Discovery of the Genetic Basis of Childhood Cancers and of Structural Birth Defects: Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 19 104

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 104

This NIH funding opportunity, titled "Discovery of the Genetic Basis of Childhood Cancers and of Structural Birth Defects: Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-19-104), is part of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program. Its central purpose is to accelerate discoveries about the genetic causes of childhood cancers and structural birth defects by generating high-quality DNA sequencing data from well-characterized pediatric cohorts and making those data broadly usable by the research community through a shared resource.

Rather than primarily funding a typical stand-alone research project, this announcement invites applicants to contribute biospecimens from existing pediatric cohorts so they can be sequenced at a Kids First-supported sequencing center. The core activity supported is whole genome sequencing, with additional options for whole exome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing in situations where those approaches are scientifically justified. For pediatric cancer studies, the intent is often to sequence tumors and, when appropriate, matched normal samples to help clarify the genetic contributions to childhood cancers. For studies focused on structural birth defects, the intent is to broaden the diversity of conditions represented in the Kids First Data Resource and strengthen understanding of the genetic etiology underlying those defects. In both cases, the program is oriented around maximizing the value of existing cohorts by creating standardized, widely accessible genomic datasets.

A key feature of the opportunity is the requirement that the resulting data become part of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (the Kids First Data Resource). In practical terms, applicants should expect that genomic data generated from submitted samples will be incorporated into a shared data ecosystem designed to support many downstream analyses by the broader pediatric research community. This emphasis on building a communal data resource means the program is not only about answering one lab's immediate questions, but also about enabling reuse, replication, and new discovery across institutions and disease areas over time.

The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," signaling that it is not intended to support interventional clinical studies. The activity category is health (CFDA 93.310), the agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the funding instrument type is a grant. The original closing date listed in the source information is 2019-02-21, and the posting creation date is 2018-12-14. No award ceiling or expected number of awards is provided in the supplied listing, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full announcement details for budget and award expectations.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city or township, special district), independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as non-federally recognized tribal organizations. It also includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, the announcement highlights "other eligible applicants" such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), and U.S. territories or possessions. This broad eligibility aligns with the program's goal of capturing diverse cohorts and conditions and ensuring the resulting data resource reflects a wide range of pediatric populations and disorders.

In summary, PAR-19-104 is best understood as an NIH-supported pathway for researchers and organizations to submit pediatric cohort samples for centralized sequencing, with a strong emphasis on whole genome sequencing and on expanding and enriching the Kids First Data Resource. The program aims to deepen understanding of the genetic foundations of childhood cancers and structural birth defects while ensuring that the generated genomic data serve as a durable, community-accessible asset for pediatric research.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Discovery of the Genetic Basis of Childhood Cancers and of Structural Birth Defects: Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (X01 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): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-12-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-21. (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 PAR 19 104

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: