NIH-CASIS Coordinated Microphysiological Systems Program for Translational Research in Space (UG3/UH3) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA TR 18 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA TR 18 001

The NIH-CASIS Coordinated Microphysiological Systems Program for Translational Research in Space (UG3/UH3) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity designed to push forward lab-based, human-relevant "microphysiological systems" (often described as organ-on-a-chip or advanced 3D tissue models) that can help researchers understand how human diseases and organ function change under the extreme conditions of space. The central idea is to build in vitro models that realistically mimic disease progression and tissue pathology in major human organs, then use those models in the prolonged microgravity environment of the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory (ISS-NL). By doing that, the program aims to generate better preclinical evidence about biological mechanisms and about how potential therapeutics behave, including what biomarkers change, how drug exposure and bioavailability may differ, whether candidate agents appear effective, and whether they show signs of toxicity. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this funding opportunity; the emphasis is on translational preclinical modeling that can inform later human studies on Earth.

This opportunity uses a two-stage cooperative agreement structure (UG3/UH3), meaning NIH is expected to have substantial involvement beyond a typical grant, and projects are meant to move through a milestone-based pipeline. The first stage is the UG3 phase, intended to last up to two years, and it focuses on development and proof of robustness. In that UG3 window, awardees are supported to create or mature microphysiological systems that can reliably recapitulate key features of specific human diseases or conditions and remain functional when exposed to, or designed for, long-duration microgravity-related constraints. The expectation is not simply to build a model, but to demonstrate it is stable, reproducible, and biologically meaningful in ways that mirror real disease pathology and progression.

Projects that meet expectations in the UG3 phase can transition, after an administrative review, into the second stage: the UH3 phase, also planned for up to two years. The UH3 phase is meant to take the successful models and prove they can be used as practical experimental platforms at the ISS-NL for more defined, hypothesis-driven studies. In other words, the UH3 portion is where teams demonstrate functional utility in the operational context of the space station, using the models to generate interpretable translational outputs such as biomarker readouts, drug response signals, and safety or toxicity indicators. The broader payoff NIH is aiming for is a stronger foundation for drug screening and therapeutic evaluation, plus deeper understanding of disease biology in space-relevant conditions, ultimately improving how clinical trials are designed and de-risked back on Earth.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by NIH under a cooperative agreement funding instrument, with the funding activity category in health and the CFDA number listed as 93.350. The funding opportunity number is RFA TR 18 001. The original closing date listed is 2018-02-08, and the opportunity record shows an award ceiling of $500,000. The posting also notes an expected awards field but does not provide a specific number in the provided source text.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying in that category); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, certain regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the announcement is clear about foreign participation limits: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed.

Overall, this FOA is structured to create a coordinated pipeline from model development to real-world use on the ISS National Lab, with the end goal of producing rigorous, human-relevant preclinical evidence. By combining advanced microphysiological systems with the unique stressors of spaceflight, the program is intended to uncover new biological insights, identify promising therapeutic mechanisms, and improve the reliability of efficacy and safety assessments before candidates ever reach human testing.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH-CASIS Coordinated Microphysiological Systems Program for Translational Research in Space (UG3/UH3) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.350.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-02-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• 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 TR 18 001

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