The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs at Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications to provide support for the Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers. The P40 mechanism supports projects to develop and maintain animal (mammalian and nonmammalian) models, related animal or biological material resources, and new approach methodologies (NAMs) available to all qualified investigators without regard to the scientific disciplines or disease orientations of their research activities or specifically directed to a categorical program.

This Notice is being provided now to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. The NOFO will have nine application cycles. The NOFO is expected to be published in December 2025, with an expected application due date in February 2026. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

With this intended reissue of the P40 funding opportunity, ORIP seeks to provide support for special colonies of laboratory animals and associated services, as well as other resources such as informatics tools, reagents, cultures (cells, tissues, and organs) and genetic stocks that serve the biomedical research community in a variety of research areas on a local, regional, and national basis.

The goal of projects supported by this NOFO is to provide research resources that facilitate optimization and enhancement of scientific rigor, transparency, and experimental reproducibility of biomedical research.

Collecting, generating, and distributing animal models and providing related services render these resources more accessible to the research community and eliminate costly redundant efforts. Of special interest of the announcement is a requirement of the Center’s close coordination with efforts to develop new approach methodologies (NAMS) that complement traditional animal-based research. These include cell culture, organoids, computational models, and microphysiological systems. Proposed resources should emphasize use of broadly applicable, interdisciplinary validation tools that enhance the predictive power of human disease models and support their integration with NAMs.

Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the P40 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into animal and non-animal models of human diseases are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this NOFO. In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise in genetics and biology as well as research databases will be encouraged; these investigators should also begin considering applying for this application.

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