National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
P30 Center Core Grants
See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.
The Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program supports biomedical research capacity building in states that have historically received low levels of NIH funding. The Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Expansion/Sustainability Phases (COBRE-E/S) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports the expansion and sustainability of biomedical research centers in IDeA-eligible institutions. These centers will focus on building research capacity in broad scientific areas of strategic importance for the institutions. The goal of COBRE-E is to expand research capacity by growing the institutional faculty base and supporting research projects and core facilities in the new area. The objective of COBRE-S is to sustain the infrastructure by continuing the growth of the faculty base and consolidating research cores. This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered.
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) supports basic research that increases our understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. To ensure the vitality and continued productivity of the research enterprise, NIGMS provides leadership in supporting the training of future scientists and developing research capacity throughout the country.
| Application Due Dates | Review and Award Cycles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Renewal / Resubmission / Revision (as allowed) | AIDS - New/Renewal/Resubmission/Revision, as allowed | Scientific Merit Review | Advisory Council Review | Earliest Start Date |
| September 25, 2026 * | September 25, 2026 * | Not Applicable | March 2027 | May 2027 | July 2027 |
| January 25, 2027 * | January 25, 2027 * | Not Applicable | July 2027 | October 2027 | December 2027 |
| May 25, 2027 * | May 25, 2027 * | Not Applicable | November 2027 | January 2028 | April 2028 |
| September 25, 2027 * | September 25, 2027 * | Not Applicable | March 2028 | May 2028 | July 2028 |
| January 25, 2028 * | January 25, 2028 * | Not Applicable | July 2028 | October 2028 | December 2028 |
| May 25, 2028 * | May 25, 2028 * | Not Applicable | November 2028 | January 2029 | April 2029 |
| September 25, 2028 * | September 25, 2028 * | Not Applicable | March 2029 | May 2029 | July 2029 |
| January 25, 2029 * | January 25, 2029 * | Not Applicable | July 2029 | October 2029 | December 2029 |
| May 25, 2029 * | May 25, 2029 * | Not Applicable | November 2029 | January 2030 | April 2030 |
All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
Not Applicable
It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the How to Apply - Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
There are several options available to submit your application through Grants.gov to NIH and Department of Health and Human Services partners. You must use one of these submission options to access the application forms for this opportunity.
Authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1993, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program to build biomedical research capacity in 23 U.S. states and Puerto Rico (See Section III for IDeA state eligibility), which had historically low NIH grant funding success rates. IDeA funding programs collectively support biomedical research in basic, clinical, behavioral, and translational science in IDeA-eligible states by developing faculty investigators, providing research opportunities to students, and enhancing research infrastructure. This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered.
One of the components of IDeA is the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program, which supports the establishment and development of innovative biomedical research centers of excellence in an area of strategic importance to the organization and in alignment with the mission and priorities of the NIH.
The COBRE program has two tracks that provide grantees with the means to build biomedical research capacity. The COBRE D-E-S track (three phases, maximum 15 years of support) is targeted toward institutions without any existing research capacity in the proposed broad area of research. The COBRE E-S track (two phases, maximum 10 years of support) is intended for institutions with an existing degree of research capacity amenable to expansion and growth in the proposed area of research. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports applications to both the COBRE-E and COBRE-S phases of the program. The five-year phases of the COBRE program are as follows:
For COBRE-E, the applicant organization should have already established a level of research capacity infrastructure to drive and expand research toward the proposed scientific focus of the Center. The research area should be sufficiently broad to enable growth and enhancements to the applicant organization's existing biomedical research capacity. To this end, institutions must possess either:
to be eligible to apply. Applicant organizations with a pending COBRE-E application may not submit an application with a similar scientific theme to the COBRE-D funding opportunity (PAR-27-054).
For COBRE-S, the applicant organization must hold an active COBRE Phase 2 or COBRE-E award. Submissions should demonstrate how the applicant organization will further guide early career investigators towards independence and modernize and consolidate core facilities to enable the Center's research.
Overall Plan (required): COBRE-E and COBRE-S awards provide research support and mentoring to faculty investigators as well as enhancements to the institution's research infrastructure in the Center's scientific area. The Overall Plan should demonstrate how the applicant organization will implement its strategic priorities. A COBRE-E award supports the expansion of biomedical research resources at the applicant institution and strengthening the existing faculty base. COBRE-E applications must include a Sustainability Plan to be implemented during the COBRE-S phase that should address plans and prospects for long-term sustainability of institutional enhancements resulting from COBRE funding, including how the award may be leveraged to build a broader base of support. The focus of the COBRE-S award is to solidify the research base built in previous COBRE Phases and to implement a Sustainability Plan to continue research excellence beyond COBRE funding. An Advisory Committee (AC) comprised of institutional leadership and external experts in the scientific area is required to provide advice on scientific and administrative matters critical to the success of the Center.
