Limited Competition: Additional Sequencing for the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (U01) | PAR 16 406

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 406

The NIH grant opportunity "Limited Competition: Additional Sequencing for the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (U01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 16-406) is a discretionary health research funding program offered as a Cooperative Agreement (U01). It is designed to expand and support the data-generation efforts for the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP) Follow-Up Study, with an emphasis on producing high-quality genomic data and associated analyses that can be used to better understand genetic contributors to Alzheimer's disease.

The scope of work centers on activities that directly enable large-scale sequencing and genetic discovery. The FOA specifically calls for projects involving sample acquisition (obtaining and organizing appropriate biological samples), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), whole genome sequencing (WGS), and the downstream bioinformatics and informatics steps needed to turn raw sequencing output into usable research data. Those downstream steps include quality control checking (to ensure sample integrity, sequencing performance, and data reliability), variant calling (identifying genetic variants from sequencing reads), and data calling (finalizing genotype/variant datasets suitable for analysis and sharing within the ADSP framework). In practical terms, this opportunity is focused less on exploratory hypothesis-driven projects and more on coordinated production, processing, and standardization of genomic datasets that will feed the broader ADSP Follow-Up Study.

Because this is a U01 Cooperative Agreement, awardees should expect substantial NIH involvement compared with a typical research project grant. Cooperative agreements usually imply that NIH program staff will have an active role in coordinating goals, milestones, data standards, and integration with larger consortium efforts. For applicants, that typically means planning for collaboration, adherence to consortium-wide protocols, consistent data formats, and timelines that align with ADSP needs.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many public and private entities. Eligible applicants listed for this FOA include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other unspecified eligible entities. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA is clear about restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the applicant organization and the work supported under the award must remain within allowable domestic boundaries under NIH policy for this announcement.

Key administrative details include the sponsoring agency (National Institutes of Health), the CFDA number 93.866, and an original closing date of April 2, 2019, with a creation date of August 15, 2016. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided text, so applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA documentation for budget limits, project period expectations, milestones, and specific consortium coordination requirements.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Additional Sequencing for the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (U01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-04-02. (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.

Apply for PAR 16 406

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