Coordinating Unit for the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers (U24) | RFA DK 16 034

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 16 034

The grant opportunity titled "Coordinating Unit for the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers (U24)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DK-16-034) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It was released on November 7, 2016, with an original application closing date of January 12, 2017. The program falls under the broad activity area of health, with a related CFDA listing of 93.847, and it is structured to make a single award (Expected Awards: 1), indicating NIH intended to fund one organization to serve as the central coordinating hub for a national research service consortium.

The core purpose of the opportunity is to support the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers Consortium Coordinating Unit (MMPC-CU). In practical terms, this Coordinating Unit functions as the operational and administrative backbone for the NIDDK-supported Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers (MMPC) network. The MMPC program is designed to provide standardized, high-quality metabolic phenotyping services in mice, which is a foundational resource for investigators studying diabetes, obesity, metabolism, and related disorders. Rather than funding additional lab-based phenotyping capacity directly through this specific award, the FOA focuses on ensuring that the consortium as a whole operates smoothly, remains accessible to the research community, and continues improving how its services are presented, managed, and delivered.

A major element of the MMPC-CU role is maintaining and enhancing the MMPC website and associated database. This typically means keeping the consortium's online presence functional, current, and user-friendly so investigators can learn about available services, understand how to access them, submit requests, and retrieve relevant information. The database component implies a continuing responsibility for managing structured information tied to the program, which may include service offerings, project tracking, usage metrics, documentation, and other program-relevant records needed to support transparency, reporting, and day-to-day operations. The emphasis on "continue to enhance and maintain" suggests the work is not simply basic hosting or upkeep; it is expected to involve ongoing improvements, refinements, and modernization to better serve the scientific community and the consortium's evolving needs.

In addition to the technical and information-management responsibilities, the FOA clearly highlights administrative support as a central expectation. The Coordinating Unit is charged with providing the coordination and logistical support needed to strengthen MMPC services, organize and support meetings, and administer "opportunity pool" programs. Administrative support in this setting generally means acting as a central organizer for consortium communications, scheduling, documentation, coordination among multiple centers, and supporting the processes that allow the network to operate as a unified national resource rather than as disconnected sites. Meetings are explicitly mentioned, which signals that convening consortium members, supporting agendas and minutes, coordinating participant logistics, and facilitating collaboration and planning are considered essential program functions. The reference to opportunity pool programs indicates there is also a mechanism within the consortium to competitively support or prioritize certain activities or projects, and the Coordinating Unit is expected to help manage that programmatic component in an organized, accountable way.

The cooperative agreement mechanism (U24) also matters because it signals substantial NIH involvement in the project compared to a more independent research grant. Under a cooperative agreement, the awardee generally works in close partnership with NIH program staff, aligning deliverables with NIH expectations and participating in ongoing oversight and coordination. For a coordinating unit role, that collaborative structure is a natural fit, since the unit is expected to operate in a service and stewardship capacity for a national program, with regular interaction with NIH and the funded centers.

The funding parameters included an award ceiling of $1,212,563, with one expected award. This combination reinforces that the funding is intended to support a single, centralized coordinating entity with enough resources to operate robust web and database infrastructure and to provide high-level administrative coordination across the consortium. The opportunity category is listed as discretionary, and the funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, reflecting its competitive nature and NIH's active partnership approach.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public and private organizations. 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; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional unspecified entities referenced in an eligibility clarification field. That wide eligibility scope suggests NIH was primarily focused on selecting an applicant with demonstrated capacity to run a sophisticated coordinating operation, maintain web-based and database systems, and manage consortium-level administration, rather than restricting the applicant pool to a narrow institutional type.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as funding the central nerve center for the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers Consortium: a single awardee responsible for the consortium's shared digital infrastructure (website and database) and for the administrative coordination that keeps services, meetings, and opportunity-based programs functioning efficiently and consistently across the network.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coordinating Unit for the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers (U24)" 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 Nov 07, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 12, 2017. (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 $1,212,563.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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