Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 09 261
Apply for PAR 09 261
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition for Research Centers in Minority Institutions Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (RCTR) U54" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.389 National Center for Research Resources.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 28, 2009 and posted on Aug 28, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 18, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $8,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Eligibility for this FOA is limited to those institutions currently funded via the Research Centers in Minority Institution (RCMI) Clinical Research Infrastructure Initiative (RCRII), Comprehensive Centers on Health Disparities (CCHD) and/or Centers of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) U54 awards. Collaborations/partnerships with Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) are encouraged. RCMI institutions that have successfully competed as the prime institution for another NCRR funded clinical research center e.g. General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) and/or Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) are not eligible to compete as the prime institution for an RCTR. RCMI institutions that are collaborating or partnering institutions for non RCMI support of a clinical research center (e.g. GCRC M01, CTSA and/or other awards) may not request any funds for components supported by these awards. An institution may submit, or be part of, only one application in response this FOA. Multiple applications from different departments, divisions, faculties, centers, schools, etc. of the same institution or professional school will not be reviewed. At the time of the RCTR award, current NCRR P20 (RCRII) and U54 (CCRE or CCHD) awards to the institution(s) or affiliated institutions will be relinquished and any remaining funds, including unobligated balances, will be transferred to the new RCTR award. If the applicant is unsuccessful, the institution retains the current awards for the awarded project period.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Limited Competition for Research Centers in Minority Institutions Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (RCTR) U54 opportunity (PAR-09-261) is a National Institutes of Health funding announcement, administered through the National Center for Research Resources (CFDA 93.389), designed to strengthen the clinical and translational research capabilities of institutions that participate in the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program. Its central aim is to build and support the institutional infrastructure needed to conduct high-quality clinical and translational research, with a clear emphasis on improving the environment, systems, and coordinated resources that make such research possible within RCMI-funded institutions.
A major feature of this opportunity is that it reorganizes and consolidates several existing RCMI clinical research-related award structures into a single, more coordinated center mechanism. Specifically, it brings together programmatic activities that had previously been supported through the RCMI Clinical Research Infrastructure Initiative (RCRII) P20 awards, the Centers of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) U54 awards, and the Comprehensive Centers on Health Disparities (CCHD) U54 awards. By transitioning these separate efforts into the RCTR structure, NIH is aiming to improve collaboration and coordination across clinical and translational research programs at RCMI institutions, encourage partnerships with other institutions, and reduce duplicative administrative costs. In practical terms, the initiative is meant to make the management of research infrastructure funding more efficient while also creating a clearer, more unified framework for institutions to plan and expand their clinical and translational research activities.
The award mechanism is a U54 Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates substantial programmatic involvement from NIH compared to a standard grant. While the announcement does not specify a fixed budget per award, it notes that award size and duration can vary depending on the proposed scope of work, and that the total number of awards and total dollars ultimately depend on the volume, quality, duration, and costs of applications received. The estimated total funding listed for the opportunity is $8.4 million. Applicants may request a project period of up to five years, aligning with the center-like, infrastructure-building nature of the program.
This is a limited competition, meaning eligibility is tightly restricted. Only institutions that currently hold specific RCMI-related awards are eligible to apply, namely institutions funded through RCRII, CCHD, and/or CCRE awards. The announcement also strongly encourages collaborations or partnerships with institutions that have Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs), reflecting NIH interest in integrating RCMI institutions into broader clinical and translational research networks. At the same time, the FOA draws clear boundaries to prevent overlapping federal support. RCMI institutions that have already successfully competed as the prime institution for another NCRR-funded clinical research center (such as a General Clinical Research Center or a CTSA) are not eligible to apply as the prime institution for an RCTR. Additionally, if an RCMI institution participates as a collaborating or partnering site on non-RCMI clinical research center support (for example, through a GCRC or CTSA), it may not request RCTR funds for components that are already supported by those other awards.
There are also strict submission limits intended to ensure that each institution presents a single consolidated plan rather than multiple competing internal proposals. An institution may submit, or be included in, only one application under this FOA, and multiple applications from different parts of the same institution (such as departments, schools, centers, or divisions) will not be reviewed. This reinforces the program goal of coordination and institutional-level planning, rather than fragmented efforts.
A key operational detail is how existing awards transition if an institution is funded under RCTR. If an applicant is successful, the institution must relinquish its current NCRR P20 (RCRII) and U54 (CCRE or CCHD) awards at the time the RCTR is made. Any remaining funds, including unobligated balances, are transferred into the new RCTR award. If the applicant is not selected, the institution keeps its existing awards for their originally awarded project periods. In other words, the RCTR functions as a consolidation and continuation path for existing eligible RCMI clinical research infrastructure awards, rather than an entirely separate, additive funding stream.
Beyond infrastructure and administrative efficiency, the FOA highlights an additional strategic opportunity: strengthening research training and career development across participating institutions. The announcement points to potential synergy with the Clinical Research Education and Career Development (CRECD) R25 program and other institutional training programs. This signals that NIH expects the infrastructure supported under RCTR to not only enable studies and improve operations, but also to help develop researchers and clinical/translational teams over time, building a sustainable pipeline of talent and capacity within RCMI institutions.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted August 28, 2009, with an original and current closing date of November 18, 2009, and an archive date of December 19, 2009. It does not require cost sharing or matching. The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide, and NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts were provided for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the RCTR U54 funding opportunity (PAR-09-261)?
