Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 13 238
Apply for PAR 13 238
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III Transitional Centers P30" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2013 and posted on May 31, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 2, 2013. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education 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.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Limited Competition Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III Transitional Centers (P30) funding opportunity (PAR-13-238) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to help existing COBRE programs sustain their biomedical research momentum while shifting key shared resources toward long-term independence. In practical terms, it targeted COBRE centers that had already built out research capacity and cores in earlier phases and now needed support to keep those cores functioning, serving investigators, and becoming financially and administratively stable beyond COBRE support. The central purpose was not to launch a brand-new center, but to stabilize and transition an established COBRE into a more self-sustaining model so that the research infrastructure, services, and institutional research ecosystem would not fade once COBRE phased funding ended.
This was a limited competition opportunity, meaning only a defined subset of institutions and centers were intended to be eligible based on COBRE status and program stage, rather than an open call for any organization to propose a center. The award mechanism was the NIH P30 center grant, which is typically used to support shared resources and facilities (often called "cores") that multiple investigators use, along with the administration needed to run them. The emphasis in Phase III was on maintaining those core capabilities and helping them transition to a point where they could continue operating with reduced reliance on COBRE program dollars, often through a mix of institutional commitment, user fees, other grant support, and integration with broader campus or regional research infrastructure.
The opportunity fell under the health funding activity category and was associated with CFDA number 93.859 (Biomedical Research and Research Training). It did not require cost sharing or matching, so applicants were not obligated to formally commit matching funds as a condition of eligibility. That said, the overall goal of "transition into independence" strongly implied that applicants would need to show credible plans for sustainability, which commonly includes institutional support and revenue strategies even when those do not count as formal matching.
Funding details included an award ceiling of $750,000. While the ceiling sets an upper limit, actual award amounts in NIH center grants typically reflect the scope of the proposed cores, the number of users served, operational costs, and how well the transition plan is justified. The program description makes clear the funds were meant to sustain biomedical research activities by maintaining core resources, not primarily to fund standalone investigator-initiated research projects. In other words, the value proposition was shared infrastructure that enables multiple research projects to succeed, improves efficiency, and builds lasting capacity at institutions that historically have had less NIH funding.
Eligible applicant organizations included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education). The eligibility section also explicitly included several categories of institutions that NIH often highlights as part of capacity-building and broadened participation efforts: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Foreign institutions were not eligible, and NIH also disallowed non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations and foreign components as defined by NIH policy, meaning the proposed center activities and supported components needed to be domestic.
Key dates show this was a time-limited announcement posted May 31, 2013, with an original and current closing date of August 2, 2013, and an archive date of September 2, 2013. Those dates indicate the opportunity is no longer active, but the summary still matters for understanding how NIH structured COBRE Phase III transition support and what expectations were placed on centers at that stage of development.
Finally, the opportunity was administered by NIH, with an additional information link directing applicants to the full announcement on the NIH grants website. For technical issues accessing the announcement, NIH provided the Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact. Overall, the program can be understood as a bridge: it aimed to prevent loss of hard-won infrastructure from earlier COBRE phases and to guide mature COBRE centers toward a stable, independent future where core facilities and administrative operations remain viable and continue to drive biomedical research productivity.
FAQs: COBRE Phase III Transitional Centers (P30) - PAR-13-238
What is this funding opportunity?
This was the NIH Limited Competition Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III Transitional Centers (P30) funding opportunity, identified as PAR-13-238. It was a discretionary NIH grant program intended to support established COBRE centers as they transitioned from COBRE support toward long-term stability and independence.
What was the main purpose of COBRE Phase III Transitional Center funding?
The central purpose was to sustain biomedical research momentum at existing COBRE centers by keeping key shared resources (cores) operating and helping those cores shift toward financial and administrative independence beyond COBRE funding.
Is this meant to create a brand-new research center?
No. The program was designed to stabilize and transition an already-established COBRE center that had built research capacity and shared cores in earlier phases. It was not intended to launch a new center from scratch.
What does "limited competition" mean here?
It means this was not an open call for any organization to apply. Only a defined subset of institutions and centers were intended to be eligible based on COBRE status and program stage (i.e., centers already in the COBRE pipeline and at the appropriate phase).
What NIH grant mechanism was used for this program?
The award mechanism was the NIH P30 center grant. P30 awards are typically used to support shared resources and facilities (often called cores) and the administrative structure needed to operate them for multiple investigators.
What activities were the funds primarily intended to support?
The funds were meant to sustain biomedical research activities by maintaining core resources and shared infrastructure used by multiple investigators, along with the administration needed to run those cores. The emphasis was on shared capacity rather than funding standalone investigator-initiated research projects.
What are "cores" in the context of a P30 center grant?
Cores are shared resources, facilities, or services that multiple investigators use. In this program, the focus was on maintaining those core capabilities and ensuring they could continue operating as COBRE support tapered off.
What does "transition to independence" mean in this program?
