Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 17 021
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Collaborative Research Centers (CRCs) (U54)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-17-021) supports the creation of a coordinated network of research Centers focused on ME/CFS. The program is built around a clear, high-level mission: bring multiple institutions and disciplines together to better define the underlying cause or causes of ME/CFS and to speed up the discovery of better treatments. Rather than funding isolated projects, NIH is using a U54 cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means substantial NIH involvement and an expectation that awardees will operate as a connected program with shared goals, shared practices, and active collaboration across sites.
A central feature of this FOA is the expectation that each funded Center will operate as both a research engine and a practical hub for the field. In the near term, each CRC is expected to rapidly advance an integrated, interdisciplinary research program that benefits from synergy across basic science and clinical investigation. The Centers are also expected to function as local resources and national leaders in ME/CFS research, which implies not only producing strong scientific outputs, but also helping to build capacity, visibility, and coordination for ME/CFS work in the broader research and clinical communities.
The FOA outlines three core activities that successful CRCs are expected to carry out. First, Centers should conduct collaborative basic and/or clinical research on ME/CFS, emphasizing teamwork and cross-disciplinary approaches rather than siloed efforts. Second, Centers should perform longitudinal studies of individuals with ME/CFS, both within each Center and in a way that can be integrated across the larger CRC network. The longitudinal emphasis signals a priority for understanding how ME/CFS develops and changes over time, identifying potential disease subtypes, biomarkers, trajectories, and treatment response patterns. Third, Centers should expand access to ME/CFS-related information for a wide audience, including basic and clinical researchers, academic and practicing physicians, other healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public. This access component points to an expectation that CRCs will help organize and disseminate credible, usable knowledge and potentially serve as a bridge between research findings and real-world clinical understanding.
Data collection, harmonization, and sharing are treated as major priorities in this initiative, with a specific structure to support them. The FOA notes that clinical data management for efficient data collection, as well as data mining and data sharing, will be handled through a separate Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC). In practice, this means CRCs are expected to generate high-quality data in a way that is consistent with network-wide standards and compatible with centralized coordination, enabling cross-center analyses and broader scientific reuse where appropriate. The existence of a DMCC also reinforces that this is meant to be a networked program where collaboration is not optional but built into the operational model.
Institutional commitment is explicitly emphasized. Applicant institutions are expected to be committed to establishing and continuing the proposed ME/CFS CRC, which typically implies demonstrating adequate infrastructure, leadership support, and the capacity to sustain a complex center-style program. Funding decisions are stated to prioritize applications that are likely to make highly impactful contributions to ME/CFS research and that show the strongest potential to collaborate effectively across the overall CRC program. In other words, scientific merit matters, but so do readiness, coordination plans, and the ability to function productively as part of a national network.
Eligibility for the program is broad across U.S.-based organizational types, reflecting NIH's intent to attract strong teams wherever they exist. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education where relevant); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, regional organizations, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, foreign eligibility is constrained in a way that is common for NIH center programs. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. That typically means a U.S.-led application can include certain international collaborations or project elements when well-justified, but the leadership, primary award, and core infrastructure must remain U.S.-based.
Key administrative details included in the source information are that the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, uses the cooperative agreement funding instrument, and falls under an education and health activity category. The agency is NIH, and multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the announcement (93.172, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856). The original closing date listed is 2017-05-02, and the award ceiling shown is $1,200,000. Overall, the program is designed to move the ME/CFS field forward by funding coordinated Centers that can generate rigorous research, follow patients over time, share data effectively through a dedicated coordinating structure, and actively collaborate to accelerate progress toward understanding causes and improving treatments.Apply for RFA NS 17 021
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Collaborative Research Centers (CRCs) (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-01-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-05-02. (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 $1,200,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this NIH funding opportunity?
This is an NIH funding opportunity for "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Collaborative Research Centers (CRCs) (U54)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-17-021. It supports the creation of a coordinated network of research Centers focused on ME/CFS.
What is the main goal of the ME/CFS Collaborative Research Centers (CRCs) program?
The mission is to bring multiple institutions and disciplines together to better define the underlying cause or causes of ME/CFS and to speed up the discovery of better treatments. The program emphasizes coordinated, networked work rather than isolated projects.
What does the U54 cooperative agreement mechanism mean for applicants and awardees?
The FOA uses a U54 cooperative agreement, which typically involves substantial NIH involvement. Awardees are expected to operate as a connected program with shared goals, shared practices, and active collaboration across sites.