Applications proposing to establish a Center in a scientific area closely related to one previously supported by a COBRE award to the institution or in an area for which the institution has a strong and sustained record of institutional research capacity are of low programmatic priority.
Administrative Core, required: The Administrative Core implements the Center's overall plan and manages its operations. Responsibilities include:
Scientific Research Program (SRP), required: The SRP manages the research activities of the center and ensures the continued scientific and career development of its investigators and the institution's biomedical research base. The application must include plans that specify how applicants will administer the center's research portfolio with the goal of enhancing the scientific potential and increasing the competitiveness of the center's investigators for peer-reviewed research independence. Prior to award, the applicant organization will assemble a group of investigators from an existing pool of early career investigators to be selected as SRP Investigators (SIs) to conduct research within the COBRE's proposed scope. Mid-career investigators who complement the scientific breadth of the center and are working towards the renewal of their first Research Project Grant (RPG) or "at-risk" investigators who will have no substantial research grant funding in the upcoming fiscal year may also form part of the potential pool. The existing pool of investigators will be complemented with potential faculty hires that broaden and enhance the expertise of the center and the institution. In addition, the SRP will:
Research Core(s), optional: New research cores may be proposed during the COBRE-E phase provided they are essential to support proposed research and do not duplicate existing services or facilities at the applicant organization. No new cores may be established in the COBRE-S phase. The consolidation of existing Cores for technology advancement and/or administrative efficiency and the sharing of research facilities supported by other IDeA programs (e.g., INBRE, CTR, and other COBREs) is strongly encouraged.
See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.
Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.
The OER Glossary and the How to Apply - Application Guide provides details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.
Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trials. Note: Applications may propose activities involving human subjects that are not deemed clinical trials.
The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Application budgets must not exceed $1.5 million in annual direct costs, excluding consortium facilities and administrative (F&A) costs.
The project period is limited to five years.
NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.
Higher Education Institutions - Includes all types
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
Eligibility is restricted to institutions that meet all the following criteria:
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organization) are not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
Applicant organizations
Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply- Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information.
Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))
All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.
All PD(s)/PI(s) must be registered with ORCID. The personal profile associated with the PD(s)/PI(s) eRA Commons account must be linked to a valid ORCID ID. For more information on linking an ORCID ID to an eRA Commons personal profile see the ORCID topic in our eRA Commons online help.
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.
For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the How to Apply - Application Guide.
The PD(s)/PI(s) is expected to be an established biomedical research scientist with the administrative and mentoring experience necessary to lead the Center. The PD(s)/PI(s) of a COBRE Phase 1 award transitioning to COBRE-E or a COBRE Phase 2 award transitioning to COBRE-S may continue serving in that role provided their scientific background falls within the breadth of the proposed scientific area. Alternatively, new PD(s)/PI(s) may be proposed by the applicant organization.
At the time of submission, the COBRE PD/PI must have a primary appointment at the applicant organization and be the PD/PI on at least one active, peer-reviewed, and externally funded research grant within the general scientific area of the COBRE. If a COBRE PD/PI's qualifying research grant is a multiple PD/PI award to a different organization, the applicant organization must receive the COBRE PD/PI's research funds via a subcontract.
For multiple PD/PI COBRE applications, all non-contact PD(s)/PI(s) must also have at least one active, peer-reviewed, and externally funded research grant within the general scientific area of the COBRE.
A COBRE PD/PI may not simultaneously lead more than one IDeA (INBRE, CTR, or other COBRE) program award. Previous COBRE PD(s)/PI(s) of different COBRE Centers, except those who have served in that capacity on an interim basis, are not eligible to lead a COBRE-E or COBRE-S application. All investigators who intend to apply as PD(s)/PI(s) are encouraged to consult with the Scientific/Research Contact listed in Section VII prior to preparing an application to confirm eligibility.
The applicant organization will identify, prior to award, individuals from a pool of existing investigators to be supported by the COBRE's Scientific Research Program (SRP). It is the responsibility of the organization to establish the qualifications of the prospective SRP Investigators (SIs) before they are supported by the program. SIs must:
A COBRE SI cannot receive simultaneous research support from any other IDeA program award (e.g., INBRE, CTR, COBRE), but may be eligible to serve as a project lead of a supplement to an IDeA award.
This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 1.2- Definitions of Terms.
Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.
The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time per NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application. This means that the NIH will not accept:
The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST or an institutional system-to-system solution. A button to apply using ASSIST is available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See the administrative office for instructions if planning to use an institutional system-to-system solution.
It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise (in this NOFO, in a policy notice, or other notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts) and where instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to the requirements in the How to Apply - Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
All page limitations described in the How to Apply- Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.
| Component | Component Type for Submission | Page Limit | Required/Optional | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Overall | 12 | Required | 1 | 1 |
| Administrative Core | Admin Core | 6 | Required | 1 | 1 |
| Research Core | Core | 6 | Optional | 0 | 3 |
| Scientific Research Program | Core | 6 | Required | 1 | 1 |
The following section supplements the instructions found in How to Apply- Application Guide and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.
When preparing the application, use Component Type 'Overall'.
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete entire form.
Follow standard instructions.
Follow standard instructions.
Other Attachments: Please include a header or footer label on each page of the other attachments with the corresponding material title.
The following attachment must be included:
Existing SRP Investigator Pool: Applicants must include a Biographical Sketch Common Form and NIH Biographical Supplement for each investigator appointed at the institution who could potentially be selected as SIs. The Personal Statement in the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement should be tailored to the unique attributes and requirements of the COBRE and must not include Specific Aims nor preliminary data. See Section III. Eligibility Information for details.
Enter primary site only.
A summary of Project/Performance Sites in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.
Include only the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) and any multi-PDs/PIs (if applicable to this NOFO) for the entire application.
Biographical Sketch: Each PD/PI should include a description of their administrative and mentoring experience in the Personal Statement of the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement. The Biographical Sketch Common Form and NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement should provide evidence of the PD/PI's leadership experience in the Center's broad area of research, mentoring of early and mid-career investigators, and administration, including directing and managing a previous phase of a COBRE award, if applicable.
Current & Pending Support : Attach a copy of the PD/PI's Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form which is critical information for determining the PD/PI's eligibility and suitability to lead the Center.
A summary of Senior/Key Persons followed by their Biographical Sketches in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons will be generated upon submission.
The only budget information included in the Overall component is the Estimated Project Funding section of the SF424 (R&R) Cover.
A budget summary in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from detailed budget data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.
Introduction to Application: For Resubmission and Revision applications, an Introduction to Application is required in the Overall component.
Research Strategy: This section must include the following elements:
A. Justification for the Center
Applicants should provide a strong rationale for the need to request support for the Center in the chosen scientific area and how it fits within the applicant organization's strategic plan. The research area of the Center should be sufficiently broad to enable a significant expansion of biomedical research capacity while maintaining cohesion among its components. The justification should describe the organization's:
B. Organization and Management Plan
The Organization and Management Plan for the Center should clearly convey a strategy that demonstrates an effective use of the available funding, the proposed configuration of the Center and its cores, and the approaches to expand (COBRE-E) or sustain (COBRE-S) biomedical research capacity. Describe:
C. Sustainability Plan
The Sustainability Plan should outline the actions to be undertaken during the E-phase to ensure the enhancements to research infrastructure endure through the S-phase and beyond the duration of COBRE support. COBRE-S applicants should outline the actions the organization will take to successfully sustain the center's resources. Similarly, the plan should describe strategies to continue building sustained scientific growth across the entire research area of the Center once COBRE support ends. Strategies to promote the retention of center-associated faculty as well as plans to ensure continuity of leadership through the recruitment of administrative leaders should also be included. This could also include long-term collaborations between the IDeA awardee and applicable collaborators in non-IDeA states.
D. Advisory Committee
An Advisory Committee (AC) composed of three external, nationally recognized scientists with balanced expertise directly relevant to the broad scientific area of the Center, one senior institutional official (such as a Dean or Vice-President for Research), and one senior faculty member appointed by the senior institutional official must be assembled to advise the PD(s)/PI(s). AC members who previously served as external advisors may continue to serve in this role. The AC should meet at least twice per year. An AC member may not hold any other position in the Center, including serving as a mentor to an SI.
Responsibilities of the AC include but are not limited to:
Plans for the AC should describe:
E. Career Development Plan
A Career Development Plan is required that will be implemented by the SRP to support the success of the SIs. Leadership and management training for the SIs should be infused into the Center to foster career and professional advancement. Additionally, as part of the career development efforts, SIs should each be assigned a mentor. The mentor should be an established investigator who is able to provide scientific advice and career guidance to the SI. If a suitable mentor at the applicant institution is not available, it is acceptable to enlist an appropriate mentor from another organization, including those located in non-IDeA states. The Career Development Plan should describe:
Letters of Support: A single letter of support from a senior institutional official (for example, President or Dean) must be included outlining the institution's strategic plan and how the proposed COBRE aligns with its priorities for expanding (COBRE-E) and sustaining (COBRE-S) biomedical research capacity. The letter must also provide detailed evidence of the existing institutional resources and commitment to the growth and sustainability of the Center. If applicable, the letter should include a list of prior and active COBRE awards.
Applications that do not include this Letter of Institutional Support will be considered incomplete, and the application will be withdrawn prior to review. Do not include any additional Letters of Support.
Resource Sharing Plan:
Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.
Other Plan(s):
All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
A Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) is required for any NIH-funded or conducted research that will generate scientific data. Applicants must submit the DMS Plan at the time of application using the NIH DMS Plan Format Page. The DMS Plan must address the elements in the structured format. Where the DMS Plan Format Page requires a "Yes or No" response, no additional narrative is allowed. The Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan must be provided in the Overall component.
Appendix:
Only limited items are allowed in the Appendix. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in How to Apply- Application Guide; any instructions provided here are in addition to the How to Apply - Application Guide instructions.
When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the How to Apply - Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:
If you answered "Yes" to the question "Are Human Subjects Involved?" on the R&R Other Project Information form, there must be at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record within the application. The study record(s) must be included in the component(s) where the work is being done, unless the same study spans multiple components. To avoid the creation of duplicate study records, a single study record with sufficient information for all involved components must be included in the Overall component when the same study spans multiple components.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.
Delayed Onset Study
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.
When preparing your application, use Component Type 'Admin Core.'
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Follow standard instructions.
Human Subjects: Answer only the 'Are Human Subjects Involved?' and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations?' questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the 'Are Vertebrate Animals Used?' question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
A minimum level of effort (LOE) of three person-months is required of each PD/PI to devote to administrative oversight of the Center and provide career guidance to investigators. A maximum of six person-months of annual salary support may be requested collectively for all PDs/PIs. A PD/PI may not use COBRE funds to supplement research activities for their laboratory or research team and is not eligible for research project support from this COBRE or any other COBRE, INBRE, or CTR award. Funds should be requested in the Administrative Core budget to:
Funds cannot be used by collaborators or for collaboration at organizations in non-IDeA states or at foreign sites. However, funds may be used at other U.S. organizations for fee-for-service activities, such as learning new techniques, carrying out sample and data analysis, attending workshops, or obtaining scientific advising/consulting/mentoring (as described above).
The PD(s)/PI(s) of the Centers funded through this NOFO must attend the National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE) biennial meeting.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
Introduction to Application: For Resubmission applications, an Introduction to Application is allowed for each component.
Specific Aims: The SF424 application Guide must be followed.
Research Strategy: Include a description of:
Letters of Support: Not allowed. Support for the Administrative Core should be included in the Institutional Letter of Support of the Overall Component.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Other Plan(s):
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Appendix: Only limited items are allowed in the Appendix. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:
If you answered "Yes" to the question "Are Human Subjects Involved?" on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
Do not complete. Human subjects research is not allowed in the Administrative Core.
Delayed Onset Study
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
Research Cores should be made available to other investigators at the institution as well as those from other IDeA state institutions. Cores that duplicate services already available at the applicant institution are not allowed. Utilization, modification, or expansion of existing Core resources supported by institutional funds or other IDeA programs to accomplish the goals of proposed COBRE research is strongly encouraged.
When preparing your application, use Component Type 'Core'.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Follow standard instructions.
Human Subjects: Answer only the 'Are Human Subjects Involved?' and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations?' questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the 'Are Vertebrate Animals Used?' question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.
Research Cores proposed by the applicant organization must be located at the primary Performance Site.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
The Director(s) of Research Core facilities must be full-time staff member(s) at the applicant organization and be experienced with the requisite knowledge, authority, leadership, administrative skills, and capabilities to direct the core. The Core Director will lead a team that provides services to:
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Funds may be requested to establish Research Core facilities and/or to use, modify, or expand existing resources that are necessary for accomplishing the scientific goals of the Center. In addition to personnel and supply costs, the acquisition of new equipment and modernization of instrumentation may be proposed. Alteration and Renovation (A&R) of core facilities cannot be proposed under this component.
Core facilities should have a detailed budget for the entire proposed project period (five years).
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
Introduction to Application: For Resubmission applications, an Introduction to Application is allowed (but not required) in the Research Core component.
Specific Aims: The SF424 application Guide must be followed.
Research Strategy: Describe and justify:
Letters of Support: Not allowed. Support for any Research Cores should be included in the Institutional Letter of Support of the Overall component.
