Genome Sequencing Center for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA RM 18 030

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 18 030

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released this funding opportunity to stand up one or two Genome Sequencing Centers to support the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program. The central goal is straightforward but ambitious: build high-throughput, high-quality capacity to generate whole genome sequencing (WGS) data and associated variant calls from a large volume of human specimens tied to two major areas of pediatric disease, specifically childhood cancers and structural birth defects. The award mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, meaning NIH expects substantial involvement in shaping and coordinating the work rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement.

A key feature of the program is how responsibilities are split across the broader Kids First ecosystem. The sequencing center(s) funded through this FOA focus on rapid, accurate production of raw whole genome sequence and derived variant data at scale. After generation, all sequence data produced under this award will be re-processed and harmonized by the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource Center (Kids First DRC). The DRC’s role is to standardize and integrate outputs across studies and sequencing efforts so that resulting datasets are consistent and comparable, which is essential when researchers want to combine cohorts or run cross-disease analyses. Beyond harmonization, the DRC is also responsible for creating and maintaining a public-facing, web-based portal designed to let the research community search, access, aggregate, analyze, and share annotated genomic sequence data, variant datasets, and linked phenotypic information. In practical terms, the sequencing centers generate the core genomic data, while the DRC turns that data into a unified, accessible resource that can be reused broadly.

The scientific and community impact described in the announcement is centered on accelerating comprehensive pediatric research and enabling collaboration across traditionally siloed domains. By covering both pediatric cancers and structural birth defects, the program is positioned to support cross-cutting studies, such as identifying shared biological pathways, comparing genetic architectures across conditions, improving understanding of rare and de novo variation, and enabling more consistent genotype-phenotype research. The emphasis on a searchable, shareable resource also signals an intent to reduce duplication of effort and lower barriers for investigators who want to work with large-scale pediatric genomic datasets without having to build the infrastructure from scratch.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH opportunity in the health category, listed under CFDA 93.310, with Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-18-030. The application deadline listed is October 31, 2018, and the award ceiling is $8,000,000. The FOA anticipates making one or two awards, reflecting NIH’s intent to fund a small number of highly capable sequencing operations rather than distributing funds widely.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or 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 that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities that meet NIH requirements. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant types 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, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA places strict limits on foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. In addition, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. In other words, the work and the applying institution must be U.S.-based, without foreign components embedded in the proposed project structure.

Overall, the opportunity is designed to fund an operational-scale sequencing capability tightly integrated with a national pediatric data resource, with the combined intent of producing high-quality WGS and variant data quickly, standardizing it through centralized harmonization, and making it broadly usable through a public portal so the pediatric research community can more easily conduct large, collaborative genomic studies across cancer and structural birth defects.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Genome Sequencing Center for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (U24 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 2018-07-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-10-31. (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 $8,000,000.00 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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