Researchers/Research Institutions:
Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign nonprofit organizations, public and private institutions, such as colleges, universities, hospitals, laboratories, units of state and local government, and eligible agencies of the federal government. For-profit organizations are not eligible to receive funding but may be involved in projects as a collaborator. All grants will be awarded to institutions, not individuals. Research institutions may be based in any country.

Applications will each have two lead Principal Investigators (PIs): one representing the research team and the other representing the patient organization. Teams should be made up of a minimum of two investigators with a maximum of five investigators, including the patient organization leader. For additional information regarding PIs and their responsibilities, see the URL for Full Text (RFP).

The Foundation believes that the strongest teams incorporate a wide range of voices. Those underrepresented in science and technology are strongly encouraged to apply. This includes but is not limited to women, those with disabilities, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ individuals, and organizations representing disease areas that disproportionately impact underrepresented or underserved communities.

Patient Organizations:
- Patient organizations must be patient-led rare disease organizations (advocacy groups, disease foundations or organizations that represent patients, engage patients in key leadership roles—e.g., as founder, executive director, board member, key staff, etc.—and are patient-centered in their programming).
- Patient organizations must be organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, OR have a valid fiscal sponsor that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, OR a 501(c)(3) charity/non-profit organization equivalent for non-US based organizations. Non-US based organizations will be subject to Equivalency Determination.
- Patient organizations must be focused on a rare disease, disorder, or syndrome, or group of closely related rare diseases, disorders, or syndromes (defined, for instance, as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., or no more than 1 in 2,000 people in the European Union).

Ineligible applicants:
- Meta employees, including employees of any subsidiary Meta entities, as well as employees of Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, LLC, are not permitted to apply.

This RFA will not focus on therapeutic or clinical development.

Neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders that are not considered neurodegenerative by consensus clinical criteria (autism, for instance) are not within scope for this RFA.

Areas that are out of scope of this RFA:
- Clinical trials or pre-clinical research aimed primarily at clinical trial readiness (e.g., toxicology studies)
- Tool or resource development that is not tied to a specific research plan or agenda. This could include the development of research technologies, models (cell lines, animal models) or other types of infrastructure development (e.g., registries). NDCN views the development of hiqh-quality, robust research tools as critical for accelerating science; however, for this RFA, such tool and resource development efforts should be clearly connected to specific research questions.

This RFA is intended to support early stage research on rare diseases with sparse scientific research to date. It is not intended to further already mature areas of research, such as those supported by large organizations with extensive research programs or areas funded by governmental funding (i.e., NIH or the equivalent). NDCN will prioritize support for patient organizations with annual research budgets less than $5 million.

Key Dates:
February 1, 2022: Application portal opens
May 24, 2022: Applications due by 5 p.m. Pacific Time
Late October 2022: Earliest notification of decisions (subject to change)
December 1, 2022: Expected start date of award period

Applicants are welcome to apply to both this opportunity and the Patient-Partnered Collaborations for Single-Cell Analysis of Rare Inflammatory Pediatric Disease RFA; however, the application and scope of work must be distinct.

Researchers/Research Institutions:
- More than one application will be accepted from each research institution.
- Each Coordinating PI and patient organization may only submit one application to this RFA.

Patient Organizations:
- Each patient organization may only be represented in one application to this RFA.
- Lead Patient Organization PIs may only be named on one application.

To view previously-recorded information sessions: https://apply.hub.ki/czi-patient-partnered-collaborations/
View February 16th Recorded Information Session: https://chanzuckerberg.wistia.com/medias/c0pavwso8e