Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) Congress (U13, Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA HG 24 028

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 24 028

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is offering a cooperative agreement to support the biennial Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) Congress, a research conference for the ELSI research community. This opportunity is published as RFA HG 24 028 and uses the U13 activity code, which is designed for scientific meetings and conferences. Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding announcement, meaning the supported activities should focus on convening, knowledge exchange, and related conference programming rather than testing clinical interventions.

The purpose of the ELSI Congress is to give the multidisciplinary ELSI community a dedicated, recurring venue to present and discuss research findings tied to genomics and related biomedical advances. NHGRI emphasizes three central conference goals: first, bringing researchers and stakeholders together to share current ELSI research; second, strengthening collaboration across the community, with deliberate attention to trainees and early career scholars; and third, designing the meeting in a highly accessible way so that participation is feasible for a broad range of groups interested in ELSI research. In practical terms, applicants should expect to propose a conference structure that actively supports networking and collaboration (not just presentations), creates meaningful opportunities for emerging scholars, and reduces barriers to participation through accessible formats and inclusive planning.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means NIH/NHGRI expects to have substantial involvement in the funded project compared with a standard grant. For a conference award, that often translates into coordination with program staff around major elements such as conference objectives, program development, and ensuring the meeting aligns with the goals of the ELSI research program, while still leaving the applicant organization responsible for planning and execution.

A wide range of domestic U.S. organizations and government entities are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth signals NHGRI is open to conference leadership coming from many parts of the research and stakeholder ecosystem, not only traditional academic hosts.

At the same time, the opportunity places clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically means certain discrete elements of the project may involve foreign participation or activities if appropriately justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though the applicant organization itself must be U.S.-based and the primary organizational component cannot be located outside the United States.

The application deadline listed is November 19, 2024. The award ceiling is $350,000, indicating the maximum budget level NIH expects to support for the conference effort under this announcement. The program is categorized under Health, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 93.172, which corresponds to NHGRI programs. Overall, this opportunity is aimed at underwriting the planning and delivery of a major, community-wide ELSI meeting that advances dissemination of ELSI research, strengthens cross-cutting collaboration, and expands participation and accessibility, particularly for trainees and early career researchers within the ELSI field.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) Congress (U13, Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-19. (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 $350,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA HG 24 028

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