Real Time Chromatin Dynamics and Function (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA RM 20 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 20 003

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued this funding opportunity, titled "Real Time Chromatin Dynamics and Function (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," to push forward technologies that can watch the genome in action inside living cells. The central idea is to support the development and practical use of new or improved tools that can monitor, in real time, how mammalian DNA is folded and organized in three dimensions, and how that organization changes over time (often described as 4D genome architecture, where time is the fourth dimension). The opportunity is focused on generating insight into how the structural and organizing components of chromatin architecture influence biological processes, with an emphasis on live-cell measurement rather than static, end-point snapshots.

The award mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, which usually means the NIH expects substantial scientific involvement and coordination with awardees compared with a standard research project grant. The activity sits in the health research category and is associated with CFDA number 93.310. Importantly, the notice specifies "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," signaling that applications should be preclinical or basic/translational in nature and should not propose prospective clinical trial activities as defined by NIH. In practice, that aligns with the program's technical emphasis on tool building and live-cell genome imaging/measurement approaches in experimental systems, rather than interventional studies in human participants.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and covers many sectors that commonly participate in NIH research funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; tribal governments other than federally recognized ones; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-U.S. (foreign) entities. Taken together, the eligibility language indicates NIH was aiming to encourage participation from a wide range of research performers, including minority-serving institutions and international organizations where appropriate.

The opportunity number is RFA-RM-20-003, and it was posted with a creation date of November 25, 2019. The original closing date listed for applications was March 17, 2020. The public summary of the funding specifics in the provided source data does not include a stated award ceiling or an expected number of awards, so those details would typically require checking the full announcement text or NIH’s supporting documents for budgets, project periods, and anticipated portfolio size.

Overall, this solicitation is best understood as a targeted NIH initiative to accelerate real-time, live-cell methods for observing genome folding and movement, and to connect those dynamic structural measurements to function. The intended payoff is both technical (new enabling tools for tracking chromatin architecture over time) and biological (clearer mechanistic understanding of how genome organization contributes to gene regulation and other key cellular processes).

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Real Time Chromatin Dynamics and Function (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-11-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-03-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA RM 20 003

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