National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES (NIGMS)
P30 Center Core Grants
See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports "mature" resources at synchrotron facilities that provide user access to X-ray beamlines for static and dynamic imaging of biological systems ranging from molecules to organs. "Mature" refers to the techniques made available at the resource beamlines, which must be well established and provide utility to the communities they serve without requiring significant novel technology development. Applications may only request support for existing synchrotron resources that are currently supported by NIGMS funding. The facility is expected to be maintained or upgraded to current best practices, make its capabilities and availability known to the biomedical research community through outreach activities, and provide user training and support.
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 for funding.
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. NIGMS also supports research in specific clinical areas that affect multiple organ systems: anesthesiology and peri-operative pain; clinical pharmacology common to multiple drugs and treatments; and injury, critical illness, sepsis, and wound healing. NIGMS-funded scientists investigate how living systems work at a range of levels – from molecules and cells to tissues and organs – in research organisms, humans, and populations. Additionally, 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 |
| October 02, 2026 | October 02, 2026 | Not Applicable | March 2027 | May 2027 | July 2027 |
| October 01, 2027 | October 01, 2027 | Not Applicable | March 2028 | May 2028 | July 2028 |
| October 02, 2028 | October 02, 2028 | Not Applicable | March 2029 | May 2029 | July 2029 |
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.
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.
This NOFO will continue support of NIGMS-funded mature synchrotron resources that provide synchrotron-based techniques for static and dynamic imaging of biological systems ranging from molecules to organs. Awards under this NOFO will support synchrotron-based resources with technologies that are at an advanced, stable level, and require minimal development to maintain that state. Mature synchrotron resources must:
Funding through this NOFO will support:
Early-stage technology development research is not supported through this NOFO. However, the NIGMS Technology Development program supports this type of research through the R01 activity code and interested synchrotron resource investigators are encouraged to contact NIGMS staff to discuss projects that may be appropriate for this program.
NIGMS Mature Synchrotron Resources must consist of:
NIGMS expects that each mature synchrotron resource supports a broad user base, including but not limited to:
Applications Not Responsive to this NOFO
The following types of applications are not responsive to this NOFO and will not be reviewed:
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.
The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Application budgets are not limited, but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
Support for up to five years may be requested.
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
For-Profit Organizations
Local Governments
Federal Governments
Other
Requirement for Current NIGMS Support: This NOFO is limited to applicants requesting support for existing synchrotron resources that are currently supported by NIGMS funding. Applications cannot support resources whose funding ended more than 36 months prior to the application due date.
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. 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.
PD/PI(s) should possess the skills, knowledge and resources required to provide leadership to all key components of the resource, not only to individual select activities.
At least one of the PDs/PIs must devote at least 2.4 person-months. At least one senior scientist, an individual distinct from the PD(s)/PI(s), must devote at least 6 person-months to the synchrotron resource.
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 |
| Administration | Admin Core | 12 | Required | 1 | 1 |
| Technology Operations Core | Core | 12 | Required | 1 | NA |
| User Training and Outreach | Project | 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.
Revision applications must include an Overall component and the components that are affected by the revision. Therefore, the component requirements listed below may not apply to the revision 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.
Project Summary/Abstract: Provide a summary of the proposed work including
Project Narrative: Provide the Project Narrative for the entire application.
Other Attachments: The following attachments are required.
Publications Enabled by the Resource:
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.
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.
Specific Aims: Describe the overall aims of the Resource.
Research Strategy:
Letters of Support: Include letters of support following instructions in the How To Apply - Application Guide. Do not include letters from people who do not have an assigned role in the Resource. For example, do not include past users or potential users.
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.
In the context of the Resource Sharing Plan, resources include software, materials, protocols, instrument components or interfaces, data pipelines, workshop video archives, training tutorials, etc. that Resource staff develop and disseminate to the greater research community. Dissemination can occur in many forms, including free distribution, fee-for-service, or commercialization.
Provide the Resource Sharing Plan for the entire project here.
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 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 How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Follow application 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.
Other Attachments: Provide the following attachments:
User Forms (Required): Provide samples of all forms to be filled out by Resource users including those for:
Provide all forms, with accompanying instructions, in one PDF file named "UserForms".