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Other Plan(s):
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Appendix: Only limited items are allowed in the Appendix. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:
If you answered "Yes" to the question "Are Human Subjects Involved?" on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record. If a human subjects protocol(s) is used in a single Project or Core of the Center, the study record(s) must be included in the component where the human subjects research is being performed. To avoid the creation of duplicate study records, a single study record with sufficient information for all involved components must be included in the Overall component when the same study spans multiple components.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
Delayed Onset Study
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
When preparing your application, use Component Type 'Core'
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Follow standard instructions.
Human Subjects: Answer only the 'Are Human Subjects Involved?' and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations?' questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the 'Are Vertebrate Animals Used?' question.
Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
The SRP should have a detailed budget for the entire 5-year project period.
Individuals supported through the SRP must make a minimum level of effort commitment of six person-months annually. Salary support for postdoctoral research associates, graduate and undergraduate research assistants, and other research assistants may be requested with justification for the needs of the SI.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
Introduction to Application: For Resubmission applications, an Introduction to Application is allowed (but not required) for each component.
Specific Aims: The SF424 application Guide must be followed.
Research Strategy: The Research Strategy should describe how the proposed SRP will administer the research activities of the Center. Applicant organizations should provide a strategy that details how, through a combination of existing early career faculty and planned hires, the institution will enable scientific advances that comprehensively address a relevant and broad area of biomedical research. Applicants should describe the characteristics that will be sought in prospective faculty hires with an eye towards strengthening the scientific coverage of the Center.
This section should include a description of the:
Detailed research plans with Specific Aims for individual projects should not be included in the application.
Letters of Support: Not allowed. Support for the SRP should be included in the Institutional Letter of Support of the Overall component.
Resource Sharing Plan: Applicants are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Other Plan(s):
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Appendix: Only limited items are allowed in the Appendix. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
If you answered "Yes" to the question "Are Human Subjects Involved?" on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record. If a human subjects protocol(s) is used in a single Research Project or Core of the Center, the study record(s) must be included in the component where the human subjects research is being performed. To avoid the creation of duplicate study records, a single study record with sufficient information for all involved components must be included in the Overall component when the same study spans multiple components.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
Delayed Onset Study
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
See Part 2. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov
Part I. contains information about Key Dates and times. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.
Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies) using ASSIST or other electronic submission systems. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH's electronic system for grants administration. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications.
Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.
Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in How to Apply- Application Guide.
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 7.9.1 Selected Items of Cost.
Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the How to Apply - Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.
For information on how applications will be automatically assembled for review and funding consideration after submission, refer to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/Electronic_Multi-project_Application_Image_Assembly.pdf.
Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.
For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit How to Apply - Application Guide. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance. For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII.
Important reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) and component Project Leads must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile form. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.
The applicant organization must ensure that the unique entity identifier provided on the application is the same identifier used in the organization's profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be found in How to Apply - Application Guide.
See more tips for avoiding common errors.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will not be reviewed.
Recipients or subrecipients must submit any information related to violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award. See Mandatory Disclosures, 2 CFR 200.113 and NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 4.1.35.
Send written disclosures to the NIH Chief Grants Management Officer listed on the Notice of Award for the IC that funded the award and to the HHS Office of Inspector Grant Self Disclosure Program at grantdisclosures@oig.hhs.gov.
Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy.
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. Applications submitted to NIH in support of the NIH mission are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.
Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.
Is the proposed area of the Center sufficiently broad and cohesive to enable a substantial expansion of biomedical research capacity at the applicant organization? To what extent is the Center aligned with the institution's strategic priorities in developing research capacity? How strong is the institutional justification for the expansion of the Center or the sustainability of the existing Center, as applicable? Will the plans significantly expand and strengthen the institutional research capacity in the comprehensive area of research?
Does the PD(s)/PI(s) have the appropriate scientific and administrative expertise to provide leadership and direction to the Center? Does the PD(s)/PI(s) demonstrate a commitment to mentor and guide early career and mid-career investigators towards scientific independence? Does the PD(s)/PI(s) have a record of sustained leadership of a productive research group within the scientific area of the Center? Is there a strong and sustainable leadership structure for the future administration of the program? If the proposal is multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise and are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the Center?
Will the proposed Center's area of science enable future growth on pace with advances in the field? Do the proposed plans demonstrate effective and creative use of existing resources and investigators across the applicant organization? To what extent will the plans set the institution and its investigators on a path towards innovative research in the broad scientific area of the Center?
Does the Organization and Management Plan provide confidence that the overall goals of the Center will be achieved?
Is the Sustainability Plan congruent with the plans for expansion during the COBRE-E Phase and future sustainability through the COBRE-S Phase and beyond?
