Cellular Senescence Network: Tissue Mapping Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA RM 21 008

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIH RFA-RM-21-008 (SenNet Tissue Mapping Centers)

What is this funding opportunity?

This NIH funding opportunity (RFA-RM-21-008) supports the creation of Tissue Mapping Centers (TMCs) that will operate as part of the Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet). The goal is to generate standardized, high-quality tissue mapping datasets and related outputs that can be integrated across centers into a shared network resource.

What is SenNet trying to achieve scientifically?

The central scientific aim of SenNet is to identify and functionally characterize the diversity and heterogeneity of senescent cells across many human tissues, spanning different physiological states and the human lifespan, at single-cell resolution. The long-term deliverable is a multimodal, multidimensional Senescence Atlas: a high-resolution, searchable reference resource describing where senescent cells occur, the molecular and phenotypic programs they exhibit, how they vary by tissue and context, and how they may change with age and health status.

What is a Tissue Mapping Center (TMC) in this program?

Under this announcement, TMCs are expected to be end-to-end, state-of-the-art centers that can produce high-content tissue maps and biomarkers of cellular senescence at multiple scales, including organ-level context, tissue architecture, and single-cell detail. They are expected to build and optimize a full data generation pipeline rather than focusing narrowly on a single assay.

What kinds of data and outputs are TMCs expected to produce?

TMCs are expected to generate standardized, high-quality datasets that are comparable across centers and can be combined into a coherent Senescence Atlas, rather than remaining as isolated, lab-specific outputs. The FOA emphasizes multimodal, multidimensional mapping and community-facing outcomes such as a searchable atlas/database that is genuinely useful to researchers.

What does “multimodal” and “multidimensional” mean in the context of the Senescence Atlas?

Based on the description provided, the Atlas is intended to bring together multiple complementary measurement approaches (for example, omics and imaging-based methods) and represent senescent cell biology across multiple scales (organ-level context, tissue architecture, and single-cell detail). The emphasis is on integrated views of where senescent cells are found and what programs they exhibit in different tissues and contexts.

Is the program focused on a single assay or technology platform?

No. A major emphasis is on building and optimizing the full data generation pipeline rather than focusing narrowly on a single assay. The expectation is that centers will apply complementary approaches and integrate results into standardized datasets suitable for cross-center comparison and atlas-building.

What does “end-to-end pipeline” mean for a TMC?

The pipeline described in the opportunity includes obtaining appropriate human tissue, handling and preserving specimens in ways that protect downstream molecular and spatial readouts, applying complementary measurement approaches (such as omics and imaging-based methods), and performing rigorous data integration, analysis, and interpretation.

What types of tissues are the main focus of SenNet?

SenNet is primarily focused on healthy human tissues, reflecting the goal of building a baseline understanding of senescent cell states in normal biology across the lifespan.

Can diseased tissues be included?

Work involving diseased tissues is not the main target, but it can be included when it directly supports and strengthens the overarching objective of mapping and characterizing senescence in healthy human tissues. Disease work is framed as supporting evidence or methodological development rather than a separate disease-focused program.

Are animal models allowed or encouraged?

Animal models are not the main target of this opportunity, but they may be included when they directly support and strengthen the objective of mapping and characterizing senescence in healthy human tissues. Any model-system work is described as supporting evidence or methodological development, not the primary focus.

What award mechanism is used for this program?

This is a cooperative agreement (U54). The description indicates this typically involves substantial NIH involvement and a strong expectation of coordination across the network.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (U54)?

As described, the U54 cooperative agreement signals substantial NIH involvement and an expectation that funded centers will coordinate closely within SenNet. TMCs are not intended to operate independently; they are expected to collaborate to generate interoperable data and collectively build a network-wide resource.

Are TMCs expected to work independently or as part of a network?

TMCs are intended to collaborate within SenNet. The FOA emphasizes coordination across the network and producing interoperable, standardized outputs that can be aggregated into a coherent atlas and database.

What are the “community-facing outcomes” mentioned in the opportunity?

The opportunity stresses outcomes that serve the broader research community, including aggregating data into a searchable Atlas of Cellular Senescence, ensuring the resulting database is genuinely useful to researchers, and actively promoting collaboration and engagement with the broader scientific community.

Is this opportunity intended to support clinical trials?

No. The FOA is explicitly labeled “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” indicating the supported work should focus on atlas-building, technology development, and tissue-based mapping rather than prospective interventional clinical studies.

Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?

The funding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What are the opportunity and activity categories?

The opportunity category is listed as discretionary, and the activity category is listed as health.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.310.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. The eligible categories listed include government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and independent school districts.

Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?

Yes. The announcement highlights inclusion of organizations such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply directly?

No. Foreign organizations and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly.

Can a U.S. organization include non-U.S. components in its application?

No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, as stated in the opportunity description.

Are any international elements allowed at all?

Yes. The description notes that foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This means a U.S. applicant may include certain international elements in the project when permitted under NIH policy and when scientifically justified.

What is the original application due date listed for this FOA?

The original application due date listed is March 22, 2021.

What is the main emphasis for TMCs: generating data or building tools/resources?

Based on the information provided, the emphasis is both on generating high-quality, standardized data and on delivering a network-wide resource (a searchable Senescence Atlas/database). The FOA also stresses optimizing the full pipeline and producing interoperable outputs that can be integrated across centers.

How should data from different centers relate to each other?

Data are expected to be standardized and high-quality so they can be compared across centers and ultimately combined into a coherent Atlas. The centers are expected to avoid producing isolated, lab-specific outputs that cannot be integrated.

What is meant by mapping senescence “at multiple scales”?

The opportunity describes mapping at organ-level context, tissue architecture, and single-cell detail. In other words, the program is not limited to one resolution; it aims to connect tissue organization and spatial context with single-cell measurements.

Is the SenNet program primarily about normal biology or disease biology?

It is primarily about normal biology. SenNet focuses on healthy human tissues to build a baseline understanding of senescent cell states across the lifespan. Disease-related work can be included only when it supports that baseline atlas-building objective.