Re-Competition of Global Network for Womens and Childrens Health Research (UG1) | RFA HD 18 009

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 18 009

The Re-Competition of the Global Network for Womens and Childrens Health Research (UG1) opportunity (RFA-HD-18-009) is a National Institutes of Health funding announcement from NICHD that supports U.S.-led Research Units (RUs) operating as part of an established cooperative research network focused on maternal, neonatal, infant, and early childhood health in low-resource settings. The central aim is to reduce major causes of illness and death among women and young children by generating practical, high-quality clinical evidence in countries classified as low income by the World Bank. Rather than funding isolated projects, this program is built around coordinated, multi-site research carried out through a formal network structure, where awardees collaborate with NIH and with each other to run studies that can influence care practices and health policy in settings with limited infrastructure.

A key requirement is that each RU must be anchored at a U.S.-based research center and must apply in partnership with one or more research centers in eligible low-income countries. The expectation is that these partnerships are real operating collaborations, not simply advisory relationships, and that they can support rigorous clinical research on the ground. The research supported under the network includes both multi-center observational studies and randomized clinical trials. Projects can examine disease processes, maternal and child health and wellness outcomes, and the effectiveness of interventions, with an emphasis on questions that matter most in resource-poor environments where maternal and child mortality and morbidity remain high.

The award mechanism is a UG1 cooperative agreement, which signals substantial scientific and programmatic involvement by NIH staff during the conduct of the work. In practice, this means the funded RUs are not operating completely independently; they are part of a cooperative network in which NIH is an active scientific partner. Awardees should be prepared for network governance, common protocols when applicable, shared standards for data collection and quality, coordination across international sites, and participation in network-wide planning and prioritization of studies. Because the work is multi-center and clinically oriented, applicants should also anticipate strong expectations around ethical oversight, participant protections, data management, and the operational capacity to implement studies reliably across different local contexts.

Eligibility is broad on the U.S. side and includes many common governmental, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector applicant types. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local 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; certain tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other entities as allowed in the announcement. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, eligible federal agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the application must come from a U.S. institution. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply directly, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, foreign components are allowed under NIH policy, which is consistent with the program design that relies on formal collaboration with research centers in low-income countries. In other words, the U.S. applicant leads the award, while the overseas partner sites participate as part of the project structure consistent with NIH rules for foreign components.

Administratively, the opportunity falls under the Health, Income Security and Social Services activity category and is associated with CFDA 93.865. The original closing date listed for this competition was 2017-11-27, and it was posted in mid-2017 (creation date 2017-07-18). While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the excerpt provided, the overall structure indicates a network model with multiple RUs funded to collectively carry out a coordinated portfolio of studies, rather than a single stand-alone grant.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Re-Competition of Global Network for Womens and Childrens Health Research (UG1)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-07-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-11-27. (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 HD 18 009

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