Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 17 013
Apply for RFA HD 17 013
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Contraception Research Centers Program (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 29, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 18, 2017. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Contraception Research Centers Program (U54) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designed to build multidisciplinary research centers focused on developing new and improved contraceptive methods for both men and women. The core aim is not just product development in the lab, but a broader, integrated effort that connects biomedical discovery and early development work with behavioral and social science research so that contraception innovations are more usable, acceptable, and effective in real-world settings.
A defining feature of this program is its emphasis on integration across disciplines. Applicants are expected to bring together biomedical and clinical expertise with fields that explain and predict human behavior and population-level outcomes. The announcement specifically highlights areas like demography and other population sciences, psychology, economics, and sociology. In practice, this means a center might pair work on a novel contraceptive mechanism, formulation, or delivery system with studies on user preferences, adherence, decision-making, partner dynamics, cost and access barriers, and the broader social and cultural factors that shape contraceptive uptake and consistent use. The intent is to ensure that contraceptive development is informed by how people actually choose and use contraception, and by the systems that influence those choices.
The award mechanism is a U54 cooperative agreement, which typically signals substantial scientific involvement from NIH staff compared with a standard grant. While applicants still propose and lead the research, the cooperative structure usually reflects an expectation of active collaboration, coordination, and shared priorities between the funded centers and the NIH program. The program is positioned to create centers that function as hubs of expertise and infrastructure, capable of supporting multiple projects and shared resources, rather than isolated single-investigator studies.
In addition to advancing contraceptive technology and use, the centers are also expected to serve as a national resource for cultivating early stage investigators who want to build careers in contraceptive research. This training and career development dimension suggests that funded centers should provide mentorship, research opportunities, and a supportive environment that helps newer investigators gain skills across disciplines, establish collaborations, and generate the data and publications needed to become independent leaders in the field.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed as discretionary funding with the health-related activity category under CFDA 93.865. The funding opportunity number is RFA HD 17 013, and it was created on September 29, 2016, with an original closing date of January 18, 2017. NIH expected to make about four awards, with an award ceiling of $1,500,000, indicating sizable center-level budgets intended to support coordinated, multi-component programs.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations capable of conducting or supporting research at this scale. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than universities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and a wide range of governmental entities such as state, county, and city governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and Native American tribal governments and organizations. This wide eligibility aligns with the program's multidisciplinary, translational intent and leaves room for academic medical centers, research institutes, public health entities, and other organizations with relevant scientific and community-facing capabilities to compete.
Overall, the Contraception Research Centers Program (U54) is structured to move contraceptive innovation forward by funding coordinated centers that can simultaneously address the biological, technological, behavioral, and societal factors that determine whether a contraceptive method can succeed. It supports not only the science of creating new options for men and women, but also the practical and human realities that influence adoption and sustained use, while strengthening the pipeline of researchers dedicated to this area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Contraception Research Centers Program (U54)?
The Contraception Research Centers Program (U54) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is designed to build multidisciplinary research centers focused on developing new and improved contraceptive methods for both men and women.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The core goal is to support integrated research centers that advance contraceptive innovation by connecting biomedical discovery and early development with behavioral and social science research. The intent is to develop methods that are not only scientifically promising, but also usable, acceptable, and effective in real-world settings.
Is this program only about laboratory or product development?
No. The program explicitly emphasizes a broader, integrated approach. While biomedical discovery and early development work are central, the program also expects behavioral and social science research that helps ensure contraceptive innovations match how people actually choose, adopt, and use contraception.
What makes this program different from a typical single-project research grant?
This opportunity is structured to fund research centers rather than isolated, single-investigator studies. Centers are expected to function as hubs of expertise and infrastructure that support multiple projects and shared resources, with coordinated activities across disciplines.
What award mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The program uses a U54 cooperative agreement mechanism.
What does it mean that the award is a U54 cooperative agreement?
A U54 cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial scientific involvement from NIH staff compared with a standard grant. The funded centers are expected to operate with active collaboration, coordination, and shared priorities between the NIH program and the centers, while the applicants still propose and lead the research.
What research disciplines are expected to be included in a funded center?
The program emphasizes integration across disciplines, bringing together biomedical and clinical expertise with behavioral and social science fields that explain and predict human behavior and population-level outcomes. The announcement highlights areas such as demography and other population sciences, psychology, economics, and sociology.
What kinds of topics might a center study beyond the contraceptive technology itself?
In addition to work on contraceptive mechanisms, formulations, or delivery systems, centers may include research on user preferences, adherence, decision-making, partner dynamics, cost and access barriers, and broader social and cultural factors that shape contraceptive uptake and consistent use.
Does the program support research for contraception for both women and men?
Yes. The program is focused on developing new and improved contraceptive methods for both men and women.
How does the program connect biomedical research with real-world contraceptive use?
The program is designed to ensure that contraceptive development is informed by how people actually choose and use contraception and by the systems that influence those choices. This includes integrating biomedical and early development research with behavioral and social science research on acceptability, practicality, and sustained use.
Are centers expected to address social or cultural factors related to contraception?
Yes. The program description specifically notes the importance of broader social and cultural factors that shape contraceptive uptake and consistent use, and it encourages integration of research that examines these influences.
Is training or career development part of the program?
Yes. A defining expectation is that centers serve as a national resource for cultivating early stage investigators interested in building careers in contraceptive research.
What are centers expected to do to support early stage investigators?
Based on the program description, centers are expected to provide mentorship, research opportunities, and a supportive environment that helps early stage investigators gain cross-disciplinary skills, build collaborations, and produce data and publications needed to become independent leaders in the field.
How many awards did NIH expect to make?
NIH expected to make about four awards under this funding opportunity.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $1,500,000.
What does the size of the award ceiling suggest about the type of work being funded?
The stated ceiling indicates sizable center-level budgets intended to support coordinated, multi-component programs rather than small, standalone studies.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA HD 17 013.
When was this funding opportunity created?
It was created on September 29, 2016.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed is January 18, 2017.
How is this opportunity categorized from an administrative standpoint?
It is listed as discretionary funding with the health-related activity category under CFDA 93.865.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations capable of conducting or supporting research at this scale. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than universities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and a wide range of governmental entities.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations, including small businesses, are listed as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than universities) are included in the eligible applicant types.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity lists multiple governmental entities as eligible, including state, county, and city governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and Native American tribal governments and organizations.
Can tribal governments and tribal organizations apply?
Yes. Native American tribal governments and organizations are specifically listed among eligible applicants.
What kinds of organizations are best positioned to compete for this opportunity?
Based on the program design and eligibility list, organizations that can support multidisciplinary, translational center-based work may be well positioned. Examples mentioned in the description include academic medical centers, research institutes, public health entities, and other organizations with relevant scientific and community-facing capabilities.
What is the overall intended impact of the program?
The program is structured to move contraceptive innovation forward by funding coordinated centers that address biological, technological, behavioral, and societal factors that determine whether a contraceptive method can succeed, while also strengthening the pipeline of researchers dedicated to contraceptive research.
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| Male and Female Contraceptive Development (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 19 004 Funding Number: RFA HD 19 004 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
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