Is the proposed composition of the Advisory Committee (AC) appropriate? Are the scientific and administrative expertise of the AC members adequate to assess the research and capacity building progress of the Center and to offer advice to the PD(s)/PI(s) on scientific and career development matters, including the assessment of SIs and their research? Is the role of the AC in these matters adequately described?
Does the Career Development Plan include clear strategies to prepare, train, and guide mentors in their role? Is mentoring performance adequately assessed and evaluated? Does the application adequately address how conflicts that arise between the mentor and the SI will be resolved?
Are there processes proposed to evaluate the progress and success of the SIs for generating useful data, publishing their results, and securing peer-reviewed independent funding?
Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Does the application demonstrate appropriate institutional commitment to support the goal of strengthening the biomedical research capacity in the scientific area of the Center? Are the existing physical resources available to the investigators adequate to meet the goals of the Center? Is the existing pool of potential SIs, as a whole, scientifically broad and well-integrated to spur research capacity growth in the proposed area of investigation? How effectively do the overall plans convey the need to request support to expand (COBRE-E) or sustain (COBRE-S) existing resources and future growth in the proposed broad area of research, as applicable?
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.
For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.
For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Human Subjects.
This NOFO only accepts applications that do not propose clinical trials. Note: Applications may propose activities involving human subjects that are not deemed clinical trials.
When the proposed project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion in Clinical Research.
The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following three points: (1) a complete description of all proposed procedures including the species, strains, ages, sex, and total numbers of animals to be used; (2) justifications that the species is appropriate for the proposed research and why the research goals cannot be accomplished using an alternative non-animal model; and (3) interventions including analgesia, anesthesia, sedation, palliative care, and humane endpoints that will be used to limit any unavoidable discomfort, distress, pain and injury in the conduct of scientifically valuable research. Methods of euthanasia and justification for selected methods, if NOT consistent with the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals, is also required but is found in a separate section of the application. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals Section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animals Section.
Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.
For Resubmissions (as applicable), the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.
For Renewals (as applicable), the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.
For Revisions (as applicable), the committee will consider the appropriateness of the proposed expansion of the scope of the project. If the Revision application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in the original application that was not recommended for approval by the committee, then the committee will consider whether the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group are adequate and whether substantial changes are clearly evident.
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.
Not Applicable
Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).
Reviewers will comment on whether the Resource Sharing Plan(s) (e.g., Sharing Model Organisms) or the rationale for not sharing the resources, is reasonable.
For projects involving key biological and/or chemical resources, reviewers will comment on the brief plans proposed for identifying and ensuring the validity of those resources.
Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the Core to exert a sustained impact on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria.
Is there a well-integrated plan to manage and coordinate the Center's components, Advisory Committee, and mentors to achieve the Center's goals? Are the plans for the recruitment of new investigators consistent with the goals of strengthening and broadening biomedical research capacity at the Center? Does the application provide viable plans for maintaining a pool of investigators within the broad research scope of the Center? Is there a clear plan to carry out the responsibilities required of the COBRE award including, but not limited to, preparing accurate and timely progress reports, ensuring all Center activities are compliant with federal regulations, managing the Center's budget and financial reporting? Are appropriate strategies described for conducting annual evaluations of the Center? Are there suitable plans for implementing recommendations of the AC? Do the plans for Alterations and Renovations (if applicable) reflect a need within the scope of the area of research?
Is the request to support the Research Core well justified? Does the Core provide suitable scientific support to the proposed scientific area of the COBRE? Does the business plan account for future growth in the Core's user base ensuring an expansion of its reach (COBRE-E) and its sustainability (COBRE-S), as applicable? Does the Core Director have the expertise to provide the necessary oversight to administer the maintenance and growth of existing core resources and laboratory facilities to carry out the scientific objectives outlined in the application? Are there sufficient institutional commitments to ensure that the resources and facilities required to sustain and enhance the Core will be available?
How well-designed are the plans for the SRP to meet the goals of the Center? Do the proposed plans contribute adequately to the overall enhancement of biomedical research capacity at the applicant organization in light of the chosen area of research? How well do the plans align with the strategic priorities of the institution? How well do the characteristics sought in future hires complement the existing pool of investigators at the institution? Are the processes and plans to solicit, review, and select SIs for SRP funding suitable, fair, and transparent? How feasible are the plans for implementation of the Center-wide scientific and career development activities in the Career Development Plan?
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by CSR, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications will receive a written critique.
Applications may undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review) will be discussed and assigned an overall impact score.
Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the appropriate national Advisory Council or Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.5.1. Just-in-Time Procedures. This request is not a Notice of Award nor should it be construed to be an indicator of possible funding.
