Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet): SenNet Data Coordination and Integration Center (SenNet DCIC) (UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet): SenNet Data Coordination and Integration Center (DCIC) funding opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the NIH Common Fund. The Common Fund supports large-scale, cross-cutting biomedical programs intended to accelerate discoveries that can be applied broadly across multiple areas of health and disease. SenNet is a major initiative focused on understanding cellular senescence, a biological process associated with aging and many chronic diseases. This specific opportunity supports the second stage of the SenNet program by establishing a centralized Data Coordination and Integration Center responsible for managing and advancing the network’s data ecosystem. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to enable high-quality data coordination, harmonization, and dissemination across the SenNet consortium. The DCIC will be responsible for developing and implementing standardized policies, workflows, and technical systems that ensure consistent data formatting, metadata standards, and quality control processes. The center will also maintain and enhance the SenNet data infrastructure, including portals and analytical tools, to facilitate data discovery, access, visualization, and reuse by the broader research community. Additionally, the DCIC will integrate outputs from both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the SenNet program to support comprehensive atlasing efforts and enable cross-study comparability. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, indicating substantial involvement from NIH program staff in project oversight and collaboration. The total estimated program funding is 3,500,000 dollars, with one anticipated award. While specific award ceiling and floor amounts are not defined, applicants are expected to propose budgets aligned with the scope of a large-scale data coordination center. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity. Funds are expected to support infrastructure development, data management systems, personnel, and consortium-wide coordination activities, including outreach and organizational functions. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing a wide range of domestic and international entities. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, institutions of higher education (both public and private), nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and for-profit organizations. Additional eligible entities include federal agencies, U.S. territories, regional organizations, and foreign institutions. This wide eligibility reflects the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the SenNet initiative, which requires expertise in data science, biomedical research, and infrastructure development. The application process is expected to follow standard NIH submission procedures through Grants.gov and associated NIH systems. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast notice, applicants should anticipate preparing a comprehensive research and infrastructure proposal, including project aims, data management strategies, organizational plans, and consortium coordination approaches. Applications must align with NIH policies and cooperative agreement requirements. Contact with the Common Fund Cellular Senescence Program is available via email for inquiries related to the opportunity. The opportunity is currently in forecast status, with an estimated posting date of August 1, 2026, and an anticipated application due date of October 1, 2026. Awards are expected to be issued by June 1, 2027, with project start dates aligned to the same timeframe. This suggests a standard NIH review and award cycle of approximately eight months from submission to funding. The opportunity does not explicitly state recurrence, and given its alignment with a specific program phase, it is likely a one-time or limited-cycle funding announcement tied to the progression of the SenNet initiative.