Pre-application: Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (X02 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 950

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 950

The NIH funding opportunity titled "Pre-application: Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (X02 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 18 950) is a discretionary grant program designed to spark and support collaborative, translational research projects that can be carried out in partnership with the NIH Clinical Center. The central idea is to help teams move promising basic biological discoveries closer to real-world clinical use. Projects supported under this program are expected to fit within NIH-wide efforts to strengthen the pipeline from laboratory findings to clinical applications that measurably improve human health.

A key emphasis of the opportunity is high-quality translational science with clear potential impact. NIH is looking for proposals that can realistically advance understanding of an important disease process or create momentum toward a tangible medical outcome, such as a new therapeutic intervention, a diagnostic approach, or a prevention strategy. The work must align with the research interests and priorities of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), meaning applicants should be able to connect their scientific aims to an NIH IC mission area and demonstrate why the NIH Clinical Center environment is well suited to the proposed collaboration. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that proposed work may include a clinical trial but does not have to; applicants can propose either clinical trial or non-clinical trial research as long as it matches the program scope and NIH requirements.

This announcement is structured as a pre-application mechanism, which generally means it is intended to support an initial, early-stage proposal process for teams seeking to collaborate with NIH intramural investigators and/or use the NIH Clinical Center as a setting for clinical and translational research. In practice, a pre-application mechanism typically serves as a way for NIH to assess project fit, feasibility, and collaborative alignment before an applicant proceeds to later-stage submissions or more resource-intensive planning. The goal is to encourage well-matched partnerships and to position the strongest, most feasible translational projects for advancement.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of domestic and non-domestic organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional applicants captured under "Others." The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); faith-based or community-based organizations; Hispanic-serving institutions; historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs); tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs); Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; eligible agencies of the federal government; and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility signals NIH interest in drawing strong translational ideas from many sectors, including institutions that serve underrepresented communities and organizations outside the United States, as long as the proposed collaboration and research plan are compelling and mission-aligned.

From the provided source details, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity categories include education, health, and income security and social services. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (including 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, and others listed), reflecting that multiple NIH Institutes and Centers may participate and that the opportunity spans several NIH program areas. The opportunity record lists an award ceiling of $500,000, indicating the maximum anticipated amount per award under this announcement, though actual budgets would typically depend on the approved scope and NIH policies for the specific mechanism. The listing also shows an original closing date of 2020-12-11 and a creation date of 2018-10-05, which helps place the opportunity in time and suggests applicants should verify the current status, active dates, and any reissued versions or updated notices before planning submission.

Overall, this program is aimed at enabling meaningful collaborations that can accelerate translation from bench to bedside, with the NIH Clinical Center serving as a key clinical research partner and environment. Competitive projects under this announcement would be expected to articulate a strong scientific rationale, a clear translational pathway to improved health outcomes, and a well-justified collaborative plan that leverages NIH Clinical Center capabilities and aligns closely with one or more participating NIH Institute/Center priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pre-application: Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (X02 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.313, 93.321, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.846, 93.853, 93.865, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-10-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-12-11. (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 $500,000.00 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 18 950

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