Specialized Centers for Research on Health Disparities in Uterine Leiomyoma (SCHDUL) (P50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Background
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to establish new Specialized Centers for Research on Health Disparities in Uterine Leiomyoma (SCHDULs). These centers will provide a platform to support novel, synergistic research programs involving multiple, high-quality projects spanning basic, clinical, translational, social sciences research to address health disparities (especially racial/ethnic disparities) in uterine fibroids. The established centers will aim to improve women’s reproductive health and address modifiable aspects of the racial and associated health disparities in uterine fibroids through greater integrated understanding of biologic, behavioral, and environmental differences in risk, disease progression, and treatment.

Grant Details
The scope of this NOFO includes basic, translational, clinical, behavioral, and social science projects that will enhance understanding of the etiology, pathophysiology, and progression of fibroids and enable the development of more effective strategies for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of this disorder that directly impact demonstrated disparities. New treatment modalities are of great interest but are expected to be unlikely to be ready for clinical trial during the period of this NOFO; clinical trials are therefore not allowed in response to this NOFO. The Center must consist of a multidisciplinary research team of investigators led by one or more Center Directors. Applicants are required to propose at least three research projects. All projects must be thematically integrated. Centers three or more projects may be entirely behavioral and/or social research projects (BSSR), a mix of basic and/or clinical projects (excluding clinical trials), or a mix of social and/or behavioral, basic, and/or clinical projects (excluding clinical trials). Each Center will maintain an administrative core and an education/outreach core.

The Administrative Core will manage and coordinate the Center’s research activities between projects, other components, and NIH program staff. It will also be responsible for providing and conducting all oversight for integrating all sets of data generated by each of the cores and projects with consistency. Centers are required to partner with community collaborators and support a community education outreach effort to increase awareness about uterine fibroids as a disorder.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), local governments, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, Indian/Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized), eligible agencies of the federal government, U.S. territory or possession. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly but non-domestic components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.

Period of Performance
The maximum project period is 5 years.

Grant Value
The NICHD and partner components intend to commit $3,100,000 in total costs in FY2024 to fund 2 awards. Application budgets may request a budget for direct costs of no more than $1.0 million/year.