Kidney Precision Medicine Project Recruitment Sites

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), is preparing to release a funding opportunity announcement for the continuation of the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP). Originally initiated in Fiscal Year 2017, the KPMP seeks to collect and analyze human kidney biopsy tissue to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). In 2022, the project was expanded to increase participant recruitment and deepen molecular interrogation methodologies. This forecasted opportunity marks the next phase in the KPMP’s long-term mission to enhance understanding and improve treatment outcomes for individuals with kidney diseases. As per recent recommendations from an external evaluation committee in February 2025, the NIDDK plans to extend KPMP for an additional five years. The upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will use both the U01 and U24 cooperative agreement mechanisms to fund this phase. The proposed funding will support continued participant monitoring and recruitment, aiming to double the current participant pool from approximately 500 to over 1,000. This expanded dataset will be instrumental in discovering and validating new biomarkers, pathways, and subtypes of kidney disease. It also aligns with KPMP’s commitment to data transparency and collaboration, as the collected information will be made available for use by the broader scientific community. The funding mechanism will include up to 14 U01 awards for recruitment sites and tissue interrogation sites. Recruitment sites will be responsible for identifying eligible participants, performing kidney biopsies, and conducting longitudinal follow-up to track disease progression. Tissue interrogation sites will carry out advanced molecular and pathological analyses using the collected biopsy specimens. Additionally, one U24 award will be provided to a clinical and data coordinating center, which will be tasked with data integration, analysis, and sharing functions across the KPMP consortium. All sites will work collaboratively to ensure high-quality scientific outputs and harmonized methodologies. The estimated total program funding is $4,000,000. While the exact award ceiling and floor are not specified in the current forecast, seven awards are expected to be made. The anticipated application due date is September 15, 2026, with awards being issued around June 1, 2027, and project start dates beginning July 1, 2027. The opportunity will be posted around May 5, 2026, allowing ample time for applicant institutions to prepare competitive proposals. Eligible applicants include a wide range of institutions and organizations. These include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, state and local governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations and governments. Faith-based, community-based, and regional organizations, as well as certain eligible federal agencies and U.S. territories or possessions, may also apply. This broad eligibility reflects NIH’s intention to encourage widespread participation and inclusivity in biomedical research. Applicants will be required to submit full proposals once the opportunity is officially posted. While no pre-application deadlines such as Letters of Intent are currently indicated, all applicants should monitor the Grants.gov listing for updates. The key contact for this opportunity is Dr. Debbie S. Gipson at the NIDDK, who can be reached at Debbie.Gipson@nih.gov or by phone at 301-480-2268. Interested applicants should engage early to understand requirements and prepare their institutional teams for submission ahead of the due date in 2026.