Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 09 180

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Renewal of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)P20" 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 May 1, 2009 and posted on May 1, 2009.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 22, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having 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 Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) .
Apply for PAR 09 180

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Opportunity Summary:

The Renewal of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) P20 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 09-180) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement administered through the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR). It is specifically aimed at renewing existing, eligible COBRE awards through a competing continuation process, meaning it is not meant for brand-new COBRE centers but for institutions that already have a COBRE and are applying to continue and build on prior progress. The central goal is to keep strengthening an institution's biomedical research capacity by maintaining and expanding a focused, theme-driven, multidisciplinary research center. A major emphasis is helping investigators become more competitive for independent, peer-reviewed research funding, especially NIH individual research grants, by giving them a stronger research environment, better access to shared resources, and structured support that moves early-stage or developing investigators toward independence.

This program sits under the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) umbrella, which is designed to improve the overall competitiveness of researchers and institutions in states that have historically received a lower share of NIH funding based on aggregate success rates. In practice, the renewal COBRE mechanism is meant to reinforce long-term research infrastructure development rather than fund a single short-term project. By supporting a coherent scientific theme and a multidisciplinary center structure, the program encourages institutions to develop a sustainable research ecosystem, including mentorship and career development pathways, core facilities or shared resources, and collaborative scientific leadership that can outlast the grant period.

The funding mechanism used is the NIH exploratory center grant mechanism, P20. While P20 awards can vary in their specific structure depending on the program, in this context it signals support for a center-style effort focused on building capability and competitiveness rather than simply expanding a mature, already fully independent research enterprise. The announcement notes that the nature and scope of proposed research and infrastructure activities may differ from one application to another, so both the size and the duration of awards could vary accordingly. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, which is part of the summarized data provided for the opportunity, though applicants typically need to rely on the full FOA text for any detailed budget guidance, allowable cost categories, and expectations around cores, administration, and investigator/project structures.

For fiscal year (FY) 2010, NCRR planned to commit approximately $20 million to this initiative. The agency anticipated funding up to nine renewal applications in response to this announcement. Like many federal opportunities, actual awards are contingent on appropriations and the availability of funds, and also on the quality and quantity of applications received. In other words, even if the program plans for a certain number of awards, funding decisions ultimately depend on peer review outcomes and the strength of the applicant pool.

Eligibility covers a broad set of institutional applicants. It includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), along with other entities as clarified in the FOA. The opportunity explicitly highlights a range of minority-serving and special designation institutions as eligible or included within the broader eligibility framing, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). The listing also states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which can lower barriers for institutions with limited discretionary resources.

Key administrative details include the posting and creation date of May 1, 2009, an original and current closing date of September 22, 2011, and an archive date of October 23, 2011. The catalog listing (CFDA) is 93.389, associated with the National Center for Research Resources. The full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants guide (linked in the opportunity record), and NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts were provided for access or technical issues. Overall, this renewal COBRE P20 opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building and sustainability-focused center grant renewal that helps eligible institutions consolidate prior COBRE gains, expand research infrastructure around a unifying theme, and accelerate investigator progression toward independently competed external funding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Renewal of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) P20 (PAR 09-180)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the NIH "Renewal of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)" opportunity using the P20 exploratory center grant mechanism. It is a competing continuation (renewal) announcement for existing, eligible COBRE awards, focused on continuing and building on progress already made under a prior COBRE award.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 09-180.

Which agency is offering and administering this opportunity?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement administered through the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR).

What is the primary goal of the renewal COBRE program?

The central goal is to continue strengthening an institution's biomedical research capacity by maintaining and expanding a focused, theme-driven, multidisciplinary research center, while helping investigators become more competitive for independent, peer-reviewed research funding (especially NIH individual research grants).

Is this opportunity intended for brand-new COBRE centers?

No. The announcement is specifically aimed at renewing existing, eligible COBRE awards through a competing continuation process. It is not intended to create brand-new COBRE centers.

What kind of activities does this renewal support?

Based on the description provided, the renewal supports center-style capacity building that can include strengthening the research environment, improving access to shared resources, and providing structured support that helps early-stage or developing investigators progress toward research independence.

How does this opportunity help investigators?

It emphasizes helping investigators become more competitive for independent, peer-reviewed funding by improving their research environment, access to shared resources, and structured support aimed at moving developing investigators toward independence.

What is the role of a scientific theme in a renewal COBRE?

