Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 25 115
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a BRAIN Initiative cooperative agreement to strengthen the U.S. research infrastructure for common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), a nonhuman primate model that is increasingly valuable for studying the primate brain. Interest in marmosets has grown because aspects of their behavior can parallel human-like social and cognitive behaviors, and because recent advances have shown germline transmission of introduced genetic changes, making them more practical for creating and studying genetically modified lines relevant to neuroscience.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-25-115) supports projects that expand existing U.S.-based marmoset colonies specifically for neuroscience research and that build long-term capacity to care for, breed, and distribute animals and biological materials to the broader research community. A major emphasis is enabling access not only to healthy, well-characterized marmosets, but also to genetically modified marmosets and cryopreserved embryos and gametes that were generated through NIH-funded programs, including efforts associated with the BRAIN Initiative and related gene-editing consortia. In other words, awardees are expected to function as a community-facing resource: scaling colony size and quality, maintaining animals to high standards, and making these resources available beyond their home institution.
Applicants are expected to propose a clear plan for accepting genetically modified animals and cryopreserved materials into their colony system and then distributing resulting animals or materials to qualified neuroscience researchers. The intent is to reduce bottlenecks that can slow research, such as limited access to specialized lines, inconsistent health histories, or fragmented pedigree data across colonies. A related expectation is close coordination with an NIH-funded Marmoset Coordination Center. Awardees must contribute health and genetic information so the community can better understand pedigrees within captive populations and actively improve genetic diversity across multiple colonies, rather than allowing isolated breeding programs to drift genetically or concentrate related animals.
The funding mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, which typically means NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement during the award period, such as coordinated planning, shared standards, reporting, and collaboration across funded sites. Clinical trials are not allowed under this NOFO, reinforcing that the primary purpose is research infrastructure and resource development rather than testing interventions in human participants.
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S. organization types: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as public housing authorities and eligible tribal entities. The NOFO also highlights inclusion of institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, AANAPISI institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others. However, non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. At the same time, "foreign components" as defined by NIH policy are allowed, meaning certain project elements may be conducted abroad under NIH rules even though the applicant organization must be U.S.-based.
Key administrative details provided include the opportunity category (discretionary), the activity areas spanning health and related public service categories, and multiple CFDA numbers associated with NIH programs (including 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867). The original application closing date listed is March 1, 2024, and the opportunity was created on November 28, 2023. Award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided text, suggesting applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for budget limits, project period expectations, review criteria, and detailed application requirements.
Overall, the program is designed to build a coordinated, national-level marmoset resource that supports cutting-edge neuroscience, especially work that depends on genetically defined or genetically modified primate models. By expanding colony capacity, standardizing and sharing health/genetic information, distributing animals and cryopreserved materials, and improving genetic diversity through cross-colony coordination, NIH aims to make marmoset-based neuroscience more scalable, reproducible, and accessible to the wider research community in the United States.Apply for RFA MH 25 115
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Marmoset Colonies for Neuroscience Research (U24 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): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-01. (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this NIH funding opportunity?
This is an NIH BRAIN Initiative cooperative agreement opportunity to strengthen U.S. research infrastructure for common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) used in neuroscience. The goal is to expand and professionalize colony capacity and to make animals and related biological materials broadly available to the neuroscience research community.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-MH-25-115.
What animal model is the focus of this program?
The program is focused on the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a nonhuman primate model that has growing value for studying the primate brain and certain social and cognitive behaviors that can parallel human-like behavior.
Why are marmosets emphasized for neuroscience research in this opportunity?
Interest has grown because aspects of marmoset behavior can parallel human-like social and cognitive behaviors, and because recent advances have shown germline transmission of introduced genetic changes. That makes genetically modified marmoset lines more practical to create and study for neuroscience purposes.
What is NIH trying to build through this program?
NIH is aiming to build a coordinated, national-level marmoset resource by expanding U.S.-based colony capacity, improving consistency and quality of animal health and pedigree/genetic information, and enabling reliable access to both healthy, well-characterized animals and specialized genetically modified resources.
What kinds of projects does this opportunity support?
It supports projects that expand existing U.S.-based marmoset colonies specifically for neuroscience research and that build long-term capacity to care for, breed, and distribute animals and biological materials to the broader research community.
Is the expectation that funded colonies serve only their home institution?
No. A major expectation is that awardees function as a community-facing resource by scaling colony size and quality and making animals and materials available beyond their home institution.
What types of marmoset resources are expected to be made available to the broader research community?
The program emphasizes access to healthy, well-characterized marmosets as well as genetically modified marmosets and cryopreserved embryos and gametes generated through NIH-funded programs, including BRAIN Initiative-related efforts and gene-editing consortia.
Does this program specifically involve genetically modified marmosets?
Yes. A major emphasis is enabling access to genetically modified marmosets, as well as cryopreserved embryos and gametes tied to NIH-funded programs. Applicants are expected to propose a plan for accepting these animals and materials into their colony system and distributing resulting animals or materials to qualified neuroscience researchers.
What are "cryopreserved embryos and gametes" in the context of this program?
The opportunity explicitly references cryopreserved embryos and gametes as biological materials that may be generated through NIH-funded programs and that awardees are expected to be able to accept and distribute (as appropriate) to support the broader neuroscience community.
What problems or bottlenecks is NIH trying to reduce?
The program is intended to reduce bottlenecks that can slow research, including limited access to specialized lines, inconsistent health histories, and fragmented pedigree data across colonies.
What is expected regarding health history, genetic information, and pedigree data?
A related expectation is that awardees contribute health and genetic information so the community can better understand pedigrees within captive populations and actively improve genetic diversity across multiple colonies.
Does this opportunity require coordination with any NIH-supported entity?
Yes. The opportunity includes an expectation of close coordination with an NIH-funded Marmoset Coordination Center.
How does this program address genetic diversity in captive marmoset populations?
The program emphasizes improving genetic diversity across multiple colonies. It aims to avoid isolated breeding programs drifting genetically or concentrating related animals by encouraging cross-colony coordination informed by shared health and genetic information.
What is the funding mechanism used for this opportunity?
The funding mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement.
What does a U24 cooperative agreement generally imply for awardees?
A U24 cooperative agreement typically means NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement during the award period, such as coordinated planning, shared standards, reporting, and collaboration across funded sites.
Are clinical trials allowed under this NOFO?
No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this NOFO. The purpose is research infrastructure and resource development rather than testing interventions in human participants.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S. organization types, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as public housing authorities and eligible tribal entities.
Does the NOFO specifically mention certain institution types as included?
Yes. It highlights inclusion of institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, AANAPISI institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are "foreign components" allowed at all under this opportunity?
Yes. "Foreign components" (as defined by NIH policy) are allowed, meaning certain project elements may be conducted abroad under NIH rules, even though the applicant organization must be U.S.-based and non-U.S. applicant organizations are not eligible.
What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
What activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The activity areas span health and related public service categories (as described in the provided opportunity summary).
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The provided information lists multiple CFDA numbers associated with NIH programs: 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on November 28, 2023.
What is the application closing date listed in the provided information?
The original application closing date listed is March 1, 2024.
Does the provided text specify the award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided text.
Where would an applicant typically find budget limits, project period expectations, review criteria, and detailed requirements?
The provided summary indicates applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for budget limits, project period expectations, review criteria, and detailed application requirements.
What does NIH expect awardees to do with genetically modified animals and cryopreserved materials?
Awardees are expected to have a clear plan for accepting genetically modified animals and cryopreserved materials into their colony system and then distributing resulting animals or materials to qualified neuroscience researchers, helping ensure access beyond the awardee institution.
What is the overall intended outcome of this program for the U.S. neuroscience community?
The program is designed to make marmoset-based neuroscience more scalable, reproducible, and accessible across the United States by expanding colony capacity, standardizing and sharing health/genetic information, distributing animals and cryopreserved materials, and improving genetic diversity through coordination across colonies.
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| BRAIN Initiative: Marmoset Coordination Center (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 25 116 Funding Number: RFA MH 25 116 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 24 030 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 186 Funding Number: PA 24 186 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 192 Funding Number: PA 24 192 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 181 Funding Number: PA 24 181 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 183 Funding Number: PA 24 183 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 177 Funding Number: PA 24 177 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 24 195 Funding Number: PA 24 195 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 133 Funding Number: PAR 24 133 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 248 Funding Number: PA 24 248 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required (BESH)) Apply for PAR 24 227 Funding Number: PAR 24 227 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Human Brain Single-cell Genomics Explorer (U24 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 24 038 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 038 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 25 233 Funding Number: PAR 25 233 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 25 143 Funding Number: PAR 25 143 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32) Apply for PA 25 168 Funding Number: PA 25 168 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 25 298 Funding Number: PAR 25 298 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $375,000 |
| NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 25 302 Funding Number: PA 25 302 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
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