Molecular Atlas of Lung Development Program (LungMAP) Phase 2 - Data Coordinating Center (U24- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA HL 19 022

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 19 022

The Molecular Atlas of Lung Development Program (LungMAP) Phase 2 - Data Coordinating Center (DCC) funding opportunity (RFA-HL-19-022) is a National Institutes of Health cooperative agreement (U24; clinical trial not allowed) issued by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Its purpose is to fund a central Data Coordinating Center that supports LungMAP Phase 2, a large, collaborative effort to build a publicly available reference resource describing human lung development in rich molecular and spatial detail. The long-term goal of the broader LungMAP program is to help the research community better understand how the human lung forms, matures, and varies across development by creating an open-access, comprehensive, dynamic, three-dimensional molecular atlas, with associated datasets and reagents made broadly available.

Phase 2 continues the program emphasis on generating and integrating high-resolution, multiscale molecular profiles that are tied to spatial information, so that cell types and tissue structures can be characterized both by what they express molecularly and where they sit in the developing lung. Compared with earlier work, Phase 2 narrows the species scope to human lung only and expands the developmental window. It is designed to cover normal lung development through early adulthood, up to 25 years of age, rather than focusing only on late-stage prenatal and early postnatal periods. In addition, Phase 2 explicitly extends into abnormal lung development by including selected neonatal and pediatric rare lung diseases, with the idea that the same atlas framework used to define normal trajectories can help clarify where and how disease-associated development diverges.

The DCC is positioned as the hub that makes the entire consortium function as an integrated program rather than a collection of separate labs. Core responsibilities include collecting data produced across LungMAP sites, integrating those diverse data types, and performing or supporting cross-project analyses. Just as importantly, the DCC is expected to develop, operate, and maintain the LungMAP database and public-facing website, ensuring that datasets are organized, discoverable, and usable by outside researchers. Because LungMAP data are inherently complex (for example, combining molecular assays with spatial mapping and anatomical context), the DCC role typically implies rigorous attention to data standards, consistent metadata, harmonized pipelines where appropriate, versioning, and long-term stewardship so that the atlas remains coherent as new data layers are added.

Beyond data infrastructure, the DCC is also responsible for coordinating research activities across key consortium components, specifically the Human Tissue Core (HTC) and the Research Centers (RCs). This coordination function generally means managing shared timelines, facilitating communication, aligning consortium-wide practices for data submission and quality control, and supporting collaborative planning so that tissue acquisition, experimental profiling, and downstream integration connect smoothly. Because this is a cooperative agreement mechanism, the NIH expects substantial programmatic involvement, and the DCC is typically expected to work closely with NHLBI staff and the funded LungMAP teams to meet shared milestones and deliverables.

The announcement makes clear that prior participation in LungMAP Phase 1 is not required, meaning new applicant organizations can compete to serve as the Phase 2 DCC even if they were not funded under the earlier Phase 1 solicitation (RFA-HL-14-009). Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organization types: state, county, and local governments; 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 and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities. The notice also highlights inclusion of organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, along with faith-based or community-based organizations and U.S. territories or possessions.

Restrictions on foreign participation are specific: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components are allowed as defined by NIH policy, meaning parts of the work can be conducted internationally under an eligible U.S. applicant when justified and properly structured. The opportunity is categorized under Health (CFDA 93.838), was created on 2018-07-27, and had an original closing date of 2018-10-31. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source details, which typically indicates applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement for budget expectations, consortium scale assumptions, and any institute-specific caps or guidance.

In practical terms, this opportunity funds the team that builds and runs the LungMAP program's data backbone: the systems and processes that turn consortium-generated tissue-based molecular and spatial measurements into a usable, open-access atlas of human lung development from late-stage development through young adulthood, with extensions into selected rare pediatric and neonatal lung diseases. The DCC is therefore central to ensuring the project delivers not only high-quality data, but also a durable, well-curated public resource that the wider biomedical community can use for discovery, comparison, and hypothesis generation.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Molecular Atlas of Lung Development Program (LungMAP) Phase 2 - Data Coordinating Center (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): 93.838.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-07-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-10-31. (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 HL 19 022

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