Prior to making an award, NIH reviews an applicant's federal award history in SAM.gov to ensure sound business practices. An applicant can review and comment on any information in the Responsibility/Qualification records available in SAM.gov. NIH will consider any comments by the applicant in the Responsibility/Qualification records in SAM.gov to ascertain the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and performance record of managing Federal awards per 2 CFR Part 200.206 "Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants." This provision will apply to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements except fellowships.
After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access their Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons. Refer to Part 1 for dates for peer review, advisory council review, and earliest start date.
Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.4.4 Disposition of Applications.
A Notice of Award (NoA) is the official authorizing document notifying the applicant that an award has been made and that funds may be requested from the designated HHS payment system or office. The NoA is signed by the Grants Management Officer and emailed to the recipient's business official.
In accepting the award, the recipient agrees that any activities under the award are subject to all provisions currently in effect or implemented during the period of the award, other Department regulations and policies in effect at the time of the award, and applicable statutory provisions.
Recipients must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.6. Funding Restrictions. Any pre-award costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the applicant's own risk. For more information on the Notice of Award, please refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 5. The Notice of Award and NIH Grants & Funding website, see Award Process.
Institutional Review Board or Independent Ethics Committee Approval: Recipient organizations must ensure that protocols are reviewed by their IRB or IEC. To help ensure the safety of participants enrolled in NIH-funded studies, the recipient must provide NIH copies of documents related to all major changes in the status of ongoing protocols.
Administrative Core
PD(s)/PI(s) of COBRE Centers funded through this NOFO must attend the National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE) biennial meeting.
Scientific Research Program (SRP)
Prior to award, the PI(s)/PD(s) will select the SIs from an existing pool of eligible investigators at the institution and then submit the SI selections to NIGMS for prior approval. The SRP is a required core of the COBRE, and there is no required minimum number of SIs. The size of the SRP may change over the course of the award to reflect the Center's scientific needs.
The application must include a description of the SRP and the process for SI selection. See "Prior Approval of New SRP Investigators (SIs)" below for documents that must be submitted to NIGMS. SIs must not begin work until prior approval is received from NIGMS. SIs must submit a New (ESIs, NIs, "at-risk" investigators) or a Renewal (mid-career investigators, "at-risk" investigators) version of an independent investigator-initiated, peer-reviewed research project grant (RPG) application by the end of the second year of COBRE support. It is expected that SIs will be supported by the COBRE for a maximum of three years and transition to independent research support. Support for an SI beyond 3 years must receive approval by the AC and prior approval from NIGMS.
SIs must maintain the minimum level of effort of 6.0 person-months (PM) for the duration of COBRE support. Reduction in the level of effort of SIs below 6.0 PM requires prior approval from NIGMS and will not be approved except in extraordinary circumstances.
An SI is no longer eligible for COBRE support upon receipt of independent research funding. Independent research grant funding includes any substantial, independent research award funded by the NIH or any other funding agency, such as an R01 or R01-equivalent award. If the grant has scientific overlap with, or is highly similar to, the work being carried out by the investigator as part of the COBRE or addresses a closely related topic, COBRE support must end when the new award begins. If the independent research funding does not overlap with COBRE support, up to 6 months may be allowed for orderly closeout of the SI project.
An SI may be removed from the COBRE program if review by the AC indicates a failure by the investigator to make adequate progress toward meeting milestones, including the failure to submit an investigator-initiated, peer-reviewed research grant application by the end of two years of COBRE support.
Prior approval is not required when an SI departs the COBRE. The grantee should report SI departures in the progress report for the SRP core in the next submitted RPPR (annual or final, whichever applies). The date of departure and the reason for the departure should be documented (e.g., received independent research grant funding, AC determination of failure of progress, investigator changed institutions, etc.).
Prior Approval of New SRP Investigators (SIs)
New COBRE SIs whose program does not include human subjects or vertebrate animals research will only require official notification to NIGMS with appropriate documentation, including the AC approval, at least 14 days before the COBRE-supported research may begin. Prior approval by NIGMS is no longer required to initiate the SI's COBRE research if the work does not involve vertebrate animals or human subjects.
New COBRE SIs whose program includes human subjects and/or vertebrate animals research will continue to require NIGMS prior approval before the projects can begin. The following documentation for each project must be submitted using the eRA Prior Approval module, per NOT-OD-26-026, for administrative review at least 30 days before COBRE-supported research begins:
If the proposed research plan involves human biospecimens or data, include:
If the proposed research plan involves Human Subjects, include:
Note: For Human Subjects, the grantee must enter study data in the Human Subjects System (HSS) before requesting NIGMS approval.
