Limited Competition: Knockout Mouse Production and Phenotyping Project (UM1) Clinical Trial Not Allowed | RFA HG 21 036

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 21 036

The Limited Competition: Knockout Mouse Production and Phenotyping Project (KOMP2) (UM1) Clinical Trial Not Allowed opportunity (RFA-HG-21-036) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement that supports the final major push of the KOMP2 effort: building a broad, standardized public resource of null-mutant (gene knockout) mouse lines and matched phenotype data to help scientists determine what mammalian protein-coding genes do. The overall intent is straightforward and highly infrastructure-oriented rather than hypothesis-driven: create, characterize, preserve, and distribute knockout mouse models at scale so the wider research community can use them to study gene function, disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic targets.

Under this FOA, NIH is seeking applications specifically from production and phenotyping centers that can make maximum progress toward completing KOMP2 during a final five-year project period. The core deliverables are clearly defined: generate roughly 1,200 mutant mouse lines using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, run a standardized series of phenotyping assays to capture functional and biological effects of each knockout, cryopreserve germplasm (such as sperm and/or embryos) to ensure long-term preservation and reproducibility, and make both the mice and associated datasets rapidly and readily accessible to the broader scientific community. The emphasis on standardized phenotyping and broad distribution signals that the program is meant to be a durable, community-facing platform that lowers barriers for downstream biomedical research by providing validated models and comparable data.

This is a limited competition Request for Applications (RFA), meaning it is not open to all comers in practice even though many organizational types are listed as generally eligible. Only recipient organizations previously funded under the earlier initiative (RFA-RM-15-017) are eligible to apply, which effectively restricts applications to established KOMP2 awardees or designated prior recipients with the relevant operational capacity and program history. The listing of eligible applicant categories is extensive and includes many institution types (for example, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit entities other than small businesses, small businesses, and multiple levels of government). It also explicitly mentions participation-encouraging categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, tribal governments (including non-federally recognized in the “other eligible applicants” language), U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities, along with faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. Even with that broad universe, the limiting condition tied to prior RFA-RM-15-017 funding is the key gatekeeper for this specific competition.

Administratively, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement (UM1), which typically indicates substantial NIH program involvement compared to a standard research project grant. In practical terms, this structure is commonly used for large, coordinated, milestone-driven efforts where NIH and awardees work closely on execution, standards, timelines, quality control, data release practices, and coordination with other program components. The activity is categorized under discretionary funding, and the FOA explicitly states “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” reinforcing that the supported work is preclinical model generation and phenotyping rather than human subject intervention studies.

The opportunity was created on 2021-08-31, with an original closing date of 2021-11-01. The source data lists numerous CFDA numbers (now often referenced through Assistance Listings) spanning multiple NIH-related domains, reflecting that the resource has broad relevance across many institutes and disease areas rather than being tied to a single narrow mission. While the record provided does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the scope and deliverables described indicate a large-scale, production-centered program where success is measured by throughput (number of lines produced), depth and consistency of phenotyping, quality of cryopreservation, and speed and usability of distribution and data sharing.

In short, this FOA is about finishing a major national (and globally useful) functional genomics infrastructure project: systematically knocking out protein-coding genes in mice, capturing standardized phenotype readouts, preserving the models for long-term use, and putting both the animals and the data into the hands of the research community as efficiently and reliably as possible, with eligibility restricted to organizations already participating in the prior KOMP2 funding round.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Knockout Mouse Production and Phenotyping Project (UM1) 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): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.313, 93.351, 93.396, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-11-01. (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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