Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia (RDCRC) for the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 24 206

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 206

The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia (RDCRC) funding opportunity (PAR-24-206) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement (U54) that supports the formation or continuation of multi-site research consortia within the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN). The overall goal is to speed progress in how rare diseases are identified, diagnosed, managed, and treated by funding highly collaborative, patient-centered programs that connect clinical research, translational science, and (optionally) clinical trials. In practical terms, NIH is looking for teams that can work across institutions and disciplines, build coordinated research agendas around rare conditions, and generate evidence that improves care and prepares the field for effective therapeutic testing.

A central theme of the announcement is building clinical trial readiness while improving the early and timely identification of people with rare diseases. That emphasis reflects the reality that many rare disease patients face long diagnostic delays and fragmented care, and that trials often struggle because cohorts are small, geographically dispersed, and not characterized in consistent ways. RDCRCs are expected to address these challenges through coordinated approaches that may include shared protocols across sites, standardized data collection, natural history and longitudinal studies, patient registries or cohort-building efforts, and translational pipelines that move promising discoveries toward interventions. Because this is a U54 cooperative agreement, awardees should also expect substantial NIH involvement in oversight and coordination, which is typical for network-based programs that require harmonized methods, shared goals, and active collaboration across funded groups.

The opportunity is open to a wide range of applicant organizations. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S.-based public and private entities such as state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and various “other” organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories, 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized are eligible, and the NOFO also notes eligibility for Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized in the “other eligible applicants” language, reflecting NIH’s broad interest in inclusive participation and the ability to reach diverse and underserved rare disease communities.

On foreign participation, the rules are restrictive for who can be the applicant, but allow certain types of international involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. applicant can include a foreign component in the project when it is scientifically justified and appropriately structured under NIH policy. This matters for rare diseases because patient populations and specialized expertise may be distributed globally, but the administrative lead must still be a domestic eligible organization.

Key administrative details provided include the funding instrument and timing. This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism, under an NIH activity category that spans health and related areas and references multiple CFDA numbers (93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.233, 93.350, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866), reflecting that RDCRN efforts can involve multiple NIH institutes and centers. The original closing date listed is 2024-08-19, the creation date is 2024-04-02, and the award ceiling shown is $1,000,000. The NOFO is described as inviting both new and renewal applications, meaning existing consortia can seek continued support while new groups can propose to join and expand the network’s overall coverage of rare diseases.

Overall, the program is designed for organizations that can demonstrate real consortium capacity: the ability to coordinate multiple clinical sites, engage patients and advocacy communities, run high-quality clinical and translational studies, and produce shared resources and evidence that move rare disease care forward. The strongest fit is typically a team that can show it will shorten the path to diagnosis, build well-characterized cohorts, and set up the infrastructure, endpoints, and operational readiness needed to launch or support rigorous clinical trials when therapies are ready to be tested.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia (RDCRC) for the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.233, 93.350, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-19. (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 $1,000,000.00 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 PAR 24 206

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