Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet): Discovery, Validation Centers (UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA RM 27 016

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 27 016

The Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet): Discovery, Validation Centers (UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) funding opportunity (RFA-RM-27-016) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund program that will support a set of cooperative agreement research centers as part of SenNet Stage 2. The overall focus is to move beyond initial resource-building and push toward clearer, validated definitions of what cellular senescence looks like in different human tissues and disease contexts, and what it means functionally for health and disease. The award mechanism is a UM1 cooperative agreement, which typically means funded teams will not operate as fully independent projects; instead, they will work closely with NIH and other awardees in a coordinated consortium structure with shared expectations for collaboration, data standards, and deliverables. As stated in the title and terms, clinical trials are not allowed under this NOFO.

At the scientific level, these Discovery and Validation Centers (DVCs) are expected to define, refine, and validate tissue- and disease-relevant senescence signatures, described here as "senotypes." In practical terms, this means identifying molecular and cellular patterns that reliably indicate senescent states in specific biological settings, then testing and confirming that those patterns hold up across samples, conditions, and measurement approaches. Alongside signature development, the NOFO emphasizes biomarkers associated with senotypes, suggesting a strong interest in markers that are measurable and useful across studies, potentially enabling comparison across tissues, diseases, and experimental systems. The intent is not only to label cells as senescent, but to build a more rigorous framework for distinguishing different flavors or subtypes of senescence that may matter for pathology, aging, regeneration, inflammation, fibrosis, cancer biology, and other domains where senescence has been implicated.

A central requirement of the program is the generation and contribution of high-quality datasets. The NOFO specifically calls out molecular, cellular, and spatial datasets, along with relevant metadata and documentation. This signals that SenNet is aiming for resources that are broadly reusable by the community, not just results reported in papers. "Spatial" implies approaches that preserve tissue context (for example, spatial transcriptomics, multiplex imaging, or other methods that map senescence-associated signals within intact tissue architecture). The explicit emphasis on metadata and documentation is important because it points to expectations around standardization, provenance, and interoperability: datasets should be accompanied by enough contextual information (sample attributes, experimental conditions, processing pipelines, quality metrics, and other descriptors) to make them interpretable and comparable within the consortium and to external users later.

Beyond data generation, the DVCs are expected to use complementary experimental systems to validate senotypes and biomarkers and to characterize responses to perturbations. This includes studying how senescent cells or senotype-associated biomarkers change when senescence is induced, modulated, or challenged, and how they respond to senescence-associated perturbations or senotherapeutic approaches. While human clinical trials are not allowed, the NOFO language leaves room for non-trial experimental work that tests senescence mechanisms and interventions in appropriate model systems or experimental platforms, as long as it fits within the non-clinical-trial boundaries. The functional consequences component is a key part of the program's purpose: the network is not only cataloging senescence signatures, but also trying to link those signatures to downstream biological effects that matter for disease processes and health outcomes.

Another distinctive feature is that applicants are asked to propose goals and aims that support consortium-wide organizational and outreach activities, referred to as SenNet OOC functions. This indicates that each DVC is expected to contribute not just to its own science, but also to the broader SenNet infrastructure and community engagement. In practice, this could include participating in working groups, helping shape shared protocols and standards, contributing to cross-center coordination, and supporting outreach that makes SenNet resources more accessible and useful to the wider research community. The inclusion of these consortium responsibilities in the application suggests they will be part of how applications are judged and how centers will be held accountable after award.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, under the health activity category (CFDA 93.310). The NIH is the funding agency. The NOFO anticipates up to 25 awards, indicating a fairly large network intended to cover multiple tissues, disease areas, and technical approaches. The original closing date is 2026-11-23. An award ceiling is not provided in the posted summary, which often means applicants need to rely on the full NOFO text for budget guidance, or that budgets may vary by center scope within programmatic constraints.

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organization types such as state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); small businesses; and certain housing authorities. It also explicitly includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments). The eligibility list further notes additional eligible applicants such as Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions). Taken together, this suggests NIH is aiming to attract a wide range of capable teams, including international partners, provided they can meet consortium expectations for data sharing, standards, and coordinated participation.

In plain terms, this NOFO is designed to fund centers that can do three things well at the same time: generate rigorous, high-dimensional datasets that describe senescence across tissues and diseases; validate and stress-test senescence signatures and biomarkers using multiple experimental angles; and operate as reliable consortium partners who help build shared infrastructure and outreach for a network meant to serve the broader biomedical community.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet): Discovery, Validation Centers (UM1 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-10-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-23. (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 25 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.

Apply for RFA RM 27 016

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