Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers (P40 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages grant applications for Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers. These Centers provide support for special colonies of laboratory animals and associated services, as well as other resources such as informatics tools, reagents, cultures (cells, tissues, and organs) and genetic stocks that serve the biomedical research community in a variety of research areas on a local, regional, and national basis. The goal of projects supported by this NOFO is to provide research resources that facilitate optimization and enhancement of scientific rigor, transparency, and experimental reproducibility of biomedical research. Proposed Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers must have broad application to multiple NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs) to align with the ORIP"s NIH-wide mission (https://orip.nih.gov/about-orip). This funding opportunity is designed to support both continuation of existing resources and to develop new ones when appropriate. Of special interest of the announcement is a requirement of the Center"s close coordination with efforts to develop new approach methodologies (NAMs) that complement traditional animal-based research. These include cell culture, organoids, computational models, and microphysiological systems. Applied Research Component should include studies to generate comparative data to increase applicability of NAMs and promote integration of the most predictive human disease models. Prior to preparing an application, all applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with Scientific/Research staff to be advised on appropriateness of the intended resource plans for this program, competitiveness of a potential application, and ORIP's program priorities.

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information for additional information on eligibility. Foreign Organizations/International CollaborationsNon-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organization) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) The scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The major elements in evaluating proposals for scientific instruments include assessments of (1) the need for the instruments; (2) technical expertise in the requested technology; (3) advancements of research projects when the novel technology is available; (4) administration of the usage of the instrument and (5) institutional support for the long term maintenance and the usage of the instrument.