Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 266
The Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) (P20, clinical trial optional) funding opportunity, issued by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports the creation or strengthening of a thematic, multi-disciplinary biomedical research center at an institution located in an IDeA-eligible state. The core purpose is capacity-building: COBRE is designed to improve an institution's biomedical research infrastructure and to help develop investigators so they are better positioned to win independent, competitive NIH research awards (and other strong external, peer-reviewed funding). In practical terms, the program is about moving an institution and its researchers from promising to nationally competitive by building shared research capabilities and a focused scientific identity around a central theme.
COBRE sits within NIH's Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program, which targets states and regions that have historically received a lower share of NIH funding. The overarching IDeA goal is to broaden the geographic distribution of NIH-funded research by increasing competitiveness in places where investigators and institutions may have had fewer resources, less established infrastructure, or lower prior award success rates. COBRE contributes to that goal by funding centers that create durable research environments, typically involving coordinated leadership, a common scientific theme, and resources that multiple investigators can use to generate strong preliminary data and publishable results that feed into future independent grant applications.
Eligible applicants include biomedical research institutions that grant doctoral degrees in health sciences or related fields, as well as independent biomedical research institutes that already maintain active biomedical research programs supported by NIH or other federal agencies, as long as they are located within IDeA-eligible states. The eligibility language is broad across organization types, reflecting NIH's willingness to support infrastructure and investigator development in a wide range of settings. Examples listed include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, special district governments, independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, along with other organizational categories recognized by federal assistance programs. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, certain eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, provided they otherwise meet the program's requirements tied to IDeA eligibility.
At the same time, the opportunity places clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions/organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. In addition, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this funding opportunity. These restrictions reinforce that COBRE is meant to build research capacity within the United States and specifically within the IDeA jurisdictions.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (funding instrument: grant) in the health funding activity category, identified under CFDA number 93.859. The funding opportunity number is PAR-18-266, and the original closing date listed in the source information is January 24, 2019, with a creation date of November 30, 2017. The provided summary does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full announcement for budget limits, project period expectations, and other application details.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an institutional and investigator development mechanism rather than a single-project research grant. It funds the structure and environment needed to build a coherent research center, strengthen shared capabilities, and accelerate the transition of investigators toward independent, externally funded research careers, with the larger policy goal of improving NIH competitiveness in historically underfunded states through sustainable research infrastructure and mentorship-driven scientific growth.Apply for PAR 18 266
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) (P20 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 2017-11-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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COBRE (P20) Funding Opportunity (PAR-18-266) - FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant mechanism (P20, clinical trial optional) issued by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It supports the creation or strengthening of a thematic, multi-disciplinary biomedical research center.
Which NIH institute is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by NIGMS (National Institute of General Medical Sciences), which is part of NIH.
What is the main purpose of a COBRE award?
The core purpose is capacity-building. COBRE is designed to improve an institution's biomedical research infrastructure and develop investigators so they are better positioned to win independent, competitive NIH research awards and other strong external, peer-reviewed funding.
Is COBRE meant to fund a single research project?
No. Based on the summary provided, COBRE is described as an institutional and investigator development mechanism rather than a single-project research grant. It focuses on building the structure, environment, and shared capabilities needed for a coherent research center.
What does "thematic" mean in the context of COBRE?
COBRE supports a center organized around a central scientific theme, helping the institution develop a focused scientific identity and coordinated research effort.
What does "multi-disciplinary" mean in the context of COBRE?
COBRE centers are intended to bring together multiple disciplines within biomedical research under a common theme, supported by coordinated leadership and shared resources.
How does COBRE help investigators?
COBRE supports investigator development so researchers can become more nationally competitive, generate strong preliminary data, produce publishable results, and ultimately pursue independent, competitive NIH funding and other external peer-reviewed awards.
How does COBRE relate to the NIH IDeA Program?
COBRE is part of NIH's Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program. The IDeA Program targets states and regions that historically received a lower share of NIH funding, with the goal of broadening the geographic distribution of NIH-funded research by increasing local competitiveness.
What is an IDeA-eligible state and why does it matter?
This opportunity is limited to institutions located in IDeA-eligible states. COBRE is specifically intended to build research capacity in jurisdictions that have historically received less NIH funding.
Where must the applicant institution be located?
The applicant institution must be located in an IDeA-eligible state (or otherwise meet the IDeA eligibility requirements referenced in the opportunity summary).
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include biomedical research institutions that grant doctoral degrees in health sciences or related fields, and independent biomedical research institutes with active biomedical research programs supported by NIH or other federal agencies, as long as they are located within IDeA-eligible states.
Are universities and colleges eligible applicants?
Yes. The summary lists public and private institutions of higher education among the eligible applicant types, provided the IDeA eligibility/location requirements are met.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are included among the listed eligible organization types, as long as they otherwise meet program requirements tied to IDeA eligibility.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible. Small businesses are also listed separately as eligible organizational categories in the summary.
Are state and local government entities eligible?
Yes. The summary lists state and local governments, special district governments, and independent school districts among eligible applicant types, provided they meet the program requirements tied to IDeA eligibility.
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicant types, subject to the program's IDeA-related requirements.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The summary explicitly mentions Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) as additional eligible applicant types, provided they otherwise meet the opportunity requirements tied to IDeA eligibility.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The summary explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among the additional eligible applicant types, provided they otherwise meet the program requirements tied to IDeA eligibility.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed as eligible, provided they otherwise meet the requirements tied to IDeA eligibility and other program rules.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions/organizations) are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S. organization apply if the work will be performed at a non-U.S. component?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible under this funding opportunity.
Are foreign components allowed if defined as such under NIH policy?
No. The summary states that foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this funding opportunity.
What does "clinical trial optional" mean here?
The opportunity is labeled P20 (clinical trial optional), which indicates clinical trials are not required by the mechanism as described in the summary. The summary does not provide additional details beyond this designation.
What is the funding instrument type?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity, with the funding instrument listed as a grant.
What is the funding activity category?
The opportunity is listed under the health funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided in the summary is 93.859.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PAR-18-266.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close (per the provided summary)?
The creation date listed is November 30, 2017, and the original closing date listed is January 24, 2019.
Does the summary provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided summary does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards.
What should applicants do if they need budget limits or project period expectations?
Because those details are not included in the provided summary, applicants would need to consult the full announcement for budget limits, project period expectations, and other application requirements.
What kind of outcomes is COBRE intended to produce?
COBRE is intended to create durable research environments with shared research capabilities that help investigators generate strong preliminary data and publishable results that support future independent grant applications and improved NIH competitiveness.
Why does COBRE emphasize shared research capabilities?
The summary describes COBRE as building shared resources multiple investigators can use to produce preliminary data and publishable results, strengthening the overall research infrastructure and competitiveness of the institution.
What is the broader policy goal behind COBRE?
The broader goal is to improve NIH competitiveness in historically underfunded states and regions by strengthening sustainable research infrastructure and supporting mentorship-driven scientific growth within IDeA jurisdictions.
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