Kidney Precision Medicine Project Tissue Interrogation Sites

The Kidney Precision Medicine Project Tissue Interrogation Sites funding opportunity is a forecasted grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is a leader in advancing research to treat and prevent diseases such as diabetes, digestive disorders, and kidney disease, supporting a broad range of studies across the United States. This opportunity, under notice number NOT-DK-26-302, aims to continue and expand the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP), which was initiated in 2017. The KPMP focuses on the safe and ethical collection and analysis of human kidney biopsy tissues to uncover molecular pathways responsible for chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and acute kidney injuries (AKI). The project was enhanced in 2022 to increase recruitment and improve tissue interrogation capabilities. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to extend the KPMP for another five years, in alignment with recommendations from an External Evaluation Committee. The main objectives are to continue longitudinal follow-up for existing participants, recruit and follow up with over 500 new participants, and speed up the discovery and validation of new pathways, therapeutic targets, and disease subgroups by leveraging the broader research community’s efforts and the comprehensive KPMP dataset. The KPMP’s long-term vision is to provide significant insights into CKD and AKI mechanisms, paving the way for novel interventions. Funding will be delivered via Cooperative Agreements using the U01 and U24 activity codes. The renewal will support one U24 award for clinical and data coordination—including integration, analysis, and data sharing—and up to fourteen U01 awards divided between recruitment sites and tissue interrogation sites. Recruitment sites are responsible for enrolling new participants, collecting kidney biopsies, and gathering longitudinal observational data. Tissue Interrogation Sites will utilize advanced methodologies and adhere to strict quality requirements for analyzing tissue samples. All participating sites are required to work collaboratively, sharing scientific data and findings to achieve the overarching goals of the KPMP. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations: nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions), state governments, small businesses, other for-profit organizations, independent school districts, Native American tribal organizations (not Federally recognized tribal governments), public housing authorities, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, Federally recognized Native American tribal governments, private institutions of higher education, and county governments. Additional eligible entities, per the opportunity details, are Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than Federally Recognized), eligible agencies of the Federal government, U.S. territories or possessions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and non-U.S. (foreign) institutions. The anticipated number of awards is seven, with a total estimated program funding of $6,000,000. Specific award ceilings and floors have not been provided and should be verified once the official Notice of Funding Opportunity is published. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants. The forecasted timeline for this opportunity begins with an estimated post date of July 5, 2026. Applications are expected to be due by October 5, 2026, with an estimated award date of June 1, 2027, and the earliest project start date of July 1, 2027. Applications will likely require detailed research and project proposals, and while no pre-application deadlines or specific proposal questions are listed in the forecast, applicants are encouraged to review the future full NOFO when posted. For questions or further information, applicants may contact Dr. Debbie S. Gipson at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, by phone at 301-480-2268 or via email at Debbie.Gipson@nih.gov.