Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 20 038
The NIH National Cancer Institute released this emergency cooperative agreement opportunity (RFA-CA-20-038) to rapidly stand up SARS-CoV-2 Serological Sciences Centers of Excellence under the U54 mechanism, with clinical trials allowed but not required (Clinical Trial Optional). The funding came through the COVID-19 supplemental appropriations in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (P.L. 116-139), which specifically directed NCI to help develop, validate, improve, and implement serology testing and related technologies. In practical terms, this FOA was meant to build well-resourced, multi-component centers that could move fast, generate reliable serology science, and coordinate closely with NIH and other network partners rather than operate as isolated, stand-alone projects.
The core goal of the Centers is to advance research that explains what immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 look like and what they mean. That includes characterizing immune responses after infection, digging into the mechanisms behind serological (antibody-based), humoral, and cellular immunity, and identifying why people vary in response. The FOA highlights studying host, genetic, and environmental factors that modify immune responses, as well as defining serological correlates tied to disease course (pathogenesis) and protection from future infection. Beyond the bench science, the announcement also emphasizes real-world implementation issues: understanding barriers to access, communication, and adoption of serological testing, which matters for public health impact and equitable use of testing technologies.
These U54 Centers were designed to function as part of a larger coordinated program called the Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet). SeroNet was not just a set of independent grants; it was a structured network expected to share data, results, specimens, assays, and reagents across sites to accelerate progress and improve standardization. Alongside the U54 Centers, the network included separate Serological Sciences Research Projects funded under a companion U01 FOA (RFA-CA-20-039), plus centralized and enabling infrastructure such as the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) Serology Laboratory, Serological Capacity Building Centers (CBCs), and a Serological Sciences Network Coordinating Center (SSNCC). The coordinating and some management functions were to be handled through FNLCR, which operates as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center, and the network could also be expanded through SBIR awards and other serology-related grants and contracts tied to SARS-CoV-2.
Because this was a cooperative agreement, awardees would generally expect substantial NIH involvement compared with a typical research grant, including active coordination, shared milestones, and network-level expectations around collaboration and dissemination. The U54 structure also signals that applications were expected to be multi-component center proposals rather than single, narrow projects, with the intention that each Center would contribute capabilities and leadership to the broader network mission.
Eligibility was broad across public and private sectors, including state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)) outside of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly called out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it limited foreign participation: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations/institutions) and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations were not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, though foreign components as defined by NIH policy were allowed, meaning certain project elements could be performed abroad if justified and compliant with NIH rules.
Key administrative details in the source information include the agency (National Institutes of Health), the funding instrument (cooperative agreement), and the activity areas (education and health). The CFDA numbers listed were 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.855. The original application closing date was July 22, 2020, reflecting the emergency, time-sensitive nature of the program. The award ceiling and expected number of awards were not specified in the provided data, but the intent was clearly to launch a functional, collaborative national serology network quickly and at scale.Apply for RFA CA 20 038
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emergency Awards: SARS-CoV-2 Serological Sciences Centers of Excellence (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-06-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-22. (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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FAQs: NIH NCI Emergency Cooperative Agreement (RFA-CA-20-038) - SARS-CoV-2 Serological Sciences Centers of Excellence (U54)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) emergency cooperative agreement funding opportunity announcement (FOA) titled RFA-CA-20-038. It was created to rapidly establish SARS-CoV-2 Serological Sciences Centers of Excellence using the U54 center mechanism.
Which NIH institute released the FOA?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Cancer Institute (NCI), released this FOA.
What does "U54" mean in this FOA?
U54 is a center-based NIH activity code intended for multi-component, well-resourced programs. In this FOA, applicants were expected to propose a Center (not a single narrow project) with multiple components and capabilities that contribute to a coordinated national effort.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The FOA uses a cooperative agreement, which generally includes substantial NIH involvement in the funded work compared with a standard research grant.
What does "cooperative agreement" imply for awardees?
As a cooperative agreement, awardees should expect active NIH coordination and program-level involvement, including shared milestones and network expectations for collaboration, coordination, and dissemination across participating sites.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The FOA is described as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning clinical trials were allowed but not required.
What problem was this FOA designed to address?
The FOA was intended to stand up a fast-moving, coordinated set of Centers to generate reliable SARS-CoV-2 serology science, accelerate development and implementation of serology testing and related technologies, and avoid isolated, stand-alone efforts by emphasizing networked collaboration.
What are the main scientific goals of the Centers?
The core goal is to advance research explaining what immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 look like and what they mean. This includes characterizing immune responses after infection, studying mechanisms behind serological (antibody-based), humoral, and cellular immunity, and understanding why immune responses vary across individuals.
What kinds of immune responses are emphasized?
The FOA highlights serological (antibody-based) responses as well as broader humoral and cellular immunity, including mechanisms underlying these responses and variability between people.
Does the FOA focus only on laboratory research?
No. Alongside bench science, the FOA emphasizes real-world implementation issues related to serological testing, including barriers to access, communication, and adoption, with an eye toward public health impact and equitable use.
What does the FOA say about variability in immune response?
It specifically calls for studying host, genetic, and environmental factors that modify immune responses and contribute to differences among individuals.
What are "serological correlates" in the context of this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes defining serological correlates tied to disease course (pathogenesis) and protection from future infection, meaning measurable immune markers that relate to how disease progresses and whether someone may be protected later.
How does this FOA relate to SeroNet?
These U54 Centers were designed to operate as part of a larger coordinated program called the Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet). The FOA frames the effort as a structured network rather than independent projects working in isolation.
What was SeroNet expected to do as a network?
SeroNet was expected to accelerate progress and improve standardization by sharing data, results, specimens, assays, and reagents across participating sites.
Were there other awards connected to this program besides the U54 Centers?
Yes. The network also included separate Serological Sciences Research Projects funded under a companion U01 FOA (RFA-CA-20-039), plus centralized and enabling infrastructure to support and coordinate network activities.
What is the companion FOA mentioned for related projects?
The companion U01 FOA referenced is RFA-CA-20-039 for Serological Sciences Research Projects.
What centralized infrastructure was mentioned as part of the network?
The information describes multiple network supports, including the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) Serology Laboratory, Serological Capacity Building Centers (CBCs), and a Serological Sciences Network Coordinating Center (SSNCC).
What role does FNLCR play in this program?
Coordinating and some management functions were to be handled through the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR), which operates as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). FNLCR was also described as part of the enabling laboratory infrastructure (FNLCR Serology Laboratory).
Could the network grow beyond the U54 and U01 awards?
Yes. The network could also be expanded through SBIR awards and other SARS-CoV-2 serology-related grants and contracts.
Where did the funding for this FOA come from?
The funding came through COVID-19 supplemental appropriations in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (P.L. 116-139), which directed NCI to help develop, validate, improve, and implement serology testing and related technologies.
What are the activity areas associated with this opportunity?
The activity areas listed are education and health.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, and 93.855.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included public and private organizations across many sectors, including governments, higher education institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit entities (with the exception that small businesses were called out separately as eligible as well).
Are state, county, and local governments eligible?
Yes. State, county, and local governments were explicitly included as eligible applicants.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were included as eligible.
Are nonprofits eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits outside of higher education were eligible, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses were listed as eligible, and small businesses were also listed as eligible applicant types.
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations were included as eligible.
Are U.S. territories eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions were explicitly called out as eligible applicant types.
Does the FOA mention special categories of eligible institutions and organizations?
Yes. The FOA explicitly called out Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply as the applicant organization?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations/institutions) were not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations were not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Are foreign components allowed in a project?
Yes. Foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) were allowed, meaning certain justified project elements could be performed abroad if compliant with NIH rules.
What was the application due date?
The original application closing date was July 22, 2020.
Were award amounts or the number of awards specified?
No. Based on the provided information, the award ceiling and expected number of awards were not specified.
Why was this described as an emergency opportunity?
The FOA was intended to be time-sensitive and to rapidly launch a functional, collaborative national serology network quickly and at scale, reflecting the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
What was the practical intent behind establishing Centers rather than independent projects?
The FOA aimed to create well-resourced, multi-component Centers that could move quickly, generate reliable serology science, and coordinate closely with NIH and network partners rather than operate as stand-alone efforts.
What kinds of collaboration and sharing were expected across awardees?
The network model emphasized sharing data, results, specimens, assays, and reagents across sites, supporting faster progress and better standardization of approaches and outputs.
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