Continuation and Expansion of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank for Translational Research (U24)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), operating through its Office of Health and Safety and managed under the CDC's ERA (Electronic Research Administration), is the federal agency responsible for this funding opportunity. This grant, titled "Continuation and Expansion of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank for Translational Research (U24)," reflects the CDC’s ongoing commitment to advancing public health and translational biomedical research, particularly concerning occupational safety and diseases such as malignant mesothelioma. This condition, linked largely to occupational exposure, remains a critical area of research focus. The CDC aims to support and expand the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB), a pivotal infrastructure created in 2006 to aid the scientific community with biospecimens and integrated clinical data. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support a cooperative agreement that will continue and grow the NMVB’s role in biomedical research. The NMVB is a centralized, Internet-based virtual registry and tissue bank that provides access to biospecimens and linked clinical and epidemiological data for mesothelioma research. The scope of the NMVB includes access to blood, plasma, white blood cells, DNA, frozen tumor and control tissues, paraffin-embedded tissues, and related clinical data such as disease stage, treatment received, survival, demographic details, and occupational histories. The recipient of this award will be responsible for expanding the collection, improving the usability, and maintaining the security and integrity of the virtual bank. Eligible applicants for this opportunity include a broad range of entities such as public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, small businesses, for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses), public housing authorities, tribal organizations, nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status, and special district governments. Applicants must have an established registry and tissue bank capable of operating as a national-level resource, ensuring accessibility of mesothelioma tissue samples and data through a secure and centralized system. Participating institutions must agree to enter and maintain standardized data on shared tissue samples and ensure data protection in line with privacy requirements. The total estimated funding for this opportunity is $5,500,000, with one expected award. Both the minimum and maximum award amounts are set at $1,100,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this grant. Applications are forecasted to open on January 2, 2026, with a submission deadline of March 23, 2026, by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. The estimated award date is August 1, 2026, with a project start date of September 1, 2026. Evaluation of applicants will likely consider their ability to manage a national virtual registry, the comprehensiveness of their biospecimen collections, capacity for data integration, and commitment to scientific collaboration. Each participating institution must enter data into the shared platform using common data elements and adhere to security standards protecting personally identifiable information. For additional information or technical questions regarding the funding opportunity, applicants may contact Bridgette Garrett at the CDC via phone at 770-488-5715 or by email at bgarrett@cdc.gov. This grant opportunity is forecasted as of July 31, 2025, and is set to archive on April 30, 2026.