDReN’s research scope remains centered on a set of rare but serious pediatric liver conditions, including biliary atresia, Alagille syndrome, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) syndromes, bile acid synthesis defects, mitochondrial hepatopathies, idiopathic neonatal hepatitis, cystic fibrosis liver disease, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. The intent is to continue generating clinically meaningful evidence and translational insights across these disorders, such as characterizing natural history, improving diagnostic approaches, identifying predictors of outcomes, supporting biomarker development, and enabling well-designed observational studies and, where appropriate, interventional trials (the FOA notes clinical trial optional).

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizational types that commonly participate in NIH-supported networks. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where that distinction is not relevant); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities as allowed under NIH policy. The FOA also calls out additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, certain tribal governments that are not federally recognized, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA is explicit about restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. In other words, the applicant organization and the supported components of the project must be domestic, even though the research may generate findings relevant to pediatric liver disease globally.

Administrative details from the notice include that the sponsoring agency is NIH (specifically NIDDK for this program area), the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, and the activity aligns with health-related research (CFDA number 93.847). The original application closing date listed is November 8, 2023, and the FOA was created on September 7, 2023. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing, which is common in some summaries where exact budget guidance is contained in the full FOA text rather than the high-level posting.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Continuation of the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN) Scientific and Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2023-09-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-11-08. (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.

Apply for RFA DK 23 018

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