Single Source: Chronic Kidney Diseases of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) Research Consortium- Renal and Environmental Science Core (U01-Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), in collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Fogarty International Center (FIC), has issued a forecasted funding opportunity for the continuation of the Chronic Kidney Diseases of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) Research Consortium. The CURE initiative seeks to deepen the understanding of CKDu, a significant public health issue affecting rural populations in various low- and middle-income countries and now increasingly relevant to U.S. health due to similar environmental exposures. This announcement, coded RFA-DK-27-137, specifically targets applications for the Renal and Environmental Science Core of the CURE Consortium under a U01 cooperative agreement mechanism. CKDu is a form of chronic kidney disease not attributable to traditional risk factors such as diabetes or hypertension. It has been particularly prevalent among agricultural workers in hot climates, with suspected links to environmental and occupational exposures. Recognizing its potential implications for the U.S., NIH has established the CURE Consortium to identify causative environmental factors, potential genetic susceptibilities, and intervention pathways. The Consortium, formed in 2021, comprises multiple collaborative components including Field Epidemiology Sites, a Data Coordinating Center, and the Renal and Environmental Science Core. The Renal and Environmental Science Core will continue to lead discovery science efforts by offering laboratory analysis, biospecimen processing, and other scientific infrastructure support to the consortium. This funding opportunity supports a single-source application. Eligible applicants include a wide array of U.S.-based and non-U.S. institutions such as public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, state and local governments, tribal entities, small and large businesses, and federal agencies. The anticipated total funding for this award is $1.75 million, with an estimated project start date of February 1, 2027. The cooperative agreement will not permit clinical trials, focusing instead on laboratory-based and environmental health science research. Applications will be peer-reviewed and funded only if meritorious. This opportunity does not require matching funds or cost sharing. There are no known restrictions on geographic location within the U.S., and international applicants are also eligible. While detailed application instructions are not yet published, the opportunity is forecasted to be posted on April 1, 2026, with applications due by July 1, 2026. Interested applicants are advised to monitor Grants.gov for updates to the opportunity and the forthcoming full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The Renal and Environmental Science Core will play a central role in integrating data and biospecimen analysis across the consortium, helping to discover the environmental exposures and biological mechanisms contributing to CKDu. The CURE initiative's interdisciplinary approach is expected to yield high-impact public health interventions, identify therapeutic targets, and serve as a scientific resource for ancillary research studies beyond the current project scope. Inquiries about the funding opportunity should be directed to the Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases at NIDDK via phone at 301-594-6417 or email at NIDDK_KUH@nih.gov. As a forecasted opportunity, further documentation including the application package and specific evaluation criteria are expected upon official release of the NOFO. No pre-application requirements such as Letters of Intent or Concept Papers are currently indicated.