The NIDDK Disorders of Gastrointestinal Interoception Consortium Clinical Centers (DGIC)

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, is forecasting a funding opportunity under the Disorders of Gastrointestinal Interoception Consortium (DGIC). This initiative builds on the foundation of the NIDDK Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium (GpCRC), which created extensive clinical data resources including the Gastroparesis Registry. That registry houses information on adults and children with symptoms of gastroparesis and has enabled significant insights into the broader burden of the disorder. The GpCRC demonstrated that gastroparesis involves far more than gastric emptying abnormalities, and its studies established the groundwork for a broader exploration of gastrointestinal disorders. Interoception, the body’s ability to sense and interpret signals from internal organs, is central to many functional gastrointestinal disorders. Altered interoceptive processing is linked to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and disrupted bowel habits, which affect both adults and children. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive approach, NIDDK seeks to establish a new Disorders of Gastrointestinal Interoception Consortium that expands beyond gastroparesis to include other GI conditions. The consortium will emphasize interdisciplinary research strategies to identify mechanisms connecting physiological function to patient symptoms, discover disease or treatment biomarkers, and test innovative technologies with the potential to lead to future clinical interventions. The DGIC is expected to consist of up to six Clinical Research Centers, complemented by a Scientific Data Research Center described in a companion notice. Clinical centers will contribute patient cohorts, undertake clinical studies, and coordinate with the data center for analysis and sharing of results. The ultimate objective is to generate knowledge that improves understanding of GI disorders and contributes to the development of novel therapies. By focusing on mechanisms of interoception, the consortium aims to advance diagnosis, treatment evaluation, and therapeutic discovery in both adult and pediatric populations. The funding mechanism will be a cooperative agreement, reflecting the NIH’s expectation of substantial involvement in project management and oversight. Approximately six awards are anticipated, with an estimated total program funding of $3 million. Award ceilings and floors have not been specified in this forecast. Funding will support multidisciplinary collaborations and integration of advanced tools and methods for studying GI function and patient symptoms. While the exact allowable spending categories have not been detailed in the forecast, expenditures will be expected to align with standard NIH cooperative agreement guidelines for clinical research. Eligibility for this funding is broad and includes higher education institutions, nonprofits, small businesses, for-profit entities other than small businesses, state and local governments, independent school districts, special district governments, tribal governments and organizations, public housing authorities, and regional organizations. Foreign institutions, faith-based groups, and U.S. territories are also eligible. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds. The eligibility scope is explicitly nationwide, including U.S. states and territories, making it accessible to a wide range of applicants. The forecasted timeline projects that the notice will be formally posted on August 1, 2026. Applications are expected to be due by November 1, 2026, with award decisions projected by July 1, 2027. Funded projects are anticipated to start on the same date. As this is currently a forecasted opportunity, no pre-application steps such as a letter of intent are listed, and all specific application instructions will be included in the final Notice of Funding Opportunity. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov and the NIH website for updates. For further information, applicants may contact the designated NIH official, Terez Shea-Donohue, Ph.D., by phone at 301-825-2314 or by email at terez.shea-donohue@nih.gov. This contact point is intended for programmatic questions and clarifications regarding the forecasted opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to remain engaged with NIDDK updates until the official posting date to ensure they meet requirements when the competition opens.