External Advisory Committee report (for standing EACs): Provide the latest report from the Resource External Advisory Committee. Name the file "EACReport".
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.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIGMS Scientific/Research staff early in the process of developing an application to discuss the budget for the proposed Resource.
Budget Restrictions: Funds may not be requested for alteration and renovation or direct support for Resource users' research projects.
Personnel:
Supplies: Supplies related to the administration activities of the Resource are permitted and may include consumable laboratory research materials, office materials, and small equipment costing less than $10,000 (unless the institution has a lower limit).
Equipment and Service Contracts: Do not include equipment or service contracts here. Include requests in the appropriate Technology Operations Core(s).
Travel: Domestic and foreign travel support for Resource personnel are permitted, provided the travel is directly related to Resource activities.
Funds to support travel by the appropriate personnel of the Resource for up to three program meetings in the course of the project period should be requested in the budget. The purpose of the meetings is to share information with other Mature Synchrotron Resource directors including but not limited to user support, ideas for standardization across Resources, ideas to improve service and descriptions of new facility features. Request funds for travel to an annual PD(s)/PI(s) meeting.
Note: If an annual meeting of an External Advisory Committee (EAC) is planned, funds for support of any EAC member travel should be requested in the Consultant Services category rather than the travel category.
Consultants: Consultants (including External Advisory Committee members) and any associated costs are permitted.
Budget Justification:, Provide detailed information about support received or anticipated from other entities. Examples include co-funding by another government agency, user fees, or institutional support.
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.
Specific Aims: Concisely state the goals of the proposed Administration component.
Research Strategy: Describe, in separate sections, the:
Organizational Structure and Staff Responsibilities
Resource Operating Procedures
The Resource should be operated safely and effectively to provide the best quality user facility possible. It must be accessible to all biomedical researchers whose projects are vetted through a peer review process. Plans must ensure that all users have fair access to the Resource.
Long Dark Period Planning: Provide dates and durations of any anticipated extended periods when the synchrotron will not be available to users because of planned upgrades. Provide detailed plans of any necessary staff activities in support of the planned upgrades.
Contingency Planning: Unexpected extended facility outages can occur due to fire, flood, earthquakes, accidents, theft, catastrophic equipment breakdowns and other causes. Include plans for contingencies in which the facility is unable to perform its functions for an extended period (months or longer). Include provisions for support (for example, alternative employment) of personnel if they are unable to perform resource support functions for an extended period. Institutional support in terms of backup and/or special insurance is an option, as are reciprocal arrangements with other Resources.
To sustain efficient management of the Resource, include a contingency plan in the event the PD(s)/PI(s) can no longer fulfill the obligation due to health, retirement, or other circumstances.
External Advisory Committee
Each Resource must have an External Advisory Committee (EAC). The PD(s)/PI(s) appoint the members of the EAC, whose roles include but are not limited to advising the PD(s)/PI(s) on operations and future Resource directions, particularly in planning additional grant applications, maintaining state-of-the-art capabilities through new technology implementation, and in setting priorities for allocation of Resource facilities.
If the Resource has a standing EAC, list the current members and briefly describe their qualifications and roles.
If the Resource does not currently have an EAC, refrain from assembling one prior to or during application review, or approaching or identifying potential candidates. Instead, describe the expected roles of the EAC and plans for selecting members with regard to areas of expertise relevant to the Resource.
If any other local executive committees or other local committees for the Resource are proposed or already exist, describe their composition, function and meeting schedules.
Mature Synchrotron Resources PD/PI Meeting
PD(s)/PI(s) in this Program should plan to organize and rotate hosting an annual meeting of PDs/PIs and appropriate staff from the Mature Synchrotron Resources to discuss best practices and possible standardization, share technical information, and assess the current needs of the greater biomedical research user community. Other investigators who operate and staff resources that may be eligible for the Mature Synchrotron Resource program should be encouraged to participate. The meeting host should include a virtual attendance option.
Plans for Collecting and Reporting Metrics
Tracking the demand for and utilization of the Resource is important for ongoing improvements in the short term and for gauging long-term Resource impact. A reporting plan should be tailored to the Resource to best evaluate its productivity, availability, efficiency, and impact. Provide a plan for annual data collection and reporting that is tailored to best evaluate the Resource's productivity, availability, efficiency, and impact.
