Purpose:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) participating Institutes and Centers, in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, invite cooperative agreement (U01) applications to support investigator-initiated clinical research studies aimed at furthering the field of regenerative medicine (RM) using adult stem cells. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued as part of the Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project (RMIP), represents one step in fulfilling a statutory provision set forth in the 21st Century Cures Act.
Applications are expected to focus on innovative projects that propose solutions to widely recognized issues in the development of safe and effective RM therapies. Emphasis will be given to projects that address critical issues in product development relevant for regulatory submissions. Areas of focus may include improved tools, methods, standards, or applied science that support a better understanding and improved evaluation of in-depth product characterization, manufacturing, potency, identity, quality, safety, in vivo function and integration, or effectiveness.
Toward these ends, the NIH will consider applications for late-stage preclinical research studies involving adult stem cells in the context of generating or supplementing the necessary evidence for clinical development, including, but not limited to, the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) or Investigational New Device Exemption (IDE) package; or to support such research conducted under an authorized IND or IDE.
Due to the complex nature of requirements in this FOA (e.g., 1:1 matching funds, resource sharing), applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate with the appropriate NIH Scientific/Research Contact and review online Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) prior to submitting an application. Staff will be able to advise applicants in determining if their research meets the requirements and objectives of this FOA.
Background:
This FOA, issued as part of the Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project (RMIP), represents one step in fulfilling a new statutory provision set forth in the 21st Century Cures Act. Given the potential of RM to enhance human health and treat disease, in the 21st Century Cures Act Congress authorized a total of $30 million in fiscal years 2017 through 2020 for the funding of clinical research to further the field of RM using adult stem cells, including autologous cells. The 21st Century Cures Act stipulates that awards must be contingent upon the recipient procuring non-Federal contributions in an amount not less than $1 for each $1 of Federal funds (total Direct and Indirect/Facilities and Administrative (F&A)) costs provided in the award (i.e., a matching funds requirement). Additional information is provided in the FAQs and Matching Requirement section below.
Research projects responsive to this FOA are expected to involve both of the following: (1) human subjects or material of human origin, such as cells, tissues, and specimens; and (2) human stem cells that are not of embryonic or fetal origin. Research projects involving induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may be supported if the cells used to generate the iPS cells were not of fetal or embryonic origin. Applicable research on adult human stem cells may encompass, for example, research on biologics (e.g., growth factors, cytokines) and biomaterials (e.g., extracellular matrix, scaffolds) that stimulate host adult stem cell self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, and/or function or otherwise directly act upon adult stems cells to support innate host healing mechanisms, treat disease, and/or restore function. Funding could be used, for example, for the appropriate chemistry, manufacturing, and controls development to support the production of such products for clinical trials using phase-appropriate current good manufacturing practices (cGMP). Funds may not be used for research involving human cells of embryonic or fetal origin.
Key Dates:
URL for more information:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-23-019.html
Filed Under: Funding Opportunities