Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 26 138
Apply for PAR 26 138
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Centers for Cryo-electron Tomography (cryoET) (R24 -Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-01-26.
- 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Centers for Cryo-electron Tomography (cryoET) funding opportunity (PAR-26-138) is an NIH discretionary grant program that uses the R24 mechanism and is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Its purpose is to establish or support national cryo-electron tomography centers that can serve the broader research community by offering widespread access to state-of-the-art cryoET instrumentation, hands-on technical expertise, and structured help that enables outside investigators to successfully carry out cryoET projects. In practical terms, the program is geared toward building shared national resources rather than funding isolated, single-lab research efforts. These centers are expected to function as hubs that can take on users from around the country, help them design and execute cryoET studies, and lower the barrier to entry for scientists who do not already have local access to high-end cryoET tools or the specialized know-how required to use them well.
A core theme of the opportunity is access plus training. The NOFO emphasizes nationwide availability of advanced cryoET capabilities, which implies a service-and-support model where investigators from multiple institutions can request assistance, obtain instrument time, and receive expert guidance through the workflow. Just as importantly, the centers are expected to help researchers develop the skills needed to perform cryoET studies, suggesting activities like user onboarding, methodological consultation, troubleshooting, and potentially formal instruction (for example, workshops or individualized training plans) so that users can progressively become more competent and independent in cryoET data collection and interpretation. The overall goal is to strengthen the national research ecosystem by concentrating expensive instrumentation and deep technical specialization into centers that can reliably deliver high-quality cryoET outcomes for many different projects and scientific communities.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organization types, reflecting the intent to allow a range of institutions to host and operate these national centers. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple types of governmental entities (state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and certain housing authorities), as well as eligible Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations. Even with this broad domestic eligibility, the NOFO draws a hard line on foreign involvement in the applicant structure: non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. The practical takeaway is that the center must be proposed, hosted, and operated entirely within an eligible U.S. organizational context without foreign components under NIH policy definitions.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health under the health-related funding activity category (CFDA 93.859). The original closing date listed is January 26, 2027, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of February 5, 2026. The summary information provided does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards, so applicants would need to consult the full NOFO text for budget parameters, project period details, review criteria, and any required components of the application that define what NIH considers an appropriate scope for a national cryoET center under the R24 mechanism.
FAQs: National Centers for Cryo-electron Tomography (cryoET) (PAR-26-138)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "The National Centers for Cryo-electron Tomography (cryoET)" under NOFO PAR-26-138. It uses the NIH R24 grant mechanism and is designated as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed."
What is the main purpose of PAR-26-138?
The purpose is to establish or support national cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) centers that serve the broader research community. The emphasis is on building shared, national resources that provide widespread access to state-of-the-art cryoET instrumentation, hands-on technical expertise, and structured support that helps outside investigators successfully complete cryoET projects.
Is this program meant to fund a single lab's research project?
No. The program is geared toward developing and operating shared national resources rather than funding isolated, single-lab research efforts. The expectation is that funded centers function as hubs supporting many users and projects across the country.
What kinds of services are the centers expected to provide?
Based on the description provided, centers are expected to offer broad access to advanced cryoET instrumentation, provide expert guidance across the cryoET workflow, and deliver structured help that enables external investigators to design and execute cryoET studies. The model implied is a service-and-support approach, including the ability for investigators to request assistance and obtain instrument time.
Who are the intended users of these national cryoET centers?
The centers are intended to serve investigators from multiple institutions, including researchers who do not have local access to high-end cryoET tools or the specialized expertise needed to use them effectively.
What role do training and workforce development play in this opportunity?
Training is a central theme. The opportunity emphasizes not only access to cryoET capabilities but also helping researchers develop the skills to perform cryoET studies. This suggests activities such as onboarding new users, methodological consultation, troubleshooting support, and potentially formal instruction such as workshops or individualized training plans so users can grow more competent and independent.
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for this opportunity?
The funding opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications proposing clinical trials are not allowed under this NOFO.
What grant mechanism does NIH use for this program?
NIH is using the R24 mechanism for this opportunity.
What is the broader goal NIH is trying to achieve with these centers?
The stated goal is to strengthen the national research ecosystem by concentrating expensive instrumentation and deep technical specialization into centers that can reliably deliver high-quality cryoET outcomes for many different projects and scientific communities.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organization types. Eligible applicants include:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Certain housing authorities
- Eligible Native American tribal governments
- Eligible Native American tribal organizations
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it includes a non-U.S. component?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed under this opportunity?
No. Foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this opportunity.
What is the practical implication of the foreign involvement restrictions?
The center must be proposed, hosted, and operated entirely within an eligible U.S. organizational context, without foreign components under NIH policy definitions.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding activity category and assistance listing/CFDA number?
The opportunity is under a health-related funding activity category, and the assistance listing/CFDA number provided is 93.859.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is January 26, 2027.
When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of February 5, 2026.
Does the summary specify the maximum budget (award ceiling) or the number of awards?
No. The summary information provided does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards.
Where would an applicant find details like budget limits, project period, and review criteria?
Those details are not included in the summary provided. Applicants would need to consult the full NOFO text for budget parameters, project period details, review criteria, and required application components defining the appropriate scope for a national cryoET center under the R24 mechanism.
What makes this opportunity different from typical research grants?
Based on the information provided, it is structured around building and operating a national shared-resource center (access, expertise, support, and training for many external users) rather than supporting a single research team's specific experimental aims.
Is the center expected to serve researchers nationwide?
Yes. A key emphasis is nationwide availability and widespread access, with centers functioning as hubs that can take on users from around the country.
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