Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Development Phase (COBRE-D) (P30 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the COBRE-D funding opportunity?

The Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Development Phase (COBRE-D) is an NIH grant program (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-27-054) that supports development-stage, center-based efforts to strengthen biomedical research capacity at eligible institutions in IDeA jurisdictions.

What does COBRE-D stand for, and what phase is it?

COBRE stands for Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence. This opportunity is the Development Phase (COBRE-D), positioned as an "on-ramp" for institutions that want to establish or significantly expand capability in a broad biomedical scientific area where current infrastructure or expertise is limited.

What is the overall goal of COBRE-D?

The overall aim is to help eligible institutions build the people, facilities, and administrative backbone needed to compete more successfully for future NIH research funding and to grow sustainable biomedical research programs.

What type of NIH award mechanism does COBRE-D use?

COBRE-D uses the NIH P30 center grant mechanism, supporting a center-style effort rather than a single stand-alone research project.

Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?

No. The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applicants should not propose activities that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial under this award.

Is this a limited competition opportunity?

Yes. This NOFO is a limited competition, meaning NIH will only invite applications from eligible organizations and will not accept applications from entities that do not meet the specific eligibility requirements.

Does COBRE-D focus on a single research project or a broader center effort?

It supports a broader, center-style effort with a longer-term institutional vision, aimed at building or expanding research capability in a broad biomedical scientific area that is strategically important to the institution.

What kinds of institutional capacity-building activities does COBRE-D support?

Based on the provided description, COBRE-D supports activities such as recruiting and mentoring early-career investigators, providing supplemental start-up packages for new hires, establishing or upgrading shared research facilities, and improving research administration and support services needed to manage grants and research operations.

Who is the primary target group within an institution?

A major emphasis is on recruiting and mentoring early-career investigators and strengthening the environment around them so they can become independently funded researchers.

What are "supplemental start-up packages" in this context?

They are start-up supports tied to new hires, intended to help institutions attract promising investigators as part of building research capacity.

Does the opportunity support shared research facilities?

Yes. The program supports the establishment or upgrading of shared research facilities as part of strengthening institutional research infrastructure.

Does COBRE-D support improvements to research administration?

Yes. The opportunity includes improvements to research administration and support services so the institution can manage grants and research operations more effectively.

Where must applicant organizations be located to be eligible?

Applicants must be located in an IDeA-eligible state, commonwealth, or jurisdiction.

Which states and jurisdictions are listed as eligible IDeA locations?

The eligible locations listed are Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

What organizational types may be eligible to apply?

The opportunity lists common applicant types that may apply if they meet the eligibility rules, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and eligible nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status).

What degree or research profile requirements apply to applicant organizations?

The applicant organization must either (1) award doctoral degrees in the health-related sciences, or (2) be an independent biomedical research institute or medical center with ongoing biomedical research programs funded by NIH or other federal agencies.

Can non-U.S. organizations apply to COBRE-D?

No. Non-U.S. organizations cannot apply.

Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?

No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible under this program.

Are foreign components allowed?

Foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this program.

Is there any exception that allows involvement of a foreign site or collaborator?

A narrow exception is noted for unfunded foreign components, but only with prior approval. In this context, an unfunded foreign component refers to collaboration with investigators at a foreign site that may lead to co-authored publications, as long as no IDeA funds are transferred to a foreign institution through a subcontract or similar mechanism.

Can foreign investigators or organizations access center resources?

Yes, the NOFO notes that foreign PIs or organizations may access center resources on a fee-for-service basis.

Can publications resulting from foreign fee-for-service access cite the NIH grant?

No. If foreign PIs or organizations access center resources on a fee-for-service basis, any resulting publications cannot cite or acknowledge NIH grant support, reflecting the program's restrictions on foreign components.

How are applications reviewed?

Applications go through NIH's standard peer-review process, and only applications judged meritorious in review will be considered for funding.

How does COBRE-D relate to later COBRE phases?

The program is intended to feed into the next stages of COBRE support, namely the Expansion and Sustainability phases (COBRE-E/S), for institutions that successfully build momentum and demonstrate readiness to scale and maintain their research capacity over time.

Which federal agency runs this opportunity?

This opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the funding activity category and CFDA listing provided?

The posting identifies the activity as a health funding activity category and lists CFDA 93.859.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-27-054.

When was this opportunity created?

The posting indicates the opportunity was created on 2026-08-19.

What is the closing date listed in the posting?

The posting indicates an original closing date of 2029-05-26.

Are award ceiling and expected number of awards provided in the description?

No. In the provided source text, standard fields such as the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified.

Where should applicants look for budget limits, allowable costs, and project period expectations?

Based on the provided description, applicants typically need to consult the full NOFO and related NIH guidance for budget limits, allowable costs, project period expectations, and any institute-specific requirements tied to this announcement.

Is the program aimed at institutions with historically lower NIH funding?

Yes. COBRE-D is designed to strengthen biomedical research capacity in states and jurisdictions that have historically received relatively low levels of NIH funding through the Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) program.

What is the long-term outcome COBRE-D is trying to enable?

The long-term goal is to position the institution to transition into the COBRE Expansion/Sustainability phases and to compete more successfully across NIH's broader funding landscape by building a sustainable research base.