NINDS Morris K. Udall Center without Walls for Parkinsons Disease Research (P20 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA NS 18 027

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the NINDS Morris K. Udall Center without Walls for Parkinsons Disease Research (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)?

It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from NINDS designed to help launch brand-new, multi-institution research consortia focused on solving a high-impact problem in Parkinsons disease (PD). The funding mechanism is an Exploratory Grant (P20) and it supports early planning, organization, and initial collaborative work needed to build a coordinated team that can later compete for a full NINDS Udall Center without Walls (CWOW) effort.

2) What is the main purpose of this P20 award?

The main purpose is to support the formation and early development of a new consortium, including planning, coordination across institutions, and feasibility-style collaborative research that helps establish credibility and reduce uncertainty. It is intended as a launching point toward a future, full Udall Center without Walls application, rather than support for an already mature, long-running research program.

3) What kind of problem should an application focus on?

Applications are expected to be organized around a clearly defined and fundamental Parkinsons disease research priority. The proposal should identify a core challenge in PD where progress is limited by a specific, well-articulated impediment or bottleneck.

4) What are the key elements NINDS expects in the strongest proposals?

The strongest proposals are described as doing four things well: (1) identify a core PD challenge limited by a specific impediment; (2) build an exceptional transdisciplinary, multi-institution consortium matched to the problem; (3) generate or compile supportive preliminary data through feasibility-style projects; and (4) present a targeted, goal-driven strategy with strong potential to remove the impediment and accelerate advances in PD etiology, pathogenesis, or treatment.

5) Is this opportunity meant to fund established consortia or ongoing collaborations?

No. A major emphasis is on new collaborations rather than extensions of existing ones. Continuation of established projects, longstanding teams, or already well-formed consortia is not the intent and will not be supported under this announcement.

6) What does "Center without Walls" imply in the context provided?

Based on the description, it refers to a coordinated, multi-institution consortium designed to work collaboratively across organizational boundaries to address an essential bottleneck in PD research. This P20 specifically supports early-stage work to mature toward a CWOW-level center.

7) Does the consortium have to be multi-institution?

Yes. The opportunity is described as supporting brand-new, multi-institution research consortia, with an emphasis on coordination across institutions.

8) Does the team need to include Parkinsons disease experts?

Yes. The consortium must be anchored by at least one Parkinsons disease researcher.

9) Does the team need expertise beyond Parkinsons disease research?

Yes. The consortium must also integrate at least one investigator whose primary expertise is from a different, complementary field. This is intended to bring in new methods, concepts, or technologies and push teams beyond traditional PD silos.

10) What does "transdisciplinary" mean for this FOA?

In the context provided, it means assembling a team with a deliberate mix of specialized skills spanning Parkinsons disease research and at least one complementary field outside the primary PD domain, selected specifically to match the central challenge being tackled.

11) What types of research activities are expected during the P20 phase?

The focus is on consortium formation and feasibility-style collaborative projects that generate or compile supportive preliminary data. These early projects are meant to reduce uncertainty, demonstrate the approach is credible, and help the team mature into a strong candidate for a later Udall Center without Walls application.

12) Are studies on related synucleinopathies allowed?

Yes, but only under a condition. Work on related synucleinopathies is allowed if and only if those studies directly contribute to solving the central Parkinsons disease challenge the consortium is proposing.

13) How important is leadership and organization in review?

Leadership and organization are described as central review themes. The Program Director/Principal Investigator is expected to provide strong scientific vision and effective oversight of the consortiums administrative and collaborative functions across institutions.

14) What is expected of the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)?

The PD/PI is expected to provide scientific vision and also manage administrative and collaborative operations across institutions, ensuring the consortium functions as a coordinated team.

15) What is expected of participating investigators?

Participating investigators are expected to be recognized as top-tier experts in their respective domains, reinforcing that NINDS is looking for a highly capable, high-credibility consortium able to execute a complex, coordinated plan.

16) Who is eligible to apply as an applicant organization?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizational types, including state and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations; nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses, among others.

17) Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The opportunity highlights additional eligible applicant categories including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISI institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

18) Are non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities eligible to apply as the applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant.

19) Can a project include international collaboration in any way?

Yes. While non-U.S. entities cannot be the applicant organization, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means international collaboration may be included if it is structured appropriately under a U.S. applicant.

20) What is the opportunity number for this funding announcement?

The opportunity number provided is RFA-NS-18-027.

21) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.853.

22) What is the original closing date mentioned?

The original closing date listed in the provided information is 2019-01-11.

23) What is the award ceiling shown in the provided data?

The award ceiling shown is $250,000.

24) What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean here?

It means applicants may propose clinical trial-related activities if they fit the goals of the project and are justified, but a clinical trial is not required. The core emphasis remains on consortium formation, feasibility work, and building the foundation for a subsequent Udall Center without Walls application.

25) Is a clinical trial required to apply?

No. A clinical trial is not required. Clinical trial-related activities may be included only if they align with the goals and are well justified, while the main focus remains on early consortium development and feasibility work.

26) What is the intended outcome after completing this P20 project?

The intended outcome is to have a well-organized, credible, and coordinated multi-institution consortium with supportive preliminary feasibility evidence and a clear strategy, positioned to compete for a full NINDS Udall Center without Walls (CWOW) effort.