Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NR 12 009

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers of Excellence in Symptom Science Building Research Teams for the Future (P20)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.361 Nursing Research.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Mar 9, 2012 and posted on Mar 9, 2012.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Independent school districts City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
  • Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
Apply for RFA NR 12 009

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Opportunity Summary:

The Centers of Excellence in Symptom Science Building Research Teams for the Future (P20) funding opportunity (RFA-NR-12-009) is a National Institutes of Health grant announcement issued by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) to help organizations build stronger, more coordinated research programs in symptom science. The central aim is capacity-building rather than funding a single stand-alone study. Through the P20 center mechanism, NINR is looking for applications that can grow interdisciplinary, biobehavioral nursing research teams focused on understanding symptoms, improving symptom measurement, and strengthening the scientific foundations needed to prevent, reduce, or manage symptoms that affect health and quality of life. In practical terms, this opportunity is designed to help institutions assemble the people, infrastructure, shared resources, and collaborative environment needed to compete successfully for larger, long-term research funding in symptom science.

This announcement sits in NIH's health and education funding space and uses the grant funding instrument. It is listed under CFDA 93.361 (Nursing Research) and does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which reduces barriers for institutions that may not have discretionary resources to contribute. The program is explicitly framed around "building research teams for the future," signaling that NINR expects applicants to propose organized plans for developing talent and research capabilities over time. The focus on interdisciplinary biobehavioral capacity implies research that bridges biological factors with behavioral, psychological, and social dimensions of symptoms, bringing together nursing science with complementary expertise such as medicine, psychology, genetics, neuroscience, informatics, epidemiology, and related fields.

Funding details indicate an estimated total of $2.1 million available under the announcement, with an award ceiling of $300,000. Those figures suggest multiple awards could be made, depending on NIH program priorities and the number of meritorious applications received. The opportunity was posted and created on March 9, 2012, with an original and current closing date of May 16, 2012, and an archive date of June 16, 2012, meaning it was a time-limited competition and is now closed. Even though it is archived, it remains useful as a reference point for understanding what NINR has previously supported and what similar future center-building initiatives may look like.

Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes many categories of public and private entities. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and a range of government entities such as state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The eligibility language also explicitly notes additional groups, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal governments, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and faith-based or community-based organizations. This wide eligibility reflects an intent to broaden participation and encourage research capacity building across diverse institutions and communities, particularly those serving populations that may experience significant symptom burdens and health disparities.

From an applicant standpoint, the core expectation is that the proposed center would strengthen symptom science research by establishing a structured program for collaboration and development, rather than operating as a loose collection of projects. While the summarized source text does not list required components, the P20 mechanism generally aligns with planning and developmental center activities that can include shared cores, pilot and feasibility work, research training and mentorship structures, and administrative coordination that helps a team become more competitive for future large-scale funding. In the context of symptom science, the emphasis on biobehavioral nursing research capacity suggests that NINR wanted centers to be able to connect clinical symptom experiences to underlying mechanisms and to translate findings into better assessment and interventions, with nursing science playing a central integrative role.

Administrative and support information for the announcement points applicants to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) for technical help accessing the announcement online or troubleshooting links. The full funding announcement was hosted on the NIH grants website at the provided URL. Overall, this FOA represents a targeted federal investment in building coordinated, interdisciplinary nursing research teams and infrastructure dedicated to symptom science, with the longer-term goal of accelerating high-quality research that can meaningfully improve symptom outcomes for patients and communities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Centers of Excellence in Symptom Science Building Research Teams for the Future (P20) opportunity?

It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding opportunity announcement issued by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). The opportunity is titled "Centers of Excellence in Symptom Science Building Research Teams for the Future (P20)" and is identified as RFA-NR-12-009.

Which NIH institute issued this funding opportunity?

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) issued this funding opportunity.

What is the main goal of this P20 funding opportunity?

The central goal is capacity-building in symptom science rather than funding a single stand-alone study. The intent is to help organizations build stronger, more coordinated research programs and interdisciplinary teams that can compete successfully for larger, long-term research funding in symptom science.

Is this opportunity meant to fund one specific research study?

No. The opportunity is framed as a capacity-building effort through the P20 center mechanism, focused on developing coordinated programs, infrastructure, shared resources, and collaborative teams rather than supporting one independent, stand-alone project.

What research area does this opportunity focus on?

The focus is symptom science, including understanding symptoms, improving symptom measurement, and strengthening the scientific foundation needed to prevent, reduce, or manage symptoms that affect health and quality of life.

What does "building research teams for the future" imply in this announcement?

It signals that applicants were expected to propose organized plans to develop talent, collaboration, and research capabilities over time, with the goal of becoming more competitive for future, larger-scale symptom science funding.

What does "interdisciplinary, biobehavioral nursing research" mean in the context of this opportunity?

It refers to research capacity that bridges biological factors with behavioral, psychological, and social dimensions of symptoms. It also implies collaboration across nursing science and complementary fields such as medicine, psychology, genetics, neuroscience, informatics, epidemiology, and related disciplines.

What is the funding mechanism used for this opportunity?

The opportunity uses the NIH P20 center mechanism and is offered as a grant funding instrument.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.361 (Nursing Research).

How much total funding was estimated to be available under this announcement?

The estimated total funding available was $2.1 million.

What was the award ceiling for an individual award?

The award ceiling listed for this announcement was $300,000.

Does the opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?

No. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching funds are not required.

Could multiple awards be made under this opportunity?

Yes. Based on the estimated total funding ($2.1 million) and the award ceiling ($300,000), multiple awards could have been made depending on NIH priorities and the number of meritorious applications received.

When was this funding opportunity posted?

It was posted and created on March 9, 2012.

What were the closing dates for applications?

The original and current closing date listed was May 16, 2012.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. It is archived. The archive date is June 16, 2012, indicating it was a time-limited competition and is now closed.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included many categories of public and private entities, including institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, small businesses, and various government entities.

Are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

Are private institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes. Private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are listed as eligible.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed separately as eligible.

Are small businesses eligible?

Yes. Small businesses are included in the eligibility list.

Which government entities were eligible to apply?

Eligible government entities included state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

Were tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly notes federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal governments, as well as Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Were U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly noted as eligible.

Were minority-serving institutions specifically included in eligibility?

Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Were faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly noted as eligible.

Were regional organizations eligible?

Yes. Regional organizations are listed among eligible applicants.

What kinds of activities was this P20 center opportunity designed to support?

The announcement emphasizes building the people, infrastructure, shared resources, and collaborative environment needed for a coordinated symptom science program. The text also notes that P20 planning and developmental center activities can align with shared cores, pilot and feasibility work, research training and mentorship structures, and administrative coordination, although specific required components are not listed in the provided summary.

What outcomes was NINR aiming for by investing in this type of center-building program?

The longer-term goal described is to accelerate high-quality research that improves symptom outcomes for patients and communities by strengthening the scientific foundation for symptom prevention, reduction, and management and by improving symptom measurement and understanding.

Where could applicants get technical help related to accessing the announcement online?

Applicants were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) for technical help accessing the announcement online or troubleshooting links.

Where was the full funding announcement hosted?

The full funding announcement was hosted on the NIH grants website at the provided URL referenced in the source information.

Why might this archived opportunity still be useful?

Even though it is closed, it can serve as a reference for understanding what NINR has previously supported and what similar future center-building initiatives in symptom science may look like.

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