GenitoUrinary Development Molecular Anatomy Project (GUDMAP) - Atlas Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 20 013

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 20 013

The GenitoUrinary Development Molecular Anatomy Project (GUDMAP) Atlas Projects funding opportunity (RFA-DK-20-013) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement program that supports research teams in generating new molecular and anatomical data sets for inclusion in the GUDMAP database. The overall purpose is to expand and refine a community resource: a molecular anatomy atlas of developing mouse and human genitourinary tissues, with a strong emphasis on producing standardized, shareable atlas-quality data that can be broadly reused by the research community.

The scientific scope is narrowly focused on development and maturation of the kidney and lower urinary tract, specifically in human and mouse. Projects are expected to concentrate on (1) the lower urinary tract, including the ureters, bladder, urethra, prostate, and external male genitalia, and (2) the supporting and associated systems relevant to kidney and lower urinary tract biology, including vasculature, nerves, and lymphatics. In practical terms, the FOA is aimed at building detailed maps that connect tissue structures and cell types to molecular profiles during development, so that researchers can better understand how these organs form, mature, and change over time.

A central theme of the program is consortium-based work. Awardees become part of the broader GUDMAP consortium, meaning there is an expectation of coordination, data sharing, and alignment with consortium standards and priorities rather than fully independent, standalone projects. The long-term objective is to establish a comprehensive understanding of kidney and lower urinary tract development and maturation, which can then inform downstream research into tissue maturation and aging, congenital and developmental abnormalities (organ dysgenesis), disease mechanisms, and ultimately strategies for organ repair and regeneration. The FOA also notes that a separate companion solicitation supports a GUDMAP Data Hub (RFA-DK-20-014), indicating that atlas data generation projects and centralized data infrastructure are designed to work together.

From an administrative standpoint, the award mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, which typically reflects substantial NIH programmatic involvement in coordinating goals, milestones, and consortium activities. Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, reinforcing that the work is intended to be foundational, developmental, and atlas-building rather than interventional human research. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, with an activity category aligned to health, and is associated with CFDA number 93.847. The listed award ceiling is $300,000, and the original application closing date was February 18, 2021 (meaning this specific posting reflects a past due date, though similar GUDMAP-related opportunities may recur under new numbers and dates).

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and institutions, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The FOA also explicitly highlights inclusion of a wide range of other eligible applicant groups and institution types, including 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), federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities and regional organizations. This broad eligibility aligns with the program goal of building an extensive, high-impact atlas resource by drawing on diverse expertise, specimen access, and technical capabilities across many research settings.

In summary, this FOA funds consortium-driven atlas projects that produce high-value molecular and anatomical developmental maps of the kidney and lower urinary tract (including associated vessels, nerves, and lymphatics) in mouse and human, with the explicit intent that the resulting data will be deposited into and disseminated through the GUDMAP database as a lasting resource for the wider biomedical research community.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "GenitoUrinary Development Molecular Anatomy Project (GUDMAP) - Atlas Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2020-11-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-02-18. (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 $300,000.00 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 DK 20 013

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: