Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1 (P20 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 313

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 313

The Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1 (P20, clinical trial optional) funding opportunity is a National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) grant program under the NIH Institutional Development Award (IDeA) umbrella. It is designed for institutions in IDeA-eligible states that historically receive a smaller share of NIH funding. The central goal is to build and strengthen an institution's biomedical research capacity by creating a focused, thematic, multidisciplinary research center that improves local infrastructure and, just as importantly, helps investigators develop to the point where they can successfully compete for independent NIH research awards and other rigorous, peer-reviewed external funding.

In practical terms, a Phase 1 COBRE supports the launch of a center organized around a clear scientific theme, bringing together investigators from relevant disciplines to work in a coordinated way rather than as isolated labs. The program emphasizes institutional growth: building shared research resources, developing expertise, and creating an environment where early-stage or developing investigators can mature into independently funded researchers. While the FOA notes that clinical trials are optional, the core intent is capacity-building and investigator development, not simply funding a collection of unrelated projects.

Eligible applicants include universities that award doctoral degrees in health-related sciences, as well as independent biomedical research institutes or medical centers that already have ongoing biomedical research programs supported by NIH or other federal agencies, provided they are located in IDeA-eligible states. The opportunity also explicitly recognizes a range of institution types that may apply if otherwise eligible, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Foreign participation is not allowed in this competition: non-U.S. entities cannot apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them) are not permitted.

This is a discretionary grant program administered by NIH, categorized under the health funding activity area and associated with CFDA 93.859. The listed eligible applicant organizational categories include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, as specified). The opportunity number is PAR-19-313, and the original closing date shown in the provided listing is January 27, 2022. The award ceiling and expected number of awards were not specified in the source data excerpt provided, so applicants would need to consult the full funding opportunity announcement for budget limits, project structure expectations, allowable costs, review criteria, and required components of a Phase 1 COBRE application.

Overall, the COBRE Phase 1 mechanism is best understood as an institutional development investment. It is meant to help eligible states and institutions build durable research infrastructure and a pipeline of competitive investigators by organizing a coherent center around a strong biomedical theme, rather than funding one-off projects without an integrated development plan.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1 (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 2019-07-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Others.

Apply for PAR 19 313

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: