RNomics Outreach and Coordination (ROC) Center

The RNomics Outreach and Coordination Center funding opportunity is being developed by the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the NIH Common Fund. This initiative is part of a broader RNomics program that aims to expand scientific understanding of the full range of RNA molecules present in cells and tissues, collectively referred to as the RNome. The NIH Common Fund supports large scale, collaborative biomedical research programs that are intended to transform scientific understanding and enable advances in health and disease research. This specific opportunity is being released initially as a forecast notice to allow potential applicants time to prepare collaborations and develop competitive applications before the formal funding announcement is issued. The purpose of the RNomics Outreach and Coordination Center is to serve as the central hub for a multi component research consortium. The center will be responsible for coordinating activities across multiple RNomics initiatives, including technology development centers, molecular standards projects, and transformative technology efforts. Its primary objective is to enable integration and standardization across these initiatives while ensuring that resulting data, tools, and methodologies are broadly accessible to the research community. The center will facilitate collaboration among participating entities and ensure that outputs are aligned with the program’s overarching scientific goals. Funding for this opportunity is expected to total approximately 3500000 dollars, with one award anticipated under a cooperative agreement mechanism. This funding structure indicates substantial involvement from the NIH in project oversight and collaboration. While specific award ceiling and floor values are not provided in the forecast, the total program funding reflects the scale of the coordinating center’s responsibilities. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, which reduces financial barriers for eligible applicants. Funds are expected to support activities such as data infrastructure development, coordination efforts, outreach programming, and long term sustainability planning for RNomics resources. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities such as state, local, and tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501c3 status, for profit organizations, and certain federal and international entities. The inclusion of both domestic and non domestic institutions suggests that the program is designed to foster global collaboration and leverage diverse expertise. Additional eligible entities include public housing authorities, independent school districts, and community based organizations, indicating an inclusive eligibility framework intended to maximize participation and innovation across sectors. The submission process is not yet open, as this is a forecasted opportunity. The estimated application due date is February 1, 2027, with an expected posting date of October 1, 2026. Applicants will need to monitor the official release of the Notice of Funding Opportunity to obtain full application instructions, required forms, and submission procedures. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast, NIH cooperative agreement applications typically require detailed research plans, budgets, biosketches, and data management strategies, particularly for large scale coordination centers. Evaluation criteria are not explicitly outlined in the forecast notice, but proposals are expected to be assessed based on their ability to effectively coordinate consortium activities, manage complex data systems, and support community engagement and training. The center’s responsibilities include developing a central data portal, establishing data standards, coordinating validation and benchmarking activities, and leading consortium wide data analysis efforts. These requirements suggest that reviewers will prioritize technical expertise, organizational capacity, and experience in large scale scientific coordination. The projected timeline indicates that awards will be made around December 1, 2027, with the project start date aligned to the same timeframe. This suggests a structured review and selection process following the application deadline. Interested applicants are encouraged to begin forming partnerships and conceptualizing their approach in advance of the official announcement. Questions and inquiries can be directed to the NIH Common Fund RNomics Program via the provided email contact, which serves as the primary communication channel for this opportunity.