Kidney Precision Medicine Project Recruitment Sites (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has released a forecasted funding opportunity under the Kidney Precision Medicine Project. This Notice of Funding Opportunity, titled “Kidney Precision Medicine Project Recruitment Sites (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed),” is listed under opportunity number RFA-DK-26-301. The program is forecasted as a cooperative agreement and falls within the category of health-related funding, with support linked to the Assistance Listing 93.847 for Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research. The initiative reflects NIH’s ongoing commitment to advancing biomedical research and improving treatment outcomes for patients with serious kidney conditions. The purpose of this program is to support the recruitment and enrollment of participants with either acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease into a longitudinal study. Selected recruitment sites will be tasked with conducting protocol-based kidney biopsies and collaborating closely with other project components, including the Tissue Interrogation Sites, the Kidney Tissue Atlas Coordinating Center, and the Central Hub. The overarching goal of this multi-site collaboration is to build a comprehensive Kidney Tissue Atlas, define disease subgroups, and identify specific cells, interstitial components, pathways, and therapeutic targets. This research effort is designed to accelerate understanding of kidney disease mechanisms and advance precision medicine approaches. The scope of the award supports research activities that align with the project’s objectives, including participant recruitment, biopsy performance, and data and sample sharing with partner organizations. While spending rules are not detailed in the forecasted notice, cooperative agreements typically involve close oversight and collaboration between NIH and award recipients to ensure scientific and technical goals are met. The anticipated total program funding is $4,000,000, and approximately seven awards are expected to be issued, though exact award sizes remain unspecified. Matching or cost-sharing requirements are not included, which removes a common barrier for smaller institutions or community-based organizations. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad. It extends to a wide array of applicant types, including state, county, city, and township governments, as well as special district governments and public housing authorities. Public and private institutions of higher education, both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, are eligible. Independent school districts, small businesses, nonprofits regardless of their IRS 501(c)(3) status, federally recognized tribal governments, and other Native American tribal organizations may also apply. The eligibility pool further extends to faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories and possessions, eligible federal agencies, and even non-domestic entities such as foreign institutions. This expansive eligibility framework underscores NIH’s intention to engage a diverse range of partners in addressing critical kidney health challenges. The forecasted timeline provides applicants with advanced notice for planning. The estimated posting date for the full announcement is July 5, 2026, with applications due October 5, 2026. Award notices are expected around June 1, 2027, and projects are anticipated to begin on July 1, 2027. No pre-application deadlines, such as letters of intent or concept papers, are identified in the forecasted notice at this stage. Given its forecasted status, the opportunity is not yet accepting applications, but the published timeline enables potential applicants to prepare well in advance. The NIH contact for this program is Dr. Debbie S. Gipson, MS, MD, who can provide additional details regarding the program requirements and submission process. She may be reached by phone at 301-480-2268 or by email at Debbie.Gipson@nih.gov. Interested applicants are advised to monitor Grants.gov and NIH updates for the release of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity in mid-2026, which will contain final details regarding requirements, application materials, and evaluation criteria.