National Centers for Cryoelectron Microscopy (U24) | RFA RM 17 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 17 002

The National Centers for Cryoelectron Microscopy (U24) opportunity (RFA-RM-17-002) is an NIH Common Fund initiative designed to build and expand U.S. research capacity for determining molecular structures using high-resolution cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM). The core idea is to fund a small number of national service centers that function as shared, open-access resources for the broader scientific community. Rather than supporting a single research project, these centers are meant to strengthen national infrastructure by making cutting-edge cryoEM instrumentation, expertise, and data-processing capabilities available to many investigators who might not otherwise have access.

A central purpose of the program is to close both infrastructure and workforce gaps. On the infrastructure side, the centers are expected to provide access to state-of-the-art cryoEM equipment and the full technical workflow that supports high-resolution structure determination, which typically includes sample handling guidance, instrument time, optimized data collection, and downstream computational processing and analysis. On the workforce side, the centers are expected to provide hands-on technical support and cross-training so that visiting or collaborating researchers can learn best practices for producing high-quality cryoEM data and analyzing it effectively. In practical terms, the program is aimed at increasing throughput, improving data quality, and expanding the pool of researchers who can successfully use cryoEM for structural biology.

The opportunity emphasizes equitable, nationwide access. The centers are expected to operate as national service providers with an open application process for users, meaning researchers across the country should be able to request access to the centers based on transparent procedures rather than informal networks. This equal-opportunity framing signals that the centers should function as broadly available community resources, with policies and capacity planning that support diverse users, institutions, and scientific questions.

NIH is the sponsoring agency, and the award mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement (U24). A U24 structure generally indicates that NIH anticipates substantial programmatic involvement during the award, such as active coordination, oversight, and collaboration to ensure the centers meet national program goals. The funding activity category is Health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.310. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or the number of expected awards, it clearly positions the effort as a national-scale capacity-building investment rather than a typical investigator-initiated research grant.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many types of public and private entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (when they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the solicitation is strict about foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In addition, foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. In effect, the centers must be proposed, operated, and based within eligible U.S. organizations, with no foreign components included under NIH definitions.

Key administrative details from the source information include an original closing date of June 30, 2017, and a creation date of January 5, 2017. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a national infrastructure and training program intended to broaden and standardize access to high-end cryoEM capabilities, enabling more researchers to generate and interpret high-resolution structural data through shared service centers that combine advanced instrumentation, expert staff support, and practical training.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Centers for Cryoelectron Microscopy (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-01-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-06-30. (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 RM 17 002

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