In this section provide only the plan proposing the information to be collected in the future and reported in the Resource's Research Performance Progress Report. Do not provide data for categories listed here in the application. Data demonstrating impact of the Resource on the research community should be included in the Overall section.
Anticipated data types include:
Letters of Support: Include letters of support following instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide. Do not include letters from persons who do not have an assigned role in the Resource. For example, do not include past users or potential users.
Resource Sharing Plan: While individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide, this information should be included in the Overall component.
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 How to Apply - 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 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, 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
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.
When preparing your application, use Component Type 'Core'.
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Follow application 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.
Other Attachments:
Section Titled "User Research Projects" followed by the name of the Technology Operations Core describing five representative user projects formatted as follows:
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.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact program staff early in the process of developing an application to discuss the budget for the proposed Resource.
Funds may not be requested for alteration and renovation or direct support for Resource users' research projects.
Personnel:
Equipment:
Travel: Domestic and foreign travel support for Resource personnel are permitted, provided the travel is directly related to Resource activities.
Supplies: Supplies related to Resource operations are permitted and may include consumable laboratory research materials and small equipment costing less than $10,000 (unless the institution has a lower limit).
Consultants: Consultants fees and any associated costs are permitted.
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.
Specific Aims: Describe the goals of the proposed Technology Operations Core. Include explicit sub-aims for each planned improvement intended to maintain the facility at the state of the art.
Research Strategy: Technology Operations Cores should provide advanced technologies and services that are stable with regard to major developments and are appropriate for the anticipated research needs of the biomedical research user community they serve. The research strategy should describe plans to:
Each Resource must include at least one Technology Operations Core supporting a specific synchrotron-based method that requires dedicated instrumentation, software, methods, and expertise. Each Technology Core should provide an important resource for biomedical researchers. The Resource is expected to actively recruit user research projects and provide broad access to Resource capabilities, as described in detail in the User Training and Outreach and Administration components. Discuss the role and contributions of the leader(s) of the Technology Operations Core. Do not repeat information that is included in the biosketches.
User Support and Providing Access to the Resource
Maintenance Activities
Planned Improvements
While technology development is not a primary goal of the Resource, implementation of technologies that enhance the impact on the user community and improve the utility of the Technology Operations Core is an important activity of the Resource. Whenever possible, plans should be made to utilize open-source software and/or equipment that either can be obtained commercially or has been previously developed.
Any technology development or updates (e.g., software, algorithm development, or hardware engineering) proposed should be:
Planned improvements should be discussed with NIGMS Scientific/Research staff prior to submission to ensure they conform to the NOFO requirements.
Technology updates may be necessary to maintain the Resource at the state of the art or to advance service objectives. Discuss the role and contribution of Resource staff in implementing improvements to this Technology Operations Core. For proposed technology updates (e.g., software, algorithm development, or hardware engineering):
Letters of Support: Include letters of support following instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide. Do not include letters from persons who do not have an assigned role in the Resource. For example, do not include past users or potential users.
Resource Sharing Plan: While individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide, this information should be included in the Overall component.
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 How to Apply - 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 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, 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
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.
When preparing your application, use Component Type 'Project'.
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Follow application 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.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIGMS Scientific/Research staff early in the process of developing an application to discuss the budget for the proposed Resource.
Budget restrictions: User trainee-related costs such as stipends, fringe benefit, travel, and room and board are not allowed.
Personnel:
Web Site: Costs for the development and maintenance of a web site for outreach and training are allowed.
Supplies: Supplies related to Resource User Training and Outreach activities are permitted, and may include consumable laboratory research materials, office materials, and small equipment costing less than $10,000 (unless the institution has a lower limit).
Travel: Domestic and foreign travel support for Resource personnel are permitted, provided the travel is directly related to the Resource.
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.
Specific Aims: State concisely the goals of the proposed User Training and Outreach component.
