Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction and Infertility Research (U54) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction and Infertility Research (U54), funding opportunity number RFA-HD-12-169, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement run through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). This announcement represents a re-competition of NICHDs existing Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction and Infertility Research (SCCPIR), meaning it is intended to continue supporting a limited number of established, high-capacity research centers rather than funding a large number of unrelated individual projects. The central aim is to strengthen the national research infrastructure in reproductive science by supporting multidisciplinary centers that can connect basic science discoveries to clinical applications in reproduction and infertility, with an emphasis on high-quality translational research.

The program is designed around the idea that major challenges in reproductive health and infertility require coordinated teams and shared resources rather than isolated efforts. Supported centers are expected to create an environment where basic researchers and clinical investigators work side by side, integrating laboratory, preclinical, and patient-oriented approaches to move findings along the translational pipeline. In practice, this typically implies collaborative projects, shared cores or facilities, and coordinated planning that accelerates progress toward improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies in areas affecting fertility and reproductive outcomes.

Beyond research, the