The Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP): Rapid Implementation of Technologies that Will Accelerate Development of a Framework for Mapping the Human Body at High Resolution (UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA RM 19 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 19 002

The funding opportunity titled "The Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP): Rapid Implementation of Technologies that Will Accelerate Development of a Framework for Mapping the Human Body at High Resolution (UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant announcement designed to speed up technology deployment within the HuBMAP Consortium. Its central aim is to push the consortium toward building a high-resolution framework for mapping the human body at single-cell resolution, meaning the program is focused on methods that can characterize the location, identity, and molecular state of individual cells (and their spatial context) across human tissues. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (UH3), which generally indicates substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff during the project period, and it explicitly states that clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement.

The FOA emphasizes rapid and systematic implementation of new technologies rather than slow, incremental development. In practice, this means applicants are expected to bring forward tools, workflows, and platforms that can be integrated into a larger consortium environment and adopted broadly to accelerate atlas-building. The scope is intentionally broad and covers the end-to-end pipeline of producing a biomolecular atlas: improved tissue collection approaches, better preservation methods that maintain molecular integrity, advanced imaging that is high-resolution and high-content, and high-throughput techniques that can scale across many samples and conditions. It also targets high-sensitivity and high-specificity molecular assays, including transcriptomics, genomics, and proteomics, reflecting a strong interest in technologies that can measure RNA, DNA, proteins, and related biomolecules in ways that are accurate, reproducible, and compatible with atlas-scale studies.

A key theme is multidimensional data, both in how it is generated and how it is used. Beyond producing measurements, the FOA highlights visualization and modeling of multidimension biomolecular data, signaling the importance of computational methods and data science that can integrate diverse modalities. This typically includes combining spatial imaging with sequencing-based measurements, handling large and complex datasets, building interpretable models of tissue organization, and creating tools that allow researchers to explore data in intuitive ways. Because HuBMAP is a consortium effort, the technologies supported are expected to feed into shared frameworks, standards, and interoperable resources that help construct a consistent atlas across different tissues, sites, and research teams.

The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-19-002, with an activity category in Health and a CFDA number of 93.310. It was created on January 9, 2019, and the original closing date was March 14, 2019. While the provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the cooperative agreement format and consortium context typically imply that funded projects must coordinate with program leadership and other funded groups, meet consortium milestones, and share outputs in ways that benefit the broader HuBMAP effort.

Eligibility is broad and includes many categories of U.S. organizations and governmental entities, such as state, county, and local 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; and tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. It also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, the FOA explicitly highlights other eligible applicant types, 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; U.S. territories or possessions; Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This expanded list signals an intent to include a wide range of institutional perspectives and capabilities in building the technologies needed for a comprehensive human biomolecular atlas.

Overall, the FOA is best understood as a technology acceleration and integration initiative within HuBMAP: it seeks projects that can quickly deliver practical, scalable advances in tissue handling, measurement modalities, and data integration so that the consortium can more rapidly assemble a detailed, single-cell, spatially informed map of human tissues. The focus is on tools that can be implemented and used across the program, strengthening the shared infrastructure that underpins a standardized, high-resolution atlas of the human body.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP): Rapid Implementation of Technologies that Will Accelerate Development of a Framework for Mapping the Human Body at High Resolution (UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-03-14. (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.

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