The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs at Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications to provide continuing support for the Informatics, Coordination and Service Center (ICSC) unit of the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Centers (MMRRC) consortium. The U42 mechanism supports projects to develop and assist animal, biological material and new approach methodologies (NAMs) resources to make models of human diseases available to all qualified investigators without regard to the scientific disciplines or disease orientations of their research activities or specifically directed to a categorical program. This Notice is being provided now to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.

The NOFO will have two application cycles. The NOFO is expected to be published in Spring 2025, with an expected application due date in Summer 2025. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

With this intended reissue of the ICSC funding opportunity, ORIP seeks to enhance ICSC contribution to the larger MMRRC consortium by maintaining scientific rigor, transparency, and experimental reproducibility of the biomedical research while improving the quality of the MMRRC consortium’s services for acquisition, evaluation, characterization, cryopreservation, storage, and distribution of mutant mouse strains and related biological materials. Of special interest of the announcement is a requirement of the Center’s close coordination with efforts to develop new approach methodologies (NAMS) that complement traditional animal-based research. These include cell culture, organoids, computational models, and microphysiological systems. Proposed activities should include collection and analysis of the comparative information on the use of NAMs that enhance the predictive power of human disease models and support their integration with traditional models. The Center should develop an active program for monitoring and collecting information on the impact of the MMRRC consortium’s ongoing activities concerning biomedical research as well as a high risk, high return research pilot that complements the goals and needs of the MMRRC consortium related to informatics services.

Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the U42 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into bioinformatics, animal and non-animal models of human diseases are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this NOFO. In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise in mouse genetics and biology as well as research databases will be encouraged; these investigators should also begin considering applying for this application.

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