Research Strategy: Describe, in separate sections:
User Training Procedures and Activities
User Training should prepare biomedical researchers to effectively use and apply the Resource technologies and data collected to their own research. Researchers being trained may include graduate students, faculty members, and researchers from industry as is appropriate for the Mature Synchrotron Resource's technology. Plans for individualized user training in the safe and effective operation of the available Resource facilities are required. A combination of one-on-one interactions with Resource staff, web-based manuals, and training modules or tutorials, etc., may be used. Broader training open to the greater research community through means such as seminars and lectures, workshops and short courses, or symposia offered independently or in conjunction with society meetings attended by the user community is optional, but encouraged.
Academic courses that are offered as part of the curriculum of the Resource's institution, and not available to those outside the institution, should not be included in this section. The training experience should not be a requirement for receipt of an academic degree.
Outreach
Outreach activities should have three objectives:
All Resource Outreach activities must acknowledge NIGMS grant support and cite the NIGMS grant number.
Website: A robust web presence is required for every Mature Synchrotron Resource. Support for the Resource, including the NIGMS grant number, should be acknowledged on that website. The website should minimally provide the following information:
Describe the content of the proposed website or, if applicable, of an existing Resource website.
Software: Resources that are developing software should produce portable, well-documented, user-friendly software, make it readily available to the user community, and provide user support. Describe outreach plans for disseminating software.
Letters of Support: Include letters of support following instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide. Do not include letters from persons who do not have an assigned role in the Resource. For example, do not include past users or potential users.
Resource Sharing Plan: While individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide, this information should be included in the Overall component.
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 How to Apply - 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 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, 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
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.
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.
PDs/PIs and appropriate staff are expected to attend an annual Program meeting.
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 and responsiveness by components of participating organizations, NIH. Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant and/or nonresponsive 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.
Does the Resource address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?
Specific to this NOFO:
Has the Resource demonstrated user demand, scientific impact and productivity? Has the Resource addressed the research community's needs? Are Resource users regionally and/or geographically distributed?
Are the PD(s)/PI(s) and other key personnel well suited to the project? Have the PD(s)/PI(s) demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishment in administering and managing facilities for synchrotron-based research? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?
Will proposed refinements in instrumentation or software enhance resource capabilities?
Specific to this NOFO:
Does the application outline a coherent plan to ensure that independently funded investigators have access to biomedical technologies, expertise and training that are not widely available and will facilitate biomedical research?
Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? Have the investigators presented adequate plans to address relevant biological variables, such as sex, for studies in vertebrate animals or human subjects?
If the project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, are the plans to address:
1) the protection of human subjects from research risks, and
2) inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion or exclusion of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults), justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?
Specific to this NOFO:
Will the proposed activities and components provide an integrated, coherent Resource? Are operating procedures in place to provide a safe and effective working environment for Resource users? Are the management, training and outreach strategies appropriate and feasible? Do the plans, including plans for user-staff interactions, ensure that users will have fair access to the facilities and services? Are plans for the maintenance and operation of the Resource adequate? Are appropriate contingency plans in place to reduce the impact of planned and unanticipated synchrotron dark periods or catastrophic equipment failures?
Will the synchrotron and institutional environment(s) enhance the probability that the resource and user research projects will succeed? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the resources proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?
Specific to this NOFO:
Are the experimental station(s), user interfaces and respective workspace(s) user-friendly, adequate and conducive to effective user access?
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 consider the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit and give a single separate score for each component (Administration, each Technology Operations Core, and User Training and Outreach).
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 policies and practices, 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 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.
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.
In administering programs under this and all funding announcements, NIH prioritizes:
Not Applicable
A Data Management and Sharing Plan is not applicable for applications to this NOFO.
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 carrying out stewardship of grant programs, NIGMS will periodically evaluate the Mature Synchrotron Resource program, employing the representative measures identified below. In assessing the effectiveness of research resource investments, NIGMS may use information from progress reports and public databases, PD/PIs, and from participants themselves. Where necessary, PD/PIs and participants may be appropriately contacted after the completion of the grant period for updates on participant's subsequent outcomes.
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).
MSR P30 Mailbox
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: MSRP30Mailbox@nih.gov
Examine your eRA Commons account for review assignment and contact information (information appears two weeks after the submission due date).
NIGMS BBCB GAB NOFO
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: NIGMSBBCBGABNOFO@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.