Regional Consortia for High Resolution Cryoelectron Microscopy (U24) | RFA GM 17 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA GM 17 005

The Regional Consortia for High Resolution Cryoelectron Microscopy (U24) funding opportunity (RFA-GM-17-005) is a National Institutes of Health cooperative agreement run through NIGMS (CFDA 93.859) aimed at expanding reliable, regional access to state-of-the-art cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) data collection. The core idea is to strengthen the ability of multiple cryoEM-focused research groups to generate high-resolution datasets by coordinating shared use of an already strong, modern cryoEM facility. Rather than funding new, standalone centers or general-purpose service cores, the program is designed to link experienced cryoEM laboratories that already depend on this technology, so they can collectively use and sustain top-tier data collection infrastructure.

The program supports formation of a consortium that includes one host institution plus at least four partner institutions. The host is expected to already operate a high-performing cryoEM installation with a demonstrated track record for high-resolution data collection, and the grant is meant to underwrite the host facility's surplus capacity so it can be opened up to the partner laboratories. In practice, that means the host provides access to its instruments, staff expertise, and operational infrastructure, while the partner institutions contribute projects that require high-resolution cryoEM and have the capability to make productive use of the data. Importantly, the partner groups are not casual users; they are expected to be cryoEM-specialized labs (including established and early stage investigators) whose research programs depend on cryoEM, and who will use the shared access to produce their own research outcomes.

The FOA makes a clear distinction about what it will and will not pay for. Allowable support is focused on enabling partner laboratories to collect cryoEM data at the host site and to carry out the initial stages of image processing on the resulting raw data. This is deliberately limited: it does not extend to broader downstream research activities, extensive biological interpretation, or unrelated project costs. The model is not a traditional service center where the host performs cryoEM analysis for non-specialist collaborators; instead, it is a capacity-sharing arrangement among labs that already have cryoEM expertise and need additional high-resolution data collection capability. The intent is to reduce bottlenecks in access to high-end microscopes and associated workflows while keeping scientific ownership and advanced analysis with the specialist partner laboratories.

From a budgeting and cost-coverage standpoint, awards are meant to do two main things. First, they help cover fixed costs of maintaining and operating the host cryoEM facility, with services extended in proportion to the resources dedicated to the partner labs (for example, instrument time, staff support, and operational overhead tied to running high-end cryoEM at high throughput and high performance). Second, they cover expenses associated with partner access to the host facility, which can include the practical costs of using the shared infrastructure and services. The FOA also notes that the host institution does not need to already have an electron detector; funds from this initiative can be used to acquire direct detection equipment, reflecting how central modern detectors are to achieving high-resolution performance and efficient data collection.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations typically allowed under NIH mechanisms, including various levels of government, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, among others. The FOA also explicitly highlights categories such as Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and other community-based and regional organizations as eligible applicants. At the same time, it draws clear lines around foreign participation: non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, although foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The opportunity was created on February 21, 2017, with an original closing date of August 7, 2017, and uses the cooperative agreement structure, which typically signals substantial NIH program involvement in overseeing or partnering in the execution of the award's goals.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as an infrastructure-and-access program for a network of cryoEM-specialist laboratories. It is meant to maximize the impact of existing high-end cryoEM installations by funding coordinated regional consortia that share instrument time and operational support, improve access to modern detection and data collection capability, and ensure partner labs can generate and begin processing high-quality cryoEM datasets without turning the host site into a general service provider for non-specialists.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Consortia for High Resolution Cryoelectron Microscopy (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-02-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-08-07. (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.

Apply for RFA GM 17 005

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: