Single-cell Profiling of Regulatory Element and Gene Activity in Relationship to Genome Function (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA HG 20 045

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 20 045

This NIH funding opportunity (RFA HG 20 045) supports the creation of specialized “Mapping Centers” that will produce detailed, single-cell, multi-omics maps showing which genes and regulatory DNA elements are active across the human and mouse genomes. The central idea is to move beyond averaged signals from bulk tissue and instead measure genome activity at the resolution of individual cells, so researchers can connect specific patterns of gene expression and regulatory element usage to particular cell types, cell states, developmental stages, and cell fate decisions. The FOA emphasizes using high-throughput, state-of-the-art approaches that capture biochemical signatures of active genomic regions while still preserving key contextual information, including biological context (for example, cell identity or lineage) and, when possible, spatial context (where a cell sits within a tissue).

The work is designed to deepen understanding of genome function by linking “active” parts of the genome, such as enhancers, promoters, and other regulatory elements, to the genes they control and to the cellular programs they help drive. In practice, this points to integrated single-cell measurements that could include combinations of gene expression and chromatin or regulatory readouts, enabling researchers to see how regulatory element activity corresponds to transcriptional outputs in the same cells or closely matched cellular populations. By generating these maps in both human and mouse, the program also supports cross-species comparisons that can help distinguish conserved regulatory mechanisms from those that are species-specific, which can be important for interpreting mouse models of human biology and disease.

Awards are issued as a Cooperative Agreement (UM1), meaning NIH is expected to be substantially involved in coordinating and shaping the overall effort rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. Funded Mapping Centers become part of the Impact of Genomic Variation on Function (IGVF) Consortium, a larger collaborative program focused on accelerating understanding of how genetic variation influences genome function and, ultimately, human health and disease. As consortium members, centers are expected to work closely with each other and with other IGVF components to align experimental strategies, coordinate data generation and analysis plans, and support interoperable, comparable datasets. A major theme is coordination: the FOA explicitly signals that the value of these maps increases when centers use compatible standards and when data can be integrated across sites to build a more comprehensive view of regulatory activity and gene control across many cell types and conditions.

The opportunity is classified under the NIH health activity area (CFDA 93.172) and is explicitly “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” indicating that applicants should propose functional genomics and mapping work rather than interventional clinical studies. Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of U.S. organizations and governments (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, tribal governments and organizations (including federally recognized tribes and other tribal organizations), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses, and for-profits other than small businesses), and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible groups such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, non-U.S. (foreign) organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, reinforcing an intent to include a wide range of institutional participants.

Key administrative details from the source listing include the sponsor (National Institutes of Health), the original posting timeframe (created August 3, 2020), and an original closing date of November 4, 2020. While the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the structure and consortium-based design imply support for center-scale efforts with responsibilities that go beyond producing data locally, including active participation in consortium planning, shared approaches, and coordinated dissemination of data and analyses that help the wider community interpret how regulatory DNA and gene activity relate to genome function and the effects of genomic variation.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Single-cell Profiling of Regulatory Element and Gene Activity in Relationship to Genome Function (UM1 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): 93.172.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-08-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-11-04. (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 RFA HG 20 045

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