Limited Competition: Chronic Kidney Diseases of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) Research Consortium- Field Epidemiology Sites
Can you apply?
This grant is for research organizations and institutions studying chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in agricultural communities. Applicants must be part of or affiliated with the existing CURE Consortium Field Epidemiology Sites established in 2021. This is a limited competition renewal opportunity, meaning only organizations with prior consortium involvement are eligible.
Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, and medical centers with established epidemiological research capacity. Organizations must be able to identify, recruit, and retain study participants in CKDu-endemic areas and collect biological and environmental samples.
The grant supports continuation of field-based epidemiological research activities across the consortium network. Multi-site coordination with the Renal and Environmental Science Core and Data Coordinating Center is required.
Key dates
- Sep 30, 2025 Applications open
- Jul 1, 2026 Application deadline in 29 days
- Jan 1, 2027 Award announced
- Feb 1, 2027 Project start
This grant is for research organizations and institutions studying chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in agricultural communities. Applicants must be part of or affiliated with the existing CURE Consortium Field Epidemiology Sites established in 2021. This is a limited competition renewal opportunity, meaning only organizations with prior consortium involvement are eligible.
Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, and medical centers with established epidemiological research capacity. Organizations must be able to identify, recruit, and retain study participants in CKDu-endemic areas and collect biological and environmental samples.
The grant supports continuation of field-based epidemiological research activities across the consortium network. Multi-site coordination with the Renal and Environmental Science Core and Data Coordinating Center is required.
Program description
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to advance the NIH mission by supporting the continuation of the Consortium to Study Chronic Kidney Disease of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE).
Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Etiology (CKDu) causes kidney failure in rural areas of many Low and Middle Income Countries, resulting in a large death toll among the young working age population. Environmental factors are suspected to be causative, but family and geographic clustering add consideration of unrecognized genetic susceptibility. The risk factors identified in other countries are encountered by U.S. patients, so this research will offer valuable insights into the development and progression of tubulointerstitial renal diseases, with broad implications for understanding kidney health and disease in the U.S.
NIDDK, NIEHS, and FIC have jointly funded a consortium that includes Field Epidemiology Sites, a Renal and Environmental Science Core, and a Data Coordinating Center to find causes and potential interventions for CKDu since 2021. This NOFO requests renewal applications for the Field Epidemiology Sites that will continue to identify, recruit, and retain participants in CKDu endemic areas, conduct study visits, and collect biological and environmental samples. Consortium members will continue to collaborate to maximize scientific opportunities and enable discovery science to understand the etiologies of CKDu, the exposures that initiate and affect progression of tubulointerstitial kidney disease, potential therapeutic targets, and future opportunities for public health interventions. The CURE Consortium will serve as a resource for ancillary studies.
This is a forecast for a limited competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that will invite application(s) from eligible organizations to apply. Application(s) will be peer-reviewed and only funded if meritorious.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- Community Health Center
- County Government
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for research organizations and institutions studying chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in agricultural communities. Applicants must be part of or affiliated with the existing CURE Consortium Field Epidemiology Sites established in 2021. This is a limited competition renewal opportunity, meaning only organizations with prior consortium involvement are eligible.
Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, and medical centers with established epidemiological research capacity. Organizations must be able to identify, recruit, and retain study participants in CKDu-endemic areas and collect biological and environmental samples.
The grant supports continuation of field-based epidemiological research activities across the consortium network. Multi-site coordination with the Renal and Environmental Science Core and Data Coordinating Center is required.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application Form
- Project Narrative/Research Plan
- Detailed Budget with Justification
- Biosketches of Key Personnel
- Letters of Support from Consortium Partners
- Description of Participant Recruitment and Retention Strategies
- Environmental and Biological Sample Collection Protocols
- Data Sharing and Management Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Susan Mendley
- 📧 susan.mendley@nih.gov
- 📞 301.827.1861
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.847 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$152,979,352
-
$112,529,392
-
$66,521,567
-
$45,186,589
-
$37,867,943
-
$37,490,770
-
$34,242,949
-
$31,624,784
-
$31,124,496
-
$31,065,476
Top States by Funding
- FL 2 awards $184.1M
- MA 6 awards $165.7M
- PA 6 awards $165.0M
- NY 4 awards $143.8M
- MD 2 awards $143.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.847). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,971,472,000 | |
| 2025 | $2,043,166,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $111,289,000 |
FAQ
What type of organization can apply for this grant?
Eligible organizations must be part of the existing CURE Consortium Field Epidemiology Sites. Universities, research institutions, and medical centers with epidemiological research capacity are typically eligible. Prior consortium participation is required.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is fixed at July 1, 2026. No rolling submissions are accepted for this limited competition notice.
What activities does this grant fund?
The grant supports participant recruitment and retention, study visits, and collection of biological and environmental samples in CKDu-endemic areas. Research must contribute to understanding disease causes, risk factors, and potential interventions.
Is this a new grant or a renewal?
This is a renewal opportunity for existing Field Epidemiology Sites within the CURE Consortium. The consortium was first funded in 2021, and this notice invites renewal applications from eligible members.
How competitive is this funding?
This is a limited competition restricted to existing consortium members. Applications are peer-reviewed and only funded if meritorious. Competition level depends on number of eligible sites.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your site's track record in participant recruitment and retention since 2021. Document your success with enrollment targets and participant follow-up rates.
- Clearly articulate how your environmental and biological sample collection aligns with consortium research priorities. Show your lab capacity and quality assurance protocols.
- Demonstrate strong collaboration with the Data Coordinating Center and Renal and Environmental Science Core. Include letters of support from consortium leadership.
- Include preliminary data from your current studies showing progress on CKDu risk factor identification. Highlight any novel findings from your site.
- Address sustainability and institutional commitment to support field epidemiology activities beyond the grant period. Show stable funding for site infrastructure and staff.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting without active consortium participation or current Field Epidemiology Site status. Applications from non-consortium organizations will be ineligible.
Underestimating the importance of participant retention metrics and longitudinal study design details. NIH emphasizes long-term cohort quality and follow-up success.
Failing to clearly connect site-specific research activities to consortium-wide scientific goals and the larger mission of understanding CKDu etiology.
Similar grants
- OPEN 27-0343-10 FFY27 Local Agency General Non-Enforcement — Illinois Department of Transportation
- CLOSED Virginia’s Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Grant – FY26 — Virginia The Virginia Department of Historic Resources
- ROLLING RTAP Grant Program (Rolling) — Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
- ROLLING Rail Industrial Access Grant (RIA) — Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
- ROLLING AGR GTA Business Acceleration and Marketing (BAM) Program — Montana Department of Agriculture