The Limited Competition for Research Centers in Minority Institutions Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (RCTR) U54 (PAR-09-261) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement administered through the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), CFDA 93.389. Its purpose is to strengthen clinical and translational research capabilities at institutions that participate in the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program by building and supporting the institutional infrastructure needed to conduct high-quality clinical and translational research.
2. What is the main goal of this program?
The central goal is to improve and expand the institutional environment, systems, and coordinated resources that enable clinical and translational research within RCMI-funded institutions. The emphasis is on infrastructure and coordinated support, rather than funding an unrelated, additive program on top of existing support.
3. What does RCTR replace or consolidate?
This opportunity reorganizes and consolidates several existing RCMI clinical research-related award structures into a single coordinated center mechanism. Specifically, it brings together activities previously supported through:
- RCMI Clinical Research Infrastructure Initiative (RCRII) P20 awards
- Centers of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) U54 awards
- Comprehensive Centers on Health Disparities (CCHD) U54 awards
4. Why did NIH consolidate these programs into the RCTR structure?
Based on the announcement description, the consolidation is intended to improve collaboration and coordination across clinical and translational research programs at RCMI institutions, encourage partnerships with other institutions, and reduce duplicative administrative costs. In practical terms, it aims to make management of research infrastructure funding more efficient and provide a unified framework for planning and expanding clinical and translational research activities.
5. What is the award mechanism?
The mechanism is a U54 Cooperative Agreement. A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial programmatic involvement from NIH compared to a standard grant mechanism.
6. How much funding is available under this FOA?
The announcement lists an estimated total funding level of $8.4 million. It does not specify a fixed budget per award, and it states that award size can vary depending on the proposed scope of work.
7. How many awards will NIH make?
The announcement indicates that the total number of awards (and total dollars awarded) depends on the volume, quality, duration, and costs of applications received.
8. What is the maximum project period?
Applicants may request a project period of up to five years, consistent with the infrastructure-building, center-like nature of the program.
9. Is this a limited competition?
Yes. Eligibility is tightly restricted to specific RCMI-associated institutions currently holding particular awards (described in the FOA summary provided).
10. Who is eligible to apply?
Only institutions that currently hold specific RCMI-related awards are eligible to apply, namely institutions funded through RCRII, CCHD, and/or CCRE awards.
11. Are institutions with other NCRR-funded clinical research centers eligible to apply as the prime institution?
No. RCMI institutions that have successfully competed as the prime institution for another NCRR-funded clinical research center (such as a General Clinical Research Center or a Clinical and Translational Science Award) are not eligible to apply as the prime institution for an RCTR.
12. Does NIH encourage partnerships with CTSA institutions?
Yes. The FOA strongly encourages collaborations or partnerships with institutions that have Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs), reflecting NIH interest in integrating RCMI institutions into broader clinical and translational research networks.
13. If an institution participates in a GCRC or CTSA as a collaborator, can it still request RCTR support?
The FOA places boundaries on overlapping support. If an RCMI institution participates as a collaborating or partnering site on non-RCMI clinical research center support (for example, via a GCRC or CTSA), it may not request RCTR funds for components that are already supported by those other awards.
14. Can an institution submit multiple applications under this FOA?
No. An institution may submit, or be included in, only one application under this FOA.
15. Can different parts of the same institution (departments, schools, centers, divisions) submit separate applications?
No. Multiple applications from different parts of the same institution will not be reviewed. This submission limit is intended to ensure a single consolidated institutional plan.
16. What happens to existing eligible awards if an institution receives an RCTR award?
If an applicant is funded under RCTR, the institution must relinquish its current NCRR P20 (RCRII) and U54 (CCRE or CCHD) awards at the time the RCTR is made. Any remaining funds, including unobligated balances, are transferred into the new RCTR award.
17. What happens if an institution applies but is not selected for RCTR funding?
If the applicant is not selected, the institution keeps its existing awards for their originally awarded project periods.
18. Is the RCTR award meant to be additive funding on top of existing RCMI infrastructure awards?
No. As described, the RCTR functions as a consolidation and continuation path for existing eligible RCMI clinical research infrastructure awards, rather than an entirely separate, additive funding stream.
19. Does this FOA mention training and career development?
Yes. Beyond infrastructure, the FOA highlights an opportunity to strengthen research training and career development. It notes potential synergy with the Clinical Research Education and Career Development (CRECD) R25 program and other institutional training programs, suggesting NIH expects the supported infrastructure to help develop researchers and clinical/translational teams over time.
20. Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching.
21. When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on August 28, 2009. The original and current closing date was November 18, 2009. The archive date was December 19, 2009.
22. Where was the full announcement made available?
The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide. The information provided also notes that NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts were provided for access or linking issues.
23. What federal program identifier is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered through the National Center for Research Resources and is identified with CFDA 93.389 in the provided description.
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