Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) Phase I: Data Analysis and Validation Centers (U24 Clinical trials not allowed) | RFA HG 21 031

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 21 031

The Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) Phase I: Data Analysis and Validation Centers funding opportunity (RFA-HG-21-031) is an NIH cooperative agreement (U24; clinical trials not allowed) that supports one of three coordinated efforts designed to launch the broader MorPhiC program. MorPhiC is aimed at building a standardized, widely usable catalog of what happens at the molecular and cellular level when individual human genes are completely inactivated (that is, when a null allele is created). The program focuses on in vitro multicellular systems, with the intent that the resulting reference resource will be consistent across genes and experimental settings and will be made available for broad use by the biomedical research community.

Phase I is positioned as a practical, proof-and-optimization stage rather than a full-scale rollout across the entire genome. The consortium will begin by targeting a shared subset of 1,000 protein-coding genes. During this phase, the program is expected to refine and compare available approaches for generating null alleles and for measuring downstream phenotypic consequences, while also stress-testing how scalable those approaches are. Just as importantly, Phase I is meant to establish the infrastructure and conventions needed for a durable community resource, including common data formats and clear use cases that demonstrate how researchers can interpret and apply the catalog in real biological and translational contexts.

This specific FOA funds the Data Analysis and Validation Centers, which are responsible for the computational and analytical backbone that makes the experimental outputs reliable, interpretable, and useful. These Centers are expected to develop and apply computational models, statistical pipelines, quality control and validation strategies, and data visualization methods that can evaluate MorPhiC datasets as they are generated. In practice, that means creating approaches that can detect artifacts or inconsistencies, quantify confidence in inferred phenotypes, compare results across assays or cellular systems, and help define what counts as a robust, reproducible phenotype for a given null allele. The emphasis is not simply on analyzing data after the fact, but on building methods that actively improve the overall utility of the consortium outputs by guiding validation, harmonization, and interpretation.

The MorPhiC program is explicitly structured as a consortium with multiple complementary components funded under separate announcements. Alongside these Data Analysis and Validation Centers, NIH planned separate FOAs for (1) Data Production Research and Development Centers, which generate the null alleles and measure phenotypes in the laboratory, and (2) a Data Resource and Administrative Coordination Center, which receives, annotates, and presents data for consortium and public use while also handling administrative coordination. The Data Analysis and Validation Centers funded under this FOA therefore operate in a highly collaborative, cooperative-agreement environment where milestones, shared standards, and cross-site coordination are central to success.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations such as state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The opportunity also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain tribal governments that are not federally recognized. At the same time, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, although foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed.

Key administrative details from the source include: the agency is the National Institutes of Health; the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement (U24); the activity category is Health (CFDA 93.172); the original closing date listed is 2021-11-01; and the FOA was created on 2021-08-06. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) Phase I: Data Analysis and Validation Centers (U24 Clinical trials not allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-06.
• 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.

Apply for RFA HG 21 031

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