Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OD 22 020
The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Measurement Core (U24) opportunity (RFA-OD-22-020) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to support a central Measurement Core for the ECHO program. ECHO is a large, multi-site research consortium focused on understanding how a wide range of environmental factors affect child health and development. This specific announcement funds the infrastructure and leadership needed to build, improve, and manage the standardized measurement system used across the ECHO Cohort, and it is explicitly marked as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose a clinical trial as part of the work under this award.
At its center, the Measurement Core is meant to function as the program-wide engine for measurement quality, consistency, and evolution. The Core is expected to work collaboratively with the ECHO Cohort consortium and to take on three main responsibilities. First, it will develop and refine measures included in the ECHO Cohort Protocol, along with practical, detailed methods for implementing those measures in real-world study settings. This includes making sure measures are well-defined, feasible, standardized, and appropriate for use across many sites and populations, rather than being site-specific tools that cannot be compared across the cohort.
Second, the Measurement Core will actively support ECHO Cohort Study Sites, Cores, and Centers as they implement and evaluate the ECHO Cohort Protocol. The Protocol consists of standardized measures collected at specified study visits, so the Core's role is not simply to publish a list of recommended instruments, but to help ensure those instruments are applied consistently and correctly across the network. In practice, that typically implies providing guidance, documentation, training support, troubleshooting, and feedback loops that help sites maintain fidelity to standardized procedures while also identifying where implementation challenges or quality issues arise.
Third, the Measurement Core is expected to lead strategic decision-making about updating the measurement framework over time. ECHO science is intended to evolve as new evidence, technologies, and priorities emerge, so the Core must have a disciplined process for incorporating new measures and revising existing ones. A key part of that responsibility is balancing scientific opportunity with burden: adding measurements can improve discovery, but it can also increase workload for site staff and reduce participant willingness to continue. The FOA highlights the need to advance ECHO Cohort science while moderating participant and staff burden, which signals that applicants should propose governance and decision processes that weigh value, feasibility, and impact on retention and data quality.
This FOA is one piece of a larger set of coordinated funding announcements that together make up the ECHO Cohort infrastructure. It runs in parallel with companion FOAs for Cohort Study Sites (including variants for following existing participants and recruiting new pregnant participants), as well as separate awards for an ECHO Coordinating Center, an ECHO Data Analysis Center, and an ECHO Laboratory Core. The way it is structured makes clear that the Measurement Core is not meant to operate in isolation; instead, it is intended to integrate tightly with those other components so that measures, data collection operations, analysis needs, and laboratory methods stay aligned across the consortium.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and governmental entities, such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also calls out additional categories of eligible applicants often emphasized by NIH, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws clear boundaries around foreign participation: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign elements in the project when justified and permitted under NIH policy, even though the applicant organization itself must be domestic.
Administratively, this is a discretionary opportunity using the cooperative agreement mechanism (U24). A cooperative agreement generally means NIH will have substantial programmatic involvement, so applicants should expect ongoing collaboration, coordination, and shared decision-making with NIH program staff and the broader ECHO governance structure rather than a fully investigator-driven, hands-off grant relationship. The original closing date listed for this opportunity was November 21, 2022, and the funding opportunity was created on August 30, 2022. The listing includes multiple CFDA numbers associated with NIH programs, reflecting the cross-cutting, multi-institute nature of ECHO and the broad health domains it touches. Award ceiling and expected awards are not specified in the provided source text, so the summary cannot infer a maximum award size or number of awards from this excerpt alone.
In practical terms, a strong application for this Measurement Core would be expected to show deep expertise in measurement science and standardized protocol implementation at scale, along with a credible plan for coordinating across many sites and for continuously improving measures without overwhelming participants or frontline research staff. The focus is on building shared measurement infrastructure and decision-making processes that enable the entire ECHO Cohort to generate consistent, high-quality, comparable data over time.Apply for RFA OD 22 020
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Measurement Core (U24) Clinical Trial Not Allowed" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.310, 93.350, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866, 93.879.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-08-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-11-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the ECHO Measurement Core (U24) funding opportunity?
The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Measurement Core (U24) opportunity (RFA-OD-22-020) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement intended to support a central Measurement Core for the ECHO program. The award focuses on building and operating shared measurement infrastructure for a large, multi-site research consortium studying how environmental factors affect child health and development.
What is ECHO and what does the Measurement Core support?
ECHO is a large, multi-site research consortium focused on understanding how a wide range of environmental exposures and influences affect child health and development. The Measurement Core supports the ECHO Cohort by providing leadership and infrastructure for the standardized measurement system used across the consortium, so that data collected at many locations can be comparable and consistent.
Is this opportunity for a clinical trial?
No. This funding opportunity is explicitly marked as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applications should not propose a clinical trial as part of the work under this award.
What is the main purpose of the Measurement Core within ECHO?
The Measurement Core is intended to function as the program-wide engine for measurement quality, consistency, and evolution. Its role is to ensure that the ECHO Cohort uses well-defined, feasible, standardized measures across many sites and populations, and that these measures can be implemented consistently over time.
What are the Measurement Core's key responsibilities under this FOA?
The FOA describes three primary areas of responsibility: (1) developing and refining measures in the ECHO Cohort Protocol and creating practical methods for implementing them; (2) actively supporting Study Sites, Cores, and Centers in implementing and evaluating the Protocol; and (3) leading strategic decision-making to update and improve the measurement framework over time.
What does "develop and refine measures" mean in the context of the ECHO Cohort Protocol?
