This U01 Cooperative Agreement Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will support 3-4 U01 Methods Comparison Projects to serve three main functions:
(1) to conduct a joint effort among telomere researchers to determine the relationship between different telomere length (TL) methods, inter-assay variability,
and the factors that influence results; (2) Contribute to development of best practice recommendations for assay protocols for TL measurement for different types of studies, with a focus on population-based health research, including biological sample collection, storage, and processing; laboratory methods; data analysis; and reporting requirements; and (3) Repurpose existing methods or develop new methods to enhance the use of TL measurement.
The U01 Methods Comparison Projects will be expected to conduct cross-validation involving other labs (3-4) supported under this cooperative agreement to develop a set of recommendations for assay protocols for telomere measurement for different types of studies and development of best practice guidelines for population-based TL research.
This will be done in coordination with the U24 Telomere Research Network/Collaboratory award made in response to FOA (RFA-AG-19-022).
Please refer to the NIA website regularly for updates, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and other announcements related to this FOA and the companion FOA.