Frontotemporal Degeneration FTD Sequencing Consortium: Discovery, replication and validation (UG3/UH3) | RFA NS 17 017

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 17 017

The grant opportunity "Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) Sequencing Consortium: Discovery, replication and validation (UG3/UH3)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-17-017) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to accelerate genetic research in the broad group of neurodegenerative syndromes classified as frontotemporal degeneration. Its central goal is to fund a coordinated sequencing consortium that can identify new disease-causing mutations, risk variants, and genetic modifiers, and then move beyond initial findings by replicating and validating those results. The scientific focus is on how genetic variation contributes to FTD biology, including disease mechanisms (pathophysiology), the specific abnormal protein accumulations seen in these disorders (proteinopathies), and the substantial clinical diversity observed across patients (clinical heterogeneity).

A key feature of the program is its emphasis on whole genome sequencing and on using well-characterized human cohorts. Supported studies are expected to include both case/control designs and family-based cohorts, with participants identified through clinical diagnosis and/or autopsy confirmation. This structure reflects an intent to strengthen confidence in genetic associations by grounding them in carefully defined phenotypes and, when possible, neuropathological confirmation. In addition to discovery sequencing, the FOA explicitly supports replication efforts (testing whether the same genetic signals appear in independent samples) and functional variant validation (generating evidence that specific variants have biological effects consistent with disease relevance). In practical terms, this means applicants are expected to propose a pipeline that can move from identifying candidate variants to confirming them across datasets and then testing their functional impact using appropriate experimental or analytic approaches.

The award mechanism is UG3/UH3, which generally indicates a phased, milestone-driven project structure: an initial stage intended to establish feasibility and complete preparatory work, followed by an implementation stage that scales up the full research plan once predefined milestones are met. The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which signals that NIH anticipates substantial programmatic involvement during the project period, often including coordinated oversight, shared consortium standards, and collaboration on data generation, quality control, and dissemination practices.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed for the opportunity include state, county, and city/township governments; 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as 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, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This inclusive eligibility list suggests NIH sought to encourage participation from diverse institutions and potentially international collaborators, consistent with the large sample sizes and broad representation typically needed for robust genetic discovery and replication.

Administrative details in the source data identify the sponsoring agency as the NIH, classify the opportunity as discretionary funding, and list the activity category as health. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.853 and 93.866. The original closing date was February 10, 2017, and the opportunity was created on December 9, 2016. The provided fields for award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the source excerpt, but the intent is clearly geared toward building or supporting a consortium-style effort capable of generating, verifying, and biologically interpreting whole genome sequencing findings across clinically and pathologically defined FTD cohorts.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Frontotemporal Degeneration FTD Sequencing Consortium: Discovery, replication and validation (UG3/UH3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-12-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-02-10. (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 NS 17 017

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