It means the Measurement Core is expected to help define, improve, and standardize the measures used in the ECHO Cohort Protocol, as well as provide practical, detailed methods for real-world implementation across diverse sites. The aim is to avoid site-specific tools that cannot be compared across the cohort and instead use measures that work consistently at scale.
How does the Measurement Core support ECHO Cohort Study Sites and other components?
The Core is expected to actively support Study Sites, Cores, and Centers as they implement and evaluate the ECHO Cohort Protocol. In practice, this implies providing guidance and documentation, supporting training, troubleshooting implementation issues, and creating feedback loops to help maintain fidelity to standardized procedures while identifying quality or feasibility challenges.
Is the Measurement Core only responsible for listing recommended instruments?
No. The FOA indicates the role goes beyond publishing a list of instruments. The Core is expected to help ensure standardized measures are applied consistently and correctly across the network, including hands-on support for implementation and quality.
What is meant by updating the "measurement framework" over time?
ECHO science is expected to evolve as new evidence, technologies, and priorities emerge. The Measurement Core is expected to lead a disciplined process for incorporating new measures and revising existing ones over time, including governance and decision processes that guide how changes are proposed, evaluated, and adopted across the consortium.
Why does the FOA emphasize balancing scientific opportunity with participant and staff burden?
Adding more measurements can increase scientific value, but it can also increase workload for site staff and reduce participant willingness to remain in the study. The FOA highlights the need to advance ECHO Cohort science while moderating participant and staff burden, signaling that applicants should propose decision-making processes that weigh value, feasibility, retention, and data quality impacts.
How does this Measurement Core relate to other ECHO funding opportunities?
This FOA is part of a broader set of coordinated ECHO Cohort infrastructure announcements. It runs in parallel with companion FOAs for Cohort Study Sites (including variants for following existing participants and recruiting new pregnant participants) and separate awards for an ECHO Coordinating Center, an ECHO Data Analysis Center, and an ECHO Laboratory Core. The Measurement Core is intended to integrate tightly with these components so measurement operations, data collection, analysis needs, and laboratory methods remain aligned.
Is the Measurement Core expected to operate independently?
No. The structure described in the FOA makes clear the Measurement Core is not meant to operate in isolation. It is expected to collaborate with the ECHO Cohort consortium and coordinate closely with other ECHO Cores and Centers.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses the cooperative agreement mechanism (U24). Cooperative agreements generally involve substantial NIH programmatic involvement, meaning awardees should expect ongoing collaboration, coordination, and shared decision-making with NIH staff and ECHO governance structures.
What does "substantial NIH involvement" typically imply for this U24 cooperative agreement?
Based on the FOA description of a cooperative agreement, it implies the work will be carried out with meaningful coordination and collaboration with NIH program staff and within the broader ECHO consortium governance, rather than as a fully independent, investigator-driven project with minimal NIH interaction.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic organizations and governmental entities, including state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other eligible entities.
Are there specific institution types called out as eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional categories often emphasized by NIH, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Can a U.S. applicant include any foreign work or collaboration?
Yes, within limits. While the applicant organization must be domestic, "foreign components" (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed when justified and permitted under NIH policy, even though foreign organizations themselves are not eligible to apply.
What are the key deliverables or outputs implied by the FOA?
The provided description emphasizes standardized measures within the ECHO Cohort Protocol, practical implementation methods, and ongoing support mechanisms such as documentation, training support, troubleshooting, and feedback loops. It also implies governance and decision processes for updating measures over time, with attention to feasibility and burden.
What kinds of expertise would a competitive Measurement Core application typically demonstrate (based on the provided description)?
The description indicates that a strong application would be expected to show deep expertise in measurement science and standardized protocol implementation at scale, plus a credible plan for coordinating across many sites and continuously improving measures without overwhelming participants or frontline research staff.
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided source text does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, so those details cannot be inferred from the excerpt alone.
What are the key dates mentioned for this opportunity?
The funding opportunity was created on August 30, 2022, and the original closing date listed was November 21, 2022.
Why are multiple CFDA numbers mentioned?
The listing includes multiple CFDA numbers associated with NIH programs, reflecting that ECHO is cross-cutting and multi-institute in nature and spans broad health domains. The excerpt does not provide a detailed breakdown of the individual CFDA numbers.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA OD 22 020) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32) Apply for PA 23 048 Funding Number: PA 23 048 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 23 112 Funding Number: PAR 23 112 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Emergency Award: Novel Insights through Cross-Site Analyses of Existing RADx-UP Data (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 23 050 Funding Number: RFA OD 23 050 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 23 166 Funding Number: PAR 23 166 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition: Collaborative Partnership to Advance Global Health Research (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 203 Funding Number: PAR 23 203 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,360,000 |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) Apply for PA 23 260 Funding Number: PA 23 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) Apply for PA 23 272 Funding Number: PA 23 272 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) Apply for PA 23 262 Funding Number: PA 23 262 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) Apply for PA 23 261 Funding Number: PA 23 261 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity) Apply for PA 23 271 Funding Number: PA 23 271 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 141 Funding Number: PA 24 141 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 185 Funding Number: PA 24 185 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 184 Funding Number: PA 24 184 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 190 Funding Number: PA 24 190 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 191 Funding Number: PA 24 191 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 175 Funding Number: PA 24 175 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 176 Funding Number: PA 24 176 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 182 Funding Number: PA 24 182 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 193 Funding Number: PA 24 193 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 194 Funding Number: PA 24 194 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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