Limited Competition: Continuation of the Preventing Early Renal Loss in Diabetes (PERL) Study (UC4) | RFA DK 16 506

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 16 506

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Limited Competition: Continuation of the Preventing Early Renal Loss in Diabetes (PERL) Study (UC4)" (RFA-DK-16-506) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity using the cooperative agreement mechanism (UC4). Its central goal is not to launch a new clinical trial, but to finish an ongoing NIH-supported study by completing participant treatment, closing out trial activities properly, and performing the planned analyses needed to report the study outcomes.

The PERL Study itself is described as a randomized, double-blind clinical trial focused on people with type 1 diabetes who already have early diabetic kidney disease. The intervention being tested is allopurinol, a medication best known for lowering uric acid levels, and the trial is designed to determine whether allopurinol can slow the progression of kidney disease in this population. In practical terms, this continuation FOA is about ensuring the study reaches a clean, interpretable finish line: participants complete the treatment period and follow-up as designed, trial data are finalized and validated, and the primary and secondary endpoints are analyzed so the field can understand whether the therapy has a meaningful kidney-protective effect.

This is a limited competition continuation opportunity tied directly to the previously funded PERL award under RFA-DK-12-511. Because it is a continuation of an existing, multi-site effort, eligibility is narrowly restricted. Only the currently funded Clinical Research Center (CRC) for PERL is eligible to apply as the applicant organization. In addition, only the currently funded Biostatistics Research Center (BRC) and the existing PERL clinical sites are eligible to participate as subcontracts under the CRC. This restriction reflects the intent of the FOA: to support completion and analysis of an established trial using the already-selected infrastructure, sites, investigators, and coordinating components, rather than expanding the project to new organizations.

The FOA lists a broad range of applicant types in general NIH terms (for example, state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, tribal governments and organizations, public housing authorities, and special districts). It also explicitly notes categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. However, these broad categories should be read in light of the limited competition rule: despite the general eligibility language, the continuation application is effectively limited to the existing PERL CRC, with the BRC and current clinical sites allowed only in their existing roles as subawardees.

The FOA also clarifies how foreign involvement is handled. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. At the same time, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition, meaning certain internationally based elements may participate if they are part of an otherwise eligible U.S. applicant structure and are justified within NIH policy.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.847 and falls under the broader activity category of health (with "Food and Nutrition, Health" listed). The agency is the NIH. The FOA was created on 2016-12-01, with an original closing date of 2017-03-02. Only one award was expected, consistent with a continuation mechanism supporting a single, ongoing coordinating structure rather than multiple competing projects. An award ceiling is not specified in the provided summary, which often indicates that applicants must rely on the FOA and budget guidance for allowable costs tied to completing the protocol-specified activities, closeout, and final analyses.

Overall, this funding opportunity is best understood as a targeted bridge to finish PERL exactly as designed: complete remaining treatment and follow-up for enrolled participants, maintain the established clinical and statistical coordination, and deliver final, rigorous analyses on whether allopurinol slows kidney disease progression in people with type 1 diabetes and early diabetic kidney disease.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Continuation of the Preventing Early Renal Loss in Diabetes (PERL) Study (UC4)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-12-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-03-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• 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.

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