Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD), Diagnostic-Telemedicine Resource (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AA 21 012

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AA 21 012

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offered this funding opportunity to continue the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD). The purpose of CIFASD is to bring multiple disciplines together in a coordinated way to tackle major gaps in the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) field. The program is centered on practical, high-impact needs: finding and confirming FASD cases earlier and more accurately, improving interventions that lessen long-term impacts for affected individuals, expanding basic and mechanistic knowledge about how prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts development (alcohol teratogenesis) with an emphasis on moving discoveries toward real-world use, and ultimately reducing prenatal alcohol exposure and lowering the incidence of FASD.

This specific announcement calls for a Cooperative Agreement using the U24 mechanism and focuses on the Diagnostic-Telemedicine Core within the CIFASD consortium. In other words, applicants were expected to propose a shared, consortium-wide resource centered on diagnostic support delivered through telemedicine approaches. A core like this typically exists to standardize and strengthen diagnostic practices across participating sites, improve access to specialized expertise (especially in areas where local diagnostic capacity is limited), and create consistent processes and tools that help clinicians and researchers identify FASD in a reliable, comparable way. The “Clinical Trial Not Allowed” designation means applications under this announcement were not meant to run clinical trials; the work should instead support diagnostic resource development, coordination, and other non-trial research and infrastructure activities aligned with the consortium.

The funding instrument is described as a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared with a standard grant. This structure is commonly used for multi-site consortia and shared cores because NIH and awardees typically need to coordinate on milestones, harmonized methods, data/resource sharing, and governance so the different parts of the initiative work together as a single integrated program rather than isolated projects.

Eligibility for this opportunity was broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants included state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified); for-profit entities (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other organizations. The announcement also explicitly highlighted additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Non-U.S. institutions were not eligible to apply as primary applicants, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible; however, “foreign components” as defined in NIH policy were allowed, meaning certain project elements could be conducted abroad if appropriately justified and compliant with NIH rules.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.273 and was categorized as a discretionary health funding opportunity. The official funding opportunity number is RFA-AA-21-012, with an original closing date of August 16, 2021, and a creation date of June 2, 2021. The award ceiling and expected number of awards were not specified in the provided listing, suggesting applicants would need to consult the full FOA text for budget expectations, project period guidance, and consortium coordination requirements.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD), Diagnostic-Telemedicine Resource (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): 93.273.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-06-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-08-16. (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 AA 21 012

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