Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NR 12 006

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers of Excellence in Symptom Science (P30)" 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 $480,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments State governments Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Independent school districts Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments City or township governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses.
  • 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 12 006

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Opportunity Summary:

The Centers of Excellence in Symptom Science (P30) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NR-12-006) is a National Institutes of Health grant program administered by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Its central purpose is to build and strengthen institutional research capacity in symptom science by funding the creation of a formal "Center of Excellence" structure. The emphasis is on developing interdisciplinary, biobehavioral nursing research programs focused on symptom science, meaning research that examines symptoms (such as pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, nausea, anxiety, depression, cognitive changes, and other common symptom experiences) and the underlying biological, behavioral, and contextual mechanisms that shape how symptoms develop, cluster, and respond to interventions. The P30 mechanism is typically used to support shared research infrastructure and coordinated resources rather than simply funding a set of unrelated projects, so the program is geared toward building an environment where multiple investigators can collaborate, share tools, and accelerate discovery in symptom-focused research.

This funding opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health and education activity areas and is listed under CFDA 93.361 (Nursing Research). It does not require cost sharing or matching funds. The posting and creation date were March 9, 2012, with an original and current closing date of May 16, 2012, and an archive date of June 16, 2012, indicating that the announcement is historical rather than currently open. The estimated total funding amount listed is $2,100,000, and the award ceiling is $480,000, which signals a moderate-sized center award intended to support core resources, coordination, and capacity-building functions that can serve multiple investigators.

The scope of what NINR is trying to accomplish through these Centers is capacity development in symptom science research, specifically the kind of work that integrates biological and behavioral perspectives. In practical terms, that often means building teams and shared capabilities that can connect clinical symptom measurement with biomarkers, genomics or other omics approaches, neuroimaging, physiologic monitoring, behavioral science methods, and intervention development and testing. The word "interdisciplinary" is important here: these centers are meant to bring together nursing scientists with collaborators in fields like medicine, psychology, neuroscience, epidemiology, biostatistics, informatics, genetics, and public health. The overarching aim is to create an institutional hub where symptom science can be studied more efficiently and rigorously, with shared expertise and resources that make it easier to launch new studies, standardize measures, and translate findings into improved symptom management strategies.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. A wide range of government entities are also eligible, including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Tribal organizations and governments are explicitly included, both federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations. The additional eligibility information expands this further to include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and faith-based or community-based organizations. Taken together, the eligibility language reflects an intent to encourage applications from diverse institutional settings and to support broad participation in building symptom science research capacity.

From an applicant perspective, the P30 center structure generally implies an organized set of shared "cores" or components that support multiple research projects and investigators. Even without going into details beyond the provided summary, the intent is clear: NINR wanted applicants to propose a center that would function as a coordinated platform for symptom science, enabling efficient access to specialized methods, standardized symptom measurement, participant recruitment infrastructure where relevant, data management and analysis support, and collaborative scientific leadership. The goal is not only to produce findings from individual studies, but also to develop sustainable institutional capabilities, attract and train investigators, and create a cohesive program that advances the science of symptoms and symptom management.

The sponsoring agency is the NIH, with NINR as the institute leading the solicitation. The announcement provided an online link to the full FOA on the NIH Grants Guide and included contact guidance via the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email for technical access issues. Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building center award designed to accelerate high-quality, team-based symptom science research rooted in biobehavioral nursing science, supported by shared infrastructure and an interdisciplinary approach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Centers of Excellence in Symptom Science (P30) opportunity?

The Centers of Excellence in Symptom Science (P30) opportunity is an NIH grant program administered by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Its purpose is to build and strengthen institutional research capacity in symptom science by supporting the creation of a formal Center of Excellence structure using the P30 mechanism.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-NR-12-006.

Which federal agency and NIH institute sponsor and administer this grant?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the program is administered by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).

What is the central purpose of this P30 center program?

The central purpose is capacity development: building an institutional hub (a Center of Excellence) that strengthens interdisciplinary, biobehavioral nursing research programs focused on symptom science. The emphasis is on creating shared infrastructure and coordinated resources that enable multiple investigators to collaborate and accelerate discovery related to symptoms and symptom management.

What does "symptom science" mean in this funding opportunity?

In this opportunity, symptom science refers to research that examines symptoms and the underlying biological, behavioral, and contextual mechanisms that shape how symptoms develop, cluster, and respond to interventions. Examples of symptoms specifically mentioned include pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, nausea, anxiety, depression, and cognitive changes, along with other common symptom experiences.

What does it mean that this is a P30 mechanism?

The P30 mechanism is typically used to support shared research infrastructure and coordinated resources rather than simply funding a set of unrelated projects. In this context, it is intended to support a center-like structure where multiple investigators can share tools, expertise, and resources to advance symptom-focused research.

Is this program focused on single research projects or on building shared capacity?

Based on the description provided, the emphasis is on building shared capacity (a coordinated platform and environment) rather than funding unrelated stand-alone projects. The goal is to strengthen institutional capabilities and provide resources that can serve multiple investigators working in symptom science.

What kinds of research approaches are emphasized?

The opportunity emphasizes interdisciplinary, biobehavioral symptom science. This often involves integrating clinical symptom measurement with biological and behavioral approaches, including work that may connect symptoms with biomarkers, genomics or other omics approaches, neuroimaging, physiologic monitoring, behavioral science methods, and intervention development and testing.

Why is "interdisciplinary" highlighted for these centers?

The centers are intended to bring together nursing scientists with collaborators across multiple fields to strengthen symptom science. Examples of disciplines mentioned include medicine, psychology, neuroscience, epidemiology, biostatistics, informatics, genetics, and public health.

What outcomes is NINR trying to achieve through these centers?

The stated goal is to create an institutional hub where symptom science can be studied more efficiently and rigorously, supported by shared expertise and resources that make it easier to launch studies, standardize measures, and translate findings into improved symptom management strategies.

What activity areas and grant type are associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health and education activity areas.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

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

Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

What are the important dates for this funding opportunity?

The posting and creation date is March 9, 2012. The original and current closing date is May 16, 2012. The archive date is June 16, 2012.

Is this funding opportunity currently open?

No. Based on the provided dates (closing date May 16, 2012, and archive date June 16, 2012), the announcement is historical rather than currently open.

How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?

The estimated total funding amount listed is $2,100,000.

What is the award ceiling for this program?

The award ceiling is $480,000.

What does the award size suggest about how funds are intended to be used?

The description indicates a moderate-sized center award intended to support core resources, coordination, and capacity-building functions that can serve multiple investigators, consistent with the P30 focus on shared infrastructure.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.

Which government entities are eligible to apply?

A wide range of government entities are eligible, including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations.

Are minority-serving institutions mentioned as eligible?

Yes. Additional eligibility information includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Are U.S. territories or regional organizations included in eligibility?

Yes. The additional eligibility information expands eligibility to include U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The additional eligibility information includes eligible federal agencies.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The additional eligibility information includes faith-based or community-based organizations.

What kind of structure would an applicant typically propose under a P30 center?

The summary indicates that a P30 center generally implies an organized set of shared cores or components that support multiple research projects and investigators. The intent described is a coordinated platform for symptom science that provides shared capabilities and scientific leadership.

What kinds of shared resources or functions are consistent with the described center purpose?

Based on the description provided, the center concept is intended to enable efficient access to specialized methods, standardized symptom measurement, infrastructure that can support participant recruitment where relevant, data management and analysis support, and collaborative coordination across investigators.

Beyond research findings, what broader institutional goals are implied for the center?

The description emphasizes developing sustainable institutional capabilities, attracting and training investigators, and creating a cohesive program that advances the science of symptoms and symptom management, in addition to generating findings from individual studies.

Where was the full announcement originally posted?

The announcement provided an online link to the full FOA on the NIH Grants Guide.

Who is listed as a point of contact for technical access issues related to the FOA?

For technical access issues, the announcement included contact guidance via the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email.

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