Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases - Fostering the AdvanceMent of an Interactive Learning communitY - Coordinating Center (KUH-FAMILY) (U24- Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases – Fostering the AdvanceMent of an Interactive Learning communitY Coordinating Center funding opportunity is issued by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a component of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative reflects the agency’s broader mission to support biomedical research and workforce development across diseases related to kidney, urologic, hematologic, metabolic, and related systems. The funding opportunity is designed to strengthen the national research training infrastructure by addressing workforce gaps and improving coordination across existing NIH-supported programs. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish a single Coordinating Center that will unify and support a national network of trainees and investigators engaged in kidney, urologic, and hematologic research. This coordinated network, referred to as KUH-FAMILY, is intended to promote recruitment, training, retention, and career advancement across multiple career stages. The Coordinating Center will facilitate collaboration among training programs, including undergraduate research initiatives, institutional training awards, and individual fellowships, ensuring that resources and opportunities are shared broadly across the research community. Funding under this opportunity is provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, indicating substantial involvement from NIH staff in programmatic activities. The anticipated funding level is approximately $800,000 in direct costs per year for up to five years, with additional funds allocated to an Opportunity Pool that supports trainee-focused activities such as travel, skill development, and career transitions. Applicants must design budgets that reflect project needs while adhering to NIH policies, including restrictions on indirect cost calculations for certain funding components. No cost sharing or matching is required for this program. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based entities such as higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and various levels of government. However, foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign subawards are not permitted. Program Directors or Principal Investigators must demonstrate experience in training and career development, although subject-matter expertise in the specific research areas is not strictly required. The opportunity encourages collaborative leadership structures and the inclusion of personnel with expertise in coordination, communication, and program evaluation. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov using approved systems such as ASSIST or institutional system-to-system solutions, with tracking conducted through eRA Commons. Applicants must comply with the NIH Research Application Guide and all program-specific instructions. Required components include detailed research strategies, administrative plans, and a Data Management and Sharing Plan. Applications are subject to rigorous peer review based on criteria such as significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and institutional environment, followed by advisory council review and funding decisions based on merit and program relevance. Key dates for this opportunity include an opening date of June 1, 2026, and a submission deadline of July 1, 2026, with all applications due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. The review process is expected to occur in November 2026, with advisory council review in January 2027 and an earliest project start date of April 2027. This is a one-time funding opportunity with no indication of recurring cycles. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow for corrections and ensure compliance with submission requirements. The Coordinating Center is expected to play a central role in building a national research community by facilitating networking, professional development, and administrative coordination across multiple programs. Responsibilities include organizing annual meetings, managing communication platforms, administering funding opportunities for trainees, and evaluating program effectiveness. Through these activities, the initiative aims to enhance the long-term sustainability and impact of the biomedical research workforce in kidney, urologic, and hematologic disease areas.

Align proposal with NIH review criteria including significance, innovation, and approach; demonstrate strong coordination experience; clearly justify budget and administrative structure; emphasize national network impact