Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network Data Coordinating Core (DCC) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 18 514

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 18 514

This funding opportunity, RFA-DK-18-514, is a limited-competition NIH cooperative agreement (U24) aimed at continuing support for the existing Data Coordinating Core (DCC) of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network. The MAPP Network is a multi-center research collaboration focused on urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), an umbrella term that includes interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). At a high level, the program is designed to deepen understanding of UCPPS by clarifying its underlying biology and mechanisms (pathophysiology), describing how symptoms and outcomes evolve over time (natural history), identifying clinically meaningful patient subtypes (phenotypes), and uncovering risk factors that may contribute to onset or persistence. The long-term intent is to generate a stronger scientific foundation that can guide future intervention studies and ultimately improve clinical management for people living with chronic pelvic pain conditions.

The MAPP Network structure at the time of the announcement includes nine Discovery Sites responsible for participant-facing research activities, a central DCC responsible for data and study coordination functions, and a Tissue and Technology Core (TATC) that supports biospecimen-related and technology needs. This FOA specifically invites an application from the current DCC to extend its work for an additional three-year project period, meaning it is not an open competition for new coordinating centers. During the extension, the Network will continue collecting longitudinal phenotypic information and biological samples from participants already enrolled in the Trans-MAPP Symptoms Patterns Study. In parallel, the Network will continue to perform highly collaborative and integrated analyses across sites and cores, using the combined dataset and biospecimen resources to extract new insights into UCPPS, including symptom patterning and potential mechanistic signatures that may explain differences among patients.

Because the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U24), NIH expects substantial scientific and/or programmatic involvement from the agency beyond normal grant stewardship. In practice, this usually means the DCC is not only maintaining databases and performing routine coordination, but also actively partnering with NIH program staff and the wider Network to implement agreed-upon protocols, manage cross-site harmonization, support quality control and governance processes, and enable integrated analyses that depend on consistent data standards. The FOA is also explicit that clinical trials are not allowed under this opportunity, which signals that the funded activities should remain focused on observational, longitudinal follow-up, data/biospecimen coordination, and analytic integration rather than testing prospective interventions for efficacy.

Eligibility is constrained. The listed eligible applicant type includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but the key practical limitation is that the announcement is a limited competition intended for the current MAPP Network DCC. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply either. However, foreign components, as defined in NIH Grants Policy, are allowed, which generally means certain project elements may be carried out internationally under an otherwise eligible U.S. applicant when properly justified and consistent with NIH policy. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the activity aligns with health-related research (CFDA 93.847). The original closing date for applications was November 14, 2018, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.

In short, this FOA is best understood as a continuation award opportunity designed to keep the MAPP Network’s centralized data coordination, longitudinal data and biospecimen tracking, and cross-site analytic infrastructure running for three more years, so the Network can keep extracting high-value scientific insights from the Trans-MAPP cohort and related resources without shifting into clinical trial work.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network Data Coordinating Core (DCC) (U24 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): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-09-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-11-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for RFA DK 18 514

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