It refers to helping COBRE cores and center operations become sustainable with reduced reliance on COBRE program dollars. The description highlights common sustainability approaches such as institutional commitment, user fees, other grant support, and integration with broader campus or regional research infrastructure.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated that it did not require cost sharing or matching as a condition of eligibility.
If matching was not required, did applicants still need to address sustainability?
Yes. Even without a formal matching requirement, the overall goal of transitioning into independence strongly implied that applicants would need to present credible sustainability plans, which commonly include institutional support and revenue strategies (even if not labeled as matching funds).
What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling was $750,000. This ceiling set the upper limit, while actual award amounts would typically reflect the scope of the proposed cores, number of users served, operational costs, and the strength of the transition justification.
What was the funding activity category and CFDA number?
The opportunity fell under a health funding activity category and was associated with CFDA 93.859 (Biomedical Research and Research Training).
Which organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicant organizations included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education). The eligibility section also explicitly included several institution types commonly highlighted in NIH capacity-building contexts, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, and TCCUs.
Were foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. Foreign institutions were not eligible.
Could a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component in the proposed center?
No. The opportunity disallowed non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations and foreign components as defined by NIH policy. Center activities and supported components needed to be domestic.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The announcement was posted May 31, 2013. The original and current closing date was August 2, 2013. The archive date was September 2, 2013.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. The dates provided (closing date in 2013 and an archive date in 2013) indicate the opportunity is no longer active.
Who administered the program?
The opportunity was administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Where could applicants find the full announcement?
Applicants were directed to the full announcement on the NIH grants website via an additional information link referenced in the opportunity summary.
Who was listed for technical issues accessing the announcement?
For technical issues accessing the announcement, NIH provided the Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact.
How should this program be understood at a high level?
It functioned as a bridge for mature COBRE centers: it aimed to prevent the loss of infrastructure developed in earlier COBRE phases and to guide established centers toward a stable, independent future where core facilities and administrative operations remain viable and continue supporting biomedical research productivity.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institutes of Health
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health
Next opportunity: National Human Trafficking Hotline, Training, and Technical Assistance Program
Previous opportunity: Notice of Intent to Award Lowell National Historical Park Youth Programming Spindle City Corps, (SCC) 2013 Trades Skills Team
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAR 13 238
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 13 238) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Affordable Care Act Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Expansion Grants Apply for HRSA 13 215 Funding Number: HRSA 13 215 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Support for International Family Planning and Health Organizations (SIFPO) 2 Sustainable Networks Apply for SOL OAA 13 000074 Funding Number: SOL OAA 13 000074 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Health Funding Amount: $74,000,000 |
| Development of Sustainable Influenza Vaccine Production Capacity in Under Resourced Nations in Support of the Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines (GAP) Apply for EP IDS 13 001 Funding Number: EP IDS 13 001 Agency: Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Category: Health Funding Amount: $9,000,000 |
| Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Apply for CDC RFA EH13 1305 A Funding Number: CDC RFA EH13 1305 A Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| NINDS Research Education Opportunities (R25) Apply for PAR 13 240 Funding Number: PAR 13 240 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Unveiling the Genome Genetic Architecture of Severe Mental Disorders Revealed (Collaborative U01) Apply for PAR 13 241 Funding Number: PAR 13 241 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIAID Resource Related Research Projects (R24) Apply for PAR 13 242 Funding Number: PAR 13 242 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Renewal of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence COBRE(P20) Apply for PAR 13 243 Funding Number: PAR 13 243 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Grants to Support the Hispanic Health Services Research Grant Program Apply for CMS 1H0 13 001 Funding Number: CMS 1H0 13 001 Agency: Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Grants to Support the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Health Services Research Grant Program Apply for CMS 1I0 13 001 Funding Number: CMS 1I0 13 001 Agency: Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Consortium for Tobacco Use Cessation Technical Assistance Apply for CDC RFA DP13 1316 Funding Number: CDC RFA DP13 1316 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Rape Prevention and Education Program Apply for CDC RFA CE14 1401 Funding Number: CDC RFA CE14 1401 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category: Health Funding Amount: $5,152,026 |
| Innovate for Health Apply for APS 641 13 000001 Funding Number: APS 641 13 000001 Agency: Ghana USAID Accra Category: Health Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Apply for HRSA 13 261 Funding Number: HRSA 13 261 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $478,000 |
| FY13 Announcement of the Availability of Funds for Embryo Donation and/or Adoption Grant Projects Apply for PA EAA 13 001 Funding Number: PA EAA 13 001 Agency: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT (CDS) Apply for SOL RFA 674 13 000005 Funding Number: SOL RFA 674 13 000005 Agency: South Africa USAID Pretoria Category: Health Funding Amount: $220,000,000 |
| Service Area Competition Apply for HRSA 14 021 Funding Number: HRSA 14 021 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Service Area Competition Apply for HRSA 14 022 Funding Number: HRSA 14 022 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Service Area Competition Apply for HRSA 14 023 Funding Number: HRSA 14 023 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Service Area Competition Apply for HRSA 14 024 Funding Number: HRSA 14 024 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAR 13 238", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.