The program is intended to support a coherent, theme-driven, multidisciplinary research center. The theme helps organize and focus the center's development of research infrastructure, collaboration, and leadership.

What is the P20 mechanism in this context?

The funding mechanism is the NIH exploratory center grant mechanism (P20). In this context, it indicates support for a center-style effort focused on building institutional research capability and competitiveness, rather than simply expanding an already mature and fully independent research enterprise.

Is this part of a larger NIH initiative?

Yes. The renewal COBRE program sits under the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) umbrella, which is designed to improve the competitiveness of researchers and institutions in states that historically have received a lower share of NIH funding based on aggregate success rates.

Does the announcement specify how large or how long awards will be?

The announcement notes that the nature and scope of proposed research and infrastructure activities may differ from one application to another, so both award size and duration could vary accordingly.

What is the listed award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $200,000 (as shown in the summarized opportunity data).

Where should applicants look for detailed budget guidance and allowable costs?

The summary indicates applicants typically need to rely on the full FOA text for details such as budget guidance, allowable cost categories, and expectations around cores, administration, and investigator/project structures.

How much funding did NCRR plan to commit for FY 2010?

For fiscal year (FY) 2010, NCRR planned to commit approximately $20 million to this initiative.

How many awards did the agency anticipate making?

The agency anticipated funding up to nine renewal applications in response to this announcement.

Are awards guaranteed if the program plans to fund up to nine applications?

No. Like many federal opportunities, awards are contingent on appropriations and the availability of funds, as well as the quality and quantity of applications received and peer review outcomes.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), along with other entities as clarified in the FOA.

Are minority-serving institutions included in the eligibility framing?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights a range of minority-serving and special designation institutions as eligible or included within the broader eligibility framing, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The catalog listing (CFDA) is 93.389, associated with the National Center for Research Resources.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting and creation date is May 1, 2009.

What was the closing date for applications?

The original and current closing date listed is September 22, 2011.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date is October 23, 2011.

Where was the full announcement hosted?

The full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants guide (linked in the opportunity record).

Who is listed for technical or access-related issues?

NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts were provided for access or technical issues.

How should this opportunity be understood at a high level?

It is best understood as a capacity-building and sustainability-focused center grant renewal that helps eligible institutions consolidate prior COBRE gains, expand research infrastructure around a unifying theme, and accelerate investigator progression toward independently competed external funding.

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Applicants also applied for:

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Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III Transitional Centers P30 Apply for RFA RR 09 005

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Funding Number: PA 09 187
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Technology for the Detection and Characterization of Low Abundance Proteins, Peptides, or micro RNAs (SBIR) R43/R44 Apply for PA 09 189

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International Research Collaborations on HIV/AIDS and Drug Use (R01) Apply for RFA DA 10 008

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Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNEs)(U54) Apply for RFA CA 09 012

Funding Number: RFA CA 09 012
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Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships (U01) Apply for RFA CA 09 013

Funding Number: RFA CA 09 013
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Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hematopoietic Malignancies (R01) Apply for PA 09 197

Funding Number: PA 09 197
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hematopoietic Malignancies (R21) Apply for PA 09 198

Funding Number: PA 09 198
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Funding Amount: $200,000
Identifying Non coding RNA Targets for Cancer Early Detection and Prevention (R21) Apply for PA 09 200

Funding Number: PA 09 200
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Funding Amount: $200,000
Identifying Non coding RNA Targets for Cancer Early Detection and Prevention (R01) Apply for PA 09 199

Funding Number: PA 09 199
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Funding Amount: Case Dependent
The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (U10) Apply for RFA DA 10 009

Funding Number: RFA DA 10 009
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Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Bioenergetics, Fatigability, and Activity Limitations in Aging (R21) Apply for PA 09 191

Funding Number: PA 09 191
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Bioenergetics, Fatigability, and Activity Limitations in Aging (R01) Apply for PA 09 190

Funding Number: PA 09 190
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Exploratory Grant Award to Promote Workforce Diversity in Basic Cancer Research (R21) Apply for PAR 09 162

Funding Number: PAR 09 162
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Feasibility Studies for Collaborative Interaction for Minority Institution/Cancer Center Partnership (P20) Apply for PAR 09 201

Funding Number: PAR 09 201
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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (F31) Apply for PA 09 208

Funding Number: PA 09 208
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Cutting Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) (R21) Apply for PAR 09 222

Funding Number: PAR 09 222
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Funding Amount: $125,000

 

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