Informatics, Coordination and Service Center for the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Centers (U42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives and the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP), is soliciting applications for the continued operation of the Informatics, Coordination and Service Center (ICSC) of the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Centers (MMRRC) consortium. This cooperative agreement supports the vital coordination and informatics functions that enable the MMRRC to provide high-quality, genetically engineered mouse models to the biomedical research community. The ICSC acts as the hub for data sharing, application intake, customer service, and public relations within the consortium, ensuring that the resource infrastructure functions efficiently and effectively across its regional centers. The ICSC’s key responsibilities include developing, improving, and maintaining internal data management systems that align with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles and facilitate integration with other relevant databases. The Center is also charged with managing a public-facing website and customer service functions, including order processing, technical inquiries, and application reviews for strain donation. Additionally, the ICSC generates critical reports and metrics, supports marketing and outreach, and hosts meetings and teleconferences to sustain communication among the consortium’s stakeholders. A unique requirement of this funding opportunity is the ICSC’s integration with new approach methodologies (NAMs) that enhance or complement traditional animal-based research. These methods—ranging from computational modeling to organoids and cell cultures—are increasingly important in improving the predictive power of human disease models. The ICSC must coordinate data and information flows that incorporate these methods and facilitate their use alongside traditional mouse models. Applicants must submit a multi-component proposal that includes an Overall Component (which aggregates the Coordination, Informatics, and Customer Service/Public Relations sections) and a smaller Applied Research Project Component. The latter should propose high-risk, high-reward informatics innovations aligned with the consortium’s goals, and may constitute up to 10% of total direct costs. All applications must follow the NIH multi-project instructions and be submitted through Grants.gov or the NIH ASSIST system by the posted deadlines. The funding opportunity allows for new, renewal, or resubmission applications with a maximum budget of $650,000 in direct costs per year, for up to four years. Applications are due by January 12 and May 1, 2026, depending on the review cycle, with awards expected in December 2026 or April 2027. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, small businesses, and certain governmental entities. Foreign organizations are not eligible. This opportunity does not require cost sharing and prohibits clinical trials. For questions, applicants can contact ORIP at [email protected] or NHLBI grants management at [email protected].

Align activities with FAIR data principles; emphasize coordination with NAMs development; ensure all subcomponents are clearly defined and well integrated; emphasize evaluation metrics and stakeholder engagement.