Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 115
The Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III - Transitional Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-115) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to help established COBRE programs make the jump from NIH-supported center development into long-term independence. In practical terms, the FOA is focused on moving a COBRE beyond the earlier build-up phases by solidifying the center's shared research infrastructure (its cores) and the biomedical research activities that rely on those resources, so the overall program can remain productive and competitive even after COBRE-specific support ends. The central theme is sustainability: strengthening the operational footing, research capabilities, and institutional integration of the COBRE so that it can continue to serve investigators and attract ongoing funding through other mechanisms.
This FOA uses the P30 Center Core Grant structure, meaning the funding is aimed primarily at supporting shared core resources and the administrative framework that enables multiple research projects and investigators to function efficiently. Rather than operating like a typical single-project research grant, a P30 is built around the idea that shared facilities, services, technical expertise, and coordinated management can raise the quality and competitiveness of many research efforts at once. The "Phase III - Transitional Centers" framing signals that applicants are expected to already have a mature COBRE foundation and are now proposing a plan to transition that foundation into a stable, independently viable research center environment. The "Clinical Trial Optional" label indicates that clinical trials may be included if they fit the center's scope and meet NIH rules, but they are not required for the application.
Eligibility is limited and institution-focused. The listed eligible applicant type includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and the announcement explicitly excludes foreign participation in several ways: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions cannot apply; non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply; and foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this FOA. These restrictions mean the proposed work, resources, and supported activities must be firmly based in the United States and within the eligible applicant organization, without a foreign component as part of the application structure.
From the opportunity data provided, the program is administered by NIH under CFDA number 93.859, within the broad funding activity category of health. The award ceiling is listed as $750,000, indicating the maximum budget level anticipated per award under this announcement. The source data lists the original closing date as 2022-05-27 and a creation date of 2020-02-20. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided extract, which is common in some federal opportunity summaries when the agency does not commit to a fixed count or when it can vary by year and available appropriations.
Overall, the grant is best understood as a capstone-style COBRE mechanism intended to keep the center's most valuable and broadly used capabilities running beyond the developmental period, while positioning the institution and its investigators to compete successfully for other NIH and external support. The emphasis is less on starting new infrastructure from scratch and more on demonstrating that the existing COBRE-built platform is ready to operate as a stable, high-impact, institutionally embedded research center with a credible path to financial and scientific sustainability.Apply for PAR 20 115
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III - Transitional Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-02-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-05-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the PAR-20-115 funding opportunity?
PAR-20-115 is the NIH "Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III - Transitional Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)" funding opportunity. It is a discretionary NIH grant mechanism intended to help established COBRE programs transition from NIH-supported center development into long-term independence.
What is the main purpose of COBRE Phase III - Transitional Centers?
The main purpose is to move an already mature COBRE beyond earlier build-up phases by strengthening the shared research infrastructure (core resources) and the biomedical research activities that depend on those cores, with a strong emphasis on sustainability after COBRE-specific support ends.
What does "Phase III - Transitional Centers" mean in practice?
It signals that the applicant is expected to have an established COBRE foundation and must propose a transition plan that positions the center to operate as a stable, independently viable research center. The focus is on sustaining and embedding the center's capabilities rather than building a new center from scratch.
What type of grant mechanism is used under this FOA?
This FOA uses the P30 Center Core Grant structure. A P30 generally supports shared core resources and an administrative framework that enables multiple research projects and investigators to operate efficiently and competitively.
How is a P30 Center Core Grant different from a typical research project grant?
Based on the information provided, a P30 is not centered on a single research project. Instead, it is designed around shared facilities, services, technical expertise, and coordinated management that collectively raise the quality and competitiveness of multiple research efforts.
What does the FOA mean by "sustainability"?
In this opportunity, sustainability means strengthening the operational footing, research capabilities, and institutional integration of the COBRE so that it can remain productive and competitive even after COBRE-specific NIH support ends, and continue to attract ongoing funding through other mechanisms.
What kinds of activities are primarily supported by this award?
The funding is aimed primarily at supporting shared core resources (the center's "cores") and the administrative structure that supports multiple investigators and research activities. The intent is to keep valuable, broadly used capabilities running and well-managed as the center transitions to independence.
Are clinical trials required under this funding opportunity?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which means clinical trials may be included if they fit the center's scope and meet NIH requirements, but they are not required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited and institution-focused. The listed eligible applicant type includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Can foreign institutions apply?
No. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions cannot apply under this FOA.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it has a non-U.S. (non-domestic) component involved?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply under this FOA, based on the information provided.
Are foreign components allowed in the application?
No. The FOA states that foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
Does the FOA restrict where the work and resources must be based?
Yes. The restrictions described mean the proposed work, resources, and supported activities must be firmly based in the United States and within the eligible applicant organization, without a foreign component included in the application structure.
Which federal agency administers this program?
The program is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed in the provided information is 93.859.
What is the broad funding activity category?
The broad funding activity category is health.
What is the maximum award amount mentioned for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $750,000, meaning this is the maximum budget level anticipated per award under the announcement, based on the provided extract.
How many awards will NIH make under this FOA?
The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided extract.
What is the closing date shown in the opportunity data provided?
The source data lists an original closing date of 2022-05-27.
When was this opportunity created (as shown in the provided data)?
The creation date shown in the provided information is 2020-02-20.
What is the overall goal of this FOA for an established COBRE program?
The overall goal is to function like a capstone mechanism that keeps the center's most valuable and broadly used capabilities operating beyond the developmental period, while positioning the institution and its investigators to compete successfully for other NIH and external support.
Is this FOA mainly about creating new infrastructure?
No. The emphasis is described as less about starting new infrastructure from scratch and more about demonstrating that an existing COBRE-built platform is ready to operate as a stable, high-impact, institutionally embedded research center with a credible path to scientific and financial sustainability.
What does "limited competition" imply here?
The information provided describes the opportunity as a "Limited Competition" FOA and notes that eligibility is limited and institution-focused, but it does not provide additional details beyond the stated eligibility and foreign participation restrictions.
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