Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AI 27 016
The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Centers (TRACs) funding opportunity (RFA-AI-27-016) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to strengthen and accelerate tuberculosis (TB) research capacity in the United States. It uses the P30 center grant mechanism and is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose clinical trials as part of the submitted center activities under this NOFO. The overall aim is to build a coordinated center-style resource that can support and elevate both basic and clinical TB research by bringing together multidisciplinary expertise, shared resources, and collaborative infrastructure. A major emphasis is also placed on developing the next generation of TB researchers, so applications are expected to show how the center will cultivate talent, mentorship, and research capability in addition to enabling high-quality science.
At its core, the TRACs program is meant to act as a catalyst for innovative TB science. Rather than functioning as a single-project award, a P30 center typically supports shared cores, services, resources, and coordinating functions that multiple investigators can use to pursue TB-related research questions more effectively. In practical terms, the NOFO’s description points to centers that can make TB research easier to initiate, higher quality, and more collaborative by providing expertise and resources that individual labs or teams might not be able to maintain on their own. While the NOFO summary does not list specific required cores, the intent strongly suggests that successful centers will be those that create a hub for multidisciplinary TB research, bridging different scientific areas and enabling new directions, methods, and collaborations.
The opportunity is open to a wide range of U.S.-based applicant types, reflecting NIH’s intent to support TB research infrastructure across many institutional settings. 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education institutions where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities as described in the NOFO’s Section III. Even with this broad eligibility, there is a strict limitation on foreign involvement: non-U.S. (foreign) organizations cannot apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed under this announcement. In other words, the center and its supported components must be entirely domestic in the NIH sense of the term.
From a funding and competition standpoint, the program anticipates making around five awards. The listed award ceiling is $600,000, which indicates the maximum amount expected per award (typically per year under NIH announcements unless otherwise specified in the NOFO). Applicants should treat that ceiling as a hard planning constraint when designing cores, services, staffing, and any developmental activities, and should expect that reviewers will look for a strong justification that the proposed center structure is realistic and sustainable within that budget. The CFDA (assistance listing) number associated with this opportunity is 93.855, aligning it with NIH infectious disease and immunology-related funding streams.
Key timeline details include an original closing date of July 10, 2026, and a creation date of May 4, 2026. Organizations interested in applying should plan backward from the closing date to account for institutional approvals, registration requirements (common across NIH submissions), and the time needed to build a coherent center plan that demonstrates how the TRAC will measurably advance TB research capacity, enable cross-disciplinary collaboration, and support investigator development. As with most NIH center programs, the strength of the application will likely depend on how clearly it explains what resources will be provided, who will benefit, how access will be managed, and how the center will create added value beyond what individual research projects could accomplish alone, all while staying within the non-clinical-trial boundary set by the NOFO.Apply for RFA AI 27 016
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tuberculosis Research Advancement Centers (TRACs) (P30 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): 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-10. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- 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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TRACs (RFA-AI-27-016) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the TRACs funding opportunity (RFA-AI-27-016)?
The Tuberculosis Research Advancement Centers (TRACs) opportunity (RFA-AI-27-016) is an NIH discretionary grant program that funds U.S.-based center infrastructure to strengthen and accelerate tuberculosis (TB) research capacity. It uses the NIH P30 center grant mechanism, which typically supports shared resources, services, and coordinating functions used by multiple investigators rather than funding a single stand-alone research project.
2) What is the main purpose of a TRAC funded through this NOFO?
The main purpose is to build a coordinated, center-style resource that makes TB research easier to initiate, higher quality, and more collaborative. The center is intended to bring together multidisciplinary expertise, shared resources, and collaborative infrastructure that can support and elevate both basic and clinical TB research efforts (without conducting clinical trials under this specific announcement).
3) What grant mechanism does TRACs use?
This opportunity uses the P30 center grant mechanism. A P30 typically supports shared cores, services, resources, and coordination that multiple TB investigators can use to pursue TB-related research questions more effectively.
4) Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applicants should not propose clinical trials as part of the submitted center activities under this NOFO.
5) If clinical trials are not allowed, what kind of work is TRAC expected to support?
Based on the opportunity summary, TRACs are expected to support TB research capacity through shared resources and infrastructure that enable and elevate TB science. The intent emphasizes a hub that supports multidisciplinary TB research and helps investigators access expertise and resources that may be difficult to maintain within a single lab or team.
6) Is TRACs a single-project research award?
No. The TRACs program is described as a center-style resource. As a P30 mechanism, it is designed to support shared infrastructure and coordinated resources that multiple investigators can use, rather than operating as a single research project award.
7) What does NIH appear to be looking for in a competitive center design?
The description highlights centers that function as a multidisciplinary hub for TB research, enable new directions and collaborations, provide shared resources and expertise, and create clear added value beyond what individual projects could accomplish alone. Reviewers are likely to look for a clear explanation of what resources will be provided, who will benefit, how access will be managed, and how the center will measurably advance TB research capacity within the NOFO constraints.
8) Are specific cores required?
The summary provided does not list specific required cores. However, the intent strongly suggests that successful centers will offer shared resources, services, and coordinating functions that support multiple investigators and bridge different scientific areas in TB research.
9) What is the program emphasis on workforce development and training?
A major emphasis is placed on developing the next generation of TB researchers. Applications are expected to show how the center will cultivate talent, mentorship, and research capability, in addition to enabling high-quality TB science through shared infrastructure.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is open to a wide range of U.S.-based applicant types. 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
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education institutions where applicable)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities as described in Section III of the NOFO
11) Can a foreign (non-U.S.) organization apply?
No. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations cannot apply under this announcement.
12) Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component as the applicant?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
13) Are foreign components allowed in the center structure?
No. Foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this announcement. The center and its supported components must be entirely domestic in the NIH sense of the term.
14) How many awards does NIH expect to make?
The program anticipates making around five awards.
15) What is the maximum award amount?
The listed award ceiling is $600,000, indicating the maximum amount expected per award (typically per year under NIH announcements unless otherwise specified in the NOFO). Applicants should plan the center structure, staffing, cores/services, and developmental activities within this ceiling.
16) How should applicants think about budgeting and feasibility?
The $600,000 ceiling should be treated as a hard planning constraint. The center plan should be realistic and sustainable within that budget, with a clear justification for how the proposed cores, services, staffing, and investigator development activities will operate effectively within the funding limit.
17) What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number associated with this opportunity is 93.855.
18) What are the key dates mentioned for this opportunity?
The creation date is May 4, 2026, and the original closing date is July 10, 2026.
19) What should organizations do to prepare before the closing date?
Organizations should plan backward from July 10, 2026 to allow time for institutional approvals, common NIH registration requirements, and development of a coherent center plan that explains how the TRAC will advance TB research capacity, enable cross-disciplinary collaboration, and support investigator development, while staying within the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" boundary.
20) What is the overall goal of TRACs for TB research in the U.S.?
The overall goal is to strengthen and accelerate TB research capacity in the United States by building a coordinated, multidisciplinary center resource that supports innovative TB science, expands collaboration, and develops the next generation of TB researchers.
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