Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (UH2 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AA 20 008

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AA 20 008

The Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (UH2 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity is a National Institutes of Health funding announcement issued by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Its goal is to push forward research that tackles major, unresolved problems in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), especially work that can strengthen how FASD is identified and understood and how affected individuals can be better helped. The focus areas spelled out in the announcement include diagnosis and screening, etiology (the underlying causes and mechanisms), and interventions and treatment. Projects are expected to be exploratory or developmental in nature, meaning the program is geared toward early-stage, high-potential ideas rather than large, fully mature research programs.

This program uses a Cooperative Agreement mechanism (UH2), which generally means NIAAA expects to have an active partnership role with awardees compared to a standard research grant. Applicants are asked to propose projects built on new and innovative concepts, approaches, or technologies, with an emphasis on addressing significant challenges in the FASD field. The “Clinical Trial Optional” designation indicates that a proposed project may include a clinical trial if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required; applicants can propose either clinical trial or non-clinical trial research as long as it fits the program’s goals.

A key feature of this opportunity is the strong encouragement for awardees to connect their work to the existing NIAAA-supported CIFASD consortium. The announcement frames collaboration as a way to maximize scientific impact, suggesting that funded projects should, where beneficial, align with or leverage CIFASD resources, expertise, networks, or shared goals. While the solicitation is described as “open to all,” it also explicitly highlights a wide range of eligible organizations and institution types to ensure broad participation, including groups that may be underrepresented in federal biomedical funding.

Eligibility is expansive and covers many public and private entity types. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other applicant types. The announcement also calls out additional eligible groups 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, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Federal agencies are also listed as eligible.

From the published source details, the funding opportunity number is RFA-AA-20-008 and the CFDA number is 93.273. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and falls under the health funding activity category. The original closing date listed is May 19, 2020, and the creation date is April 6, 2020. The award ceiling shown in the listing is $175,000. Overall, the program is designed to seed novel, potentially field-shaping FASD research projects and to connect those efforts to the broader CIFASD collaborative environment so that promising ideas can be tested, refined, and translated more effectively.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (UH2 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-04-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-19. (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 $175,000.00 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 AA 20 008

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