Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 20 001
The NIH funding opportunity "Transformative Technology Development for the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (RFA-RM-20-001; CFDA 93.310) is a discretionary health research program that uses a cooperative agreement mechanism to push forward new, high-impact technologies for building a detailed atlas of the human body at cellular and molecular resolution. The central aim is to fund tools and platforms that can map individual cells within intact human tissues while preserving information about where those cells sit and how they interact with their surrounding tissue environment. In practice, the FOA is looking for technology leaps that substantially increase throughput (how many cells or tissue regions can be processed), multiplexing (how many different biomolecules can be measured at once), and discrimination (how precisely distinct biomolecules, cell states, or molecular signatures can be distinguished) in human tissue mapping.
The opportunity is structured as a phased UG3/UH3 award spanning up to four years total, designed to move quickly from an ambitious prototype into a validated, scalable system. The first phase (UG3) lasts up to two years and is focused on accelerated technology development and proof-of-principle work. Applicants are expected to use this period to demonstrate feasibility, show that the core technical concept works, and reach clear performance milestones that justify advancing to the second phase. The second phase (UH3), also up to two years, is where the program expects teams to validate the technology directly in human tissues, optimize performance and robustness, scale the approach so it can be used more broadly, and generate usable datasets. The overall emphasis is not on incremental improvements, but on emerging technologies that can change what is practically measurable in human tissue biology.
A key feature of this FOA is its strong integration with the broader Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP). Awardees are expected to work closely with HuBMAP as part of a coordinated effort to accelerate a shared framework for high-resolution mapping of the human body. Because the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, NIH typically plays a more active role than in a standard grant, which often implies coordination requirements, collaborative expectations, and alignment with program goals and standards. Successful projects should therefore be designed with integration in mind, meaning the technology should be capable of being adopted, scaled, and applied across multiple human tissues rather than being narrowly tailored to one niche sample type or a one-off demonstration.
The FOA explicitly states that clinical trials are not allowed, signaling that the funded work should be technology development and validation in human tissues for atlas construction rather than interventional studies in human participants. Validation in human tissues is still central, but it is framed as demonstrating and refining measurement capability, performance, and reproducibility, and producing high-quality molecular and spatial data appropriate for building reference maps.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations: state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), non-US (foreign) organizations, regional organizations, and US territories or possessions. This breadth reflects an intent to draw from a wide innovation base, including academic, nonprofit, governmental, and commercial technology developers.
Administrative details provided in the source include an original closing date of March 3, 2020, and a creation date of December 2, 2019. While specific award ceilings and expected award counts are not listed in the provided excerpt, the structure and expectations are clear: propose a transformative, scalable technology; prove it works quickly in the UG3 phase; then validate and scale it in the UH3 phase while contributing to HuBMAP's broader mission of building a high-resolution, comprehensive molecular atlas of human tissues.Apply for RFA RM 20 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Transformative Technology Development for the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-12-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-03-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Transformative Technology Development for the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (RFA-RM-20-001; CFDA 93.310).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to support the development of new, high-impact technologies that enable construction of a detailed atlas of the human body at cellular and molecular resolution, with a strong emphasis on mapping cells within intact human tissues while preserving spatial context (where cells are located and how they relate to their surrounding tissue environment).
What kinds of technologies or capabilities is the FOA trying to advance?
The FOA is looking for technology "leaps" that substantially improve:
- Throughput: how many cells or tissue regions can be processed
- Multiplexing: how many different biomolecules can be measured at once
- Discrimination: how precisely distinct biomolecules, cell states, or molecular signatures can be distinguished
What biological setting is the work expected to focus on?
The work is expected to focus on human tissues, with the aim of producing high-quality molecular and spatial data that are appropriate for building reference maps for atlas construction.
Is this opportunity focused on incremental improvements to existing methods?
No. The emphasis is explicitly on transformative and emerging technologies rather than incremental improvements, with the goal of changing what is practically measurable in human tissue biology.
What funding mechanism does this FOA use?
This FOA uses a cooperative agreement mechanism and is structured as a phased UG3/UH3 award.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, NIH typically plays a more active role than in a standard grant. This commonly implies coordination requirements, collaborative expectations, and alignment with program goals and standards, especially in connection with HuBMAP.
How is the award structured across UG3 and UH3 phases?
The award can span up to four years total and is divided into two phases:
- UG3 phase: up to 2 years for accelerated technology development and proof-of-principle
- UH3 phase: up to 2 years for validation in human tissues, optimization, scaling, and generating usable datasets
What is the primary goal of the UG3 phase?
The UG3 phase is focused on accelerated development and proof-of-principle work. Applicants are expected to demonstrate feasibility, show the core technical concept works, and achieve clear performance milestones that justify advancing to the UH3 phase.
What is the primary goal of the UH3 phase?
The UH3 phase is intended for validating the technology directly in human tissues, optimizing performance and robustness, scaling the approach for broader use, and generating usable datasets.
Does the FOA require that technologies be usable across multiple tissues?
Yes. Projects are expected to be designed with integration and broader applicability in mind. The FOA emphasizes that the technology should be capable of being adopted, scaled, and applied across multiple human tissues, rather than being narrowly tailored to a single niche sample type or a one-off demonstration.
How does this opportunity relate to the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP)?
A key feature is strong integration with HuBMAP. Awardees are expected to work closely with HuBMAP as part of a coordinated effort to accelerate a shared framework for high-resolution mapping of the human body.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." The funded work should focus on technology development and validation in human tissues for atlas construction rather than interventional studies in human participants.
If clinical trials are not allowed, can projects still involve human tissues?
Yes. Validation in human tissues is central to the FOA, but it is framed around demonstrating and refining measurement capability, performance, and reproducibility, and producing high-quality molecular and spatial data suitable for building reference maps.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, including:
- State, county, city, or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Tribal organizations (not federally recognized governments)
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), other than institutions of higher education
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights that non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are among the additional eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA notes eligibility includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Does the FOA mention any specific categories of institutions and community organizations as eligible?
Yes. It highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, and tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), as well as regional organizations.
What is the program area or CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The FOA lists CFDA 93.310.
What are the key expectations for project outcomes?
Based on the description provided, the key expectations include: a transformative and scalable technology platform; demonstration of feasibility and milestone achievement in UG3; validation and optimization in human tissues during UH3; scaling for broader adoption; and generation of usable molecular and spatial datasets aligned with HuBMAP mapping goals.
Are award ceiling amounts or the expected number of awards provided in the information here?
No. The excerpt provided does not include specific award ceilings or expected award counts.
What dates are provided for this FOA?
The information provided includes a creation date of December 2, 2019 and an original closing date of March 3, 2020.
What does "discretionary health research program" mean in this context?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary health research program, meaning it is a government-funded research program focused on advancing health-related science and technology development, here specifically aimed at enabling next-generation human tissue mapping for atlas construction.
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