Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet): Discovery, Validation Centers (UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- RFA-RM-27-016
- Agency
-
National Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications due
- Award size
- Not on record
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 93.310 Trans-NIH Research Support
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Health
- Eligible applicants
-
- Special District Governments
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Small Businesses
- Other
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- State Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- City/Township Governments
- County Governments
- Independent School Districts
- For Profit Organizations
- Points of contact
-
- cs2@nih.gov
- Ajay Pillai ajay.pillai3@nih.gov (301) 538-4811
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institutes of Health, through the NIH Common Fund, National Institute on Aging, and National Cancer Institute, is soliciting applications for the Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet) Discovery and Validation Centers program by November 23, 2026, with clinical trials not permitted.
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (public and private), 501(c)(3) nonprofits, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, tribal governments, faith-based organizations, and regional organizations; foreign entities and foreign subawards are prohibited. The program will establish 5–6 Discovery and Validation Centers as cooperative agreements (UM1 activity code) over fiscal years 2027–2032, with total program funding of $24 million per year. Individual DVC awards are budgeted at approximately $3 million per year in direct costs; the SenNet Organization and Outreach Component must request exactly $600,000 per year. No cost share is required.
DVCs will define, refine, and validate tissue- and disease-relevant cellular senescence signatures and biomarkers in at least two diseased tissue types per center, generating high-quality molecular, cellular, and spatial datasets. Applicants must address four research elements: Vision and Management (up to 5 pages), Preclinical Modeling and Validation (up to 10 pages), Biospecimen Management and High-Resolution Assays (up to 10 pages), and SenNet Organization and Outreach Component (up to 5 pages), with a 30-page maximum. Key requirements include minimum Level of Effort for PD/PIs of 2.4 calendar months and for Element Leaders of 1.5 months per element, a 10% budget set-aside for cross-consortium validation beginning in Year 2, a Data Management and Sharing Plan demonstrating FAIR principles, and support for up to 5 site members at the Annual Program Meeting.
Review occurs through peer review groups and the National Advisory Council on Aging, with funding decisions based on scientific merit, program balance across tissues and diseases, consortium collaboration experience, and data sharing adequacy. Applications are available for submission in November 2026 and subsequent cycles in March, May, and July 2027.
Synopsis
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support SenNet Discovery and Validation Centers (SenNet DVCs) as a core component of Stage 2 of the NIH Common Fund Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet). Building on Stage 1 resources, DVCs will define, refine, and validate tissue- and disease-relevant cellular senescence signatures ("senotypes") and associated biomarkers, and will investigate their functional consequences in human health and disease. DVCs are expected to generate and contribute high-quality molecular, cellular, and spatial datasets (including relevant metadata and documentation) and to use complementary experimental systems, as appropriate, to validate senotypes/biomarkers and characterize responses to senescence-associated perturbations or senotherapeutic approaches. DVC applications should also propose goals and aims for SenNet consortium-wide organizational and outreach activities (SenNet OOC functions).
Eligibility
Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294350.pdf | ||
| RFA-RM-27-016-Full-Announcement.html | HTML file |
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar grant opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity