IDeA Clinical Research Resource Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 22 150

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 150

The IDeA Clinical Research Resource Center (I-CRRC) funding opportunity (PAR-22-150) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement (U24) designed to grow the practical, on-the-ground capacity for running clinical research in IDeA-eligible states. The focus is not on funding individual clinical trials, but on building shared infrastructure and expertise that makes it easier for institutions in these states to participate in well-run clinical trials and complex observational studies. In other words, the award is meant to create a resource center that helps researchers and institutions become better connected, better trained, and more operationally ready to carry out high-quality clinical studies.

The announcement targets two major gaps that commonly limit clinical research activity in IDeA states. First, the I-CRRC is expected to strengthen communication and create durable collaborations between health research institutions in IDeA-eligible states and clinical trial sponsors. This is essentially the “relationship and pipeline” side of capacity-building: helping local institutions become visible and accessible to sponsors, improving coordination, and reducing friction that keeps sites from being selected for studies. Second, the I-CRRC is expected to develop a workforce of clinical trial and observational study coordinators who have the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to manage clinical studies. This is the “people and practice” side of capacity-building, aimed at producing coordinators who can handle real-world clinical research operations such as study startup, regulatory processes, participant coordination, data workflows, and day-to-day study management.

This is classified under the Health funding activity category and falls under CFDA number 93.859. The mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally means NIH will have substantial involvement in the project’s direction, milestones, or coordination compared with a standard grant. The award ceiling listed is $1,800,000, indicating the maximum budget level anticipated under the opportunity. The original closing date was September 26, 2022, and the opportunity was created April 12, 2022.

Eligibility is broad across public and private sectors, reflecting NIH’s intent to support a center that can coordinate across institutions and communities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, NIH draws clear boundaries around foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to 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. These restrictions signal that the center’s activities, governance, and operational footprint must remain domestic and aligned with NIH policy limits on foreign participation for this particular program.

A key compliance detail in the title is “Clinical Trial Not Allowed.” That wording means the award itself is not intended to support the applicant in proposing or conducting an NIH-defined clinical trial as the funded project’s primary activity. Instead, the center is expected to provide enabling functions: building partnerships with sponsors, improving site readiness, and training coordinators so that future clinical trials and observational studies can be conducted more effectively by institutions in IDeA states. In practical terms, the deliverables are likely to be systems, networks, training programs, shared resources, and coordination structures rather than a portfolio of funded trials conducted under the award.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "IDeA Clinical Research Resource Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2022-04-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-26. (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 $1,800,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for PAR 22 150

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