BRAIN Initiative: Marmoset Coordination Center (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA MH 25 116

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 25 116

The BRAIN Initiative: Marmoset Coordination Center (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-25-116) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to establish a centralized coordination hub for captive marmosets used in research. The core purpose is to strengthen the health, management, and long-term genetic diversity of marmoset colonies by building a shared infrastructure that brings together key records and uses them to guide responsible breeding decisions across participating primate colonies. Because this is a U24 cooperative agreement, the project is expected to involve substantial NIH involvement and coordination rather than operating like a typical investigator-initiated grant, and it is explicitly not intended for clinical trials.

A major responsibility of the awardee is to function as the primary repository for marmoset data that are essential for colony management and genetic stewardship. This includes genomic information, pedigree data, and event records such as dates of birth, medical history, and reproductive history. In practical terms, the center would serve as the trusted place where institutions can submit and maintain standardized records so that colony managers and researchers have a consistent, accurate picture of lineage, relatedness, and health trends over time. The emphasis on genomics and pedigree together signals that the center is expected to support modern genetic management, not just basic husbandry logs, and to help ensure that breeding plans are informed by both family structure and genetic variation.

In addition to holding the data, the center is expected to actively use these records to develop breeding recommendations aimed at maximizing overall colony health and preserving or improving genetic diversity. This implies a proactive coordination role: analyzing relatedness, identifying potential inbreeding risks, suggesting pairings that maintain diversity, and balancing genetic goals with health and reproductive considerations. The NOFO encourages applicants to adopt a model similar to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which is well known for structured population management approaches (for example, coordinated studbooks, standardized data practices, and decision-making frameworks that prioritize genetic diversity and population sustainability). The reference to AZA suggests NIH is looking for an organized, community-facing, best-practices-driven system rather than ad hoc recommendations.

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic U.S. organization types typically allowed under NIH funding, such as state, county, city, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other eligible entities. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional categories of eligible applicants, 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 agencies of the federal government, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear limits related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant can include certain foreign elements under NIH policy, but the applicant organization itself must be domestic and the project structure must comply with NIH rules on foreign components.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument. It falls under NIH and is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting its placement within NIH/BRAIN-related portfolios and accounting structures. The original closing date listed is 2024-03-01, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of 2023-11-28. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data, indicating applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for budget guidance, project period expectations, and any limits or recommended ranges.

Overall, this NOFO is about building a shared national-scale capability for marmoset colony coordination: collecting and maintaining standardized genomic and life-history data, using that information to guide breeding decisions, and creating a durable management framework modeled on proven zoological population management systems. The intended impact is a healthier, genetically diverse, and better-documented captive marmoset research population that can support high-quality neuroscience research under the BRAIN Initiative.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Marmoset Coordination Center (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-01. (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 MH 25 116

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