How is this program different from funding a single, standalone research project?
Instead of supporting isolated efforts, this FOA is built around a Center model and a coordinated network. Funded CRCs are expected to collaborate across institutions and disciplines and to contribute to shared, network-wide activities and standards.
What roles is each funded Center expected to play?
Each CRC is expected to function as both (1) a research engine that rapidly advances integrated, interdisciplinary basic and clinical research and (2) a practical hub that serves as a local resource and a national leader for ME/CFS research, helping build capacity, visibility, and coordination in the field.
What are the three core activities CRCs are expected to carry out?
The FOA describes three core expectations for CRCs: (1) conduct collaborative basic and/or clinical research on ME/CFS using cross-disciplinary approaches; (2) perform longitudinal studies of individuals with ME/CFS in ways that work within each Center and can be integrated across the CRC network; and (3) expand access to ME/CFS-related information for researchers, clinicians, other healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public.
What types of research are CRCs expected to conduct?
CRCs are expected to conduct collaborative basic and/or clinical research on ME/CFS, with an emphasis on teamwork and cross-disciplinary approaches rather than siloed work.
What does the FOA mean by longitudinal studies, and why are they important here?
The FOA prioritizes longitudinal studies of individuals with ME/CFS, meaning participants are followed over time. This emphasis supports understanding how ME/CFS develops and changes, and it can help identify potential disease subtypes, biomarkers, trajectories, and patterns of treatment response.
Are longitudinal studies expected to be coordinated across multiple Centers?
Yes. The FOA indicates longitudinal studies should occur within each Center and also be designed in a way that can be integrated across the larger CRC network, supporting cross-center analysis and shared learning.
Who is the intended audience for the "expand access to information" activity?
The FOA specifically identifies a wide audience: basic and clinical researchers, academic and practicing physicians, other healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public.
What does the FOA say about data collection and data sharing?
Data collection, harmonization, and sharing are major priorities. CRCs are expected to generate high-quality data consistent with network-wide standards so it is compatible with centralized coordination and cross-center analyses, enabling broader scientific reuse where appropriate.
What is the Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC), and what does it do?
The FOA notes that clinical data management for efficient data collection, as well as data mining and data sharing, will be handled through a separate Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC). This structure supports harmonized, network-ready data and reinforces that collaboration is built into the program model.
What does NIH mean by expecting CRCs to collaborate as a network?
The program is designed as a coordinated network where collaboration is not optional. CRCs are expected to align with shared goals and practices, generate data compatible with network standards, and participate actively in cross-site collaboration supported by centralized coordination through the DMCC.
How important is institutional commitment for a CRC application?
Institutional commitment is explicitly emphasized. Applicant institutions are expected to be committed to establishing and continuing the proposed ME/CFS CRC, which implies having the infrastructure, leadership support, and capacity to sustain a complex Center-style program.
What does NIH say it will prioritize in funding decisions?
Funding decisions are stated to prioritize applications likely to make highly impactful contributions to ME/CFS research and that show the strongest potential to collaborate effectively across the overall CRC program. Scientific merit matters along with readiness and coordination plans.
Who is eligible to apply for this FOA?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organization types. Eligible applicants include various government entities (state, county, city/township, special district), independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education where relevant), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses.
Are U.S. territories and possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicants.
Are certain institution types specifically called out as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, regional organizations, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply as the primary applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply.
Are any international elements allowed at all?
Yes. The FOA states that foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This typically means a U.S.-led application can include certain international collaborations or project elements when well-justified, while the primary award and core leadership remain U.S.-based.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
How is this opportunity categorized administratively?
The source information describes it as discretionary funding, using a cooperative agreement funding instrument, and falling under an education and health activity category.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-NS-17-021.
What is the listed closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed in the provided information is 2017-05-02.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling shown is $1,200,000.
Are CFDA numbers associated with this announcement?
Yes. Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the announcement: 93.172, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856.
What does NIH expect CRCs to contribute beyond publishing research results?
Beyond producing strong scientific outputs, CRCs are expected to act as local resources and national leaders, which implies helping build capacity, visibility, and coordination for ME/CFS work in the broader research and clinical communities, and expanding access to credible ME/CFS information for multiple audiences.
Why does the FOA emphasize harmonization and network-wide standards?
The FOA is designed to enable cross-center analyses and broader scientific reuse where appropriate. Harmonization and network-wide standards help ensure that data generated at different CRCs can be integrated effectively through the DMCC and used across the network.
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