Single Source for Continuation of the Integrated Islet Distribution Program U24 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The funding opportunity titled Single Source for Continuation of the Integrated Islet Distribution Program U24 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is issued by the National Institutes of Health through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This program represents a continuation of a long-standing federal investment in diabetes research infrastructure, specifically focused on ensuring access to human islets for biomedical research. The initiative is part of a broader federal effort under the Special Diabetes Program to support innovative and collaborative research aimed at preventing, treating, and ultimately curing type 1 diabetes and related complications. The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial federal involvement in project execution. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to sustain and enhance the Integrated Islet Distribution Program, which plays a central role in distributing human islets to researchers across the United States. The program facilitates partnerships between islet isolation centers and investigators, ensuring that high-quality biological materials are available for research into human islet biology. This resource is critical because human islets differ significantly from animal models, making them essential for advancing translational and clinical diabetes research. The program also supports data integration, quality control, and standardized testing of islet preparations. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support a comprehensive set of activities including administrative coordination, phenotyping and genotyping pipelines, and maintenance of a centralized data repository. Allowable uses include subcontracting with islet isolation centers, managing logistics for distribution, supporting data systems and web infrastructure, and conducting quality control assays. The program also includes an opportunity pool designed to fund pilot studies and expand access to islets, particularly for early-stage investigators or research involving rare donor populations. There is no cost-sharing requirement associated with this funding. Eligibility for this opportunity is highly restricted. It is a single-source award intended exclusively for the Beckman Research Institute/City of Hope, which currently operates the Integrated Islet Distribution Program. Applicants must demonstrate strong expertise in human islet biology, program management, and financial oversight of complex research infrastructure. The Program Director or Principal Investigator must have a proven track record in managing large-scale biomedical resource programs and may be required to assemble a leadership team with complementary expertise. Applications must be submitted electronically through NIH-approved systems such as ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. Applicants must comply with all NIH application guidelines, including submission of a Data Management and Sharing Plan, detailed research strategy, and budget justification. The review process follows standard NIH peer review procedures, evaluating criteria such as significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment. Only applications deemed meritorious will be considered for funding. Key dates for this opportunity include an earliest submission date of August 30, 2026, and a final application deadline of September 30, 2026. Applications will undergo scientific merit review in March 2027, followed by advisory council review in May 2027, with the earliest anticipated project start date in July 2027. The maximum project period is five years. This opportunity does not appear to be recurring and is specifically tied to the continuation of an existing program. For additional information or inquiries, applicants may contact the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at NIDDK via email at NIDDK_DEM@nih.gov. Financial and grants management inquiries can be directed to NIDDKGMBManagementTeam@niddk.nih.gov. These contacts provide guidance on application requirements, submission processes, and programmatic expectations.

Emphasize program management capability, demonstrated experience with islet distribution, and alignment with NIH research priorities