If the proposed project involves Vertebrate Animals, include:
The following Federal wide and HHS-specific policy requirements apply to awards funded through NIH:
All federal statutes and regulations relevant to federal financial assistance, including those highlighted in NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 4 Public Policy Requirements, Objectives and Other Appropriation Mandates.
By applying for or accepting federal funds from HHS, recipients certify compliance with all federal antidiscrimination laws and these requirements and that complying with those laws is a material condition of receiving federal funding streams. Recipients are responsible for ensuring subrecipients, contractors, and partners also comply.
Applicants and recipients are strongly encouraged to refer to the NIH Director's Statement of Priorities, entitled "Advancing NIH's Mission Through a Unified Strategy."
Recipients are responsible for ensuring that their activities comply with all applicable federal regulations. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.340, by accepting an NIH award, the recipient agrees that continued funding for the award is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds, recipient satisfactory performance, compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the award, and may also otherwise be terminated, to the extent authorized by law, if the agency determines that the award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities, in line with 2 CFR 200.340(a)(4).
Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, Div. N, § 405, Pub. Law 114-113, 6 USC § 1533(d), the HHS Secretary has established a common set of voluntary, consensus-based, and industry-led guidelines, best practices, methodologies, procedures, and processes.
Successful recipients under this NOFO agree that:
When recipients, subrecipients, or third-party entities have:
Cybersecurity plans and procedures must at minimum include the following:
All activities proposed in your application and budget narrative must align with applicable law, including but not limited to statutes, executive orders, federal regulations and applicable judicial holdings. Accordingly, discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate; racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation; denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans, or the belief that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic; illegal immigration; or any other initiatives that compromise public safety. If an application does not align, the application will not receive funding to the extent permitted by law and applicable court orders.
For applications involving substance abuse, the application must not support harm reduction. Please see Updated Funding Guidance for Recipients on Supplies and Services.
For applications involving funding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) or medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), this funding should be used to provide comprehensive treatment and recovery support services rather than medication-only models for opioid use disorder. Services should include medications, where clinically indicated, in conjunction with psychosocial and other treatment and recovery support services. Funding can also be used to support individualized tapering and discontinuation of medications when clinically indicated. Please see Updated Funding Guidance for Recipients on MAT/MOUD.
As of October 1, 2025, HHS has adopted 2 CFR Part 200, with some modifications included in 2 CFR Part 300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR Part 75. However, for NIH, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2026, (P.L. 119-75, Division B, Title II, Sec. 224), the provisions relating to indirect costs in 45 CFR 75 continue to apply to NIH awards. Consistent with the statute, NIH will not apply updated thresholds outlined within 2 CFR Part 200, at this time.
Not Applicable
A Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) is required for any NIH-funded or conducted research that will generate scientific data. Applicants must submit the DMS Plan at the time of application using the NIH DMS Plan Format Page. The DMS Plan must address the elements in the structured format. Where the DMS Plan Format Page requires a "Yes or No" response, no additional narrative is allowed. The Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan must be provided in the Overall component.
Progress reports should briefly describe status of SI projects, including data and safety monitoring, compliance with the approved Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan), and should notify NIH of serious adverse events and unanticipated problems.
Progress reports should briefly describe status of pilot projects, including data and safety monitoring, and should notify NIH of serious adverse events and unanticipated problems.
A final RPPR, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 8.6 Closeout. NIH NOFOs outline intended research goals and objectives. Post award, NIH will review and measure performance based on the details and outcomes that are shared within the RPPR, as described at 2 CFR Part 200.301.
In the event that new research supported by the Research/SRP Cores is not covered by the current DMS Plan, an updated DMS plan not exceeding 2 pages should be submitted as part of the RPPR.
In carrying out the stewardship of grant programs, NIGMS will periodically evaluate the COBRE program employing the representative measures identified below. In assessing the effectiveness of research capacity building investments, NIGMS may use information from progress reports and public databases, PDs/PIs, and from participants themselves. Where necessary, PDs/PIs and participants may be appropriately contacted after the completion of the grant period for updates on participants subsequent outcomes, as appropriate. The overall evaluation of the program will be based on metrics that may include, but are not limited to, the following:
We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.
eRA Service Desk - Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, and post-submission issues.
Grants.gov Support Center - Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and services (e.g., Workspace, subscriptions).
NIGMS COBRE-E
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: NIGMS_COBRE_E@mail.nih.gov
NIGMS COBRE-S
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: NIGMS_COBRE_S@mail.nih.gov
Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
Email: NOFOReviewContact@csr.nih.gov
NIGMS RCB GAB NOFO
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: NIGMSRCBGABNOFO@nih.gov
Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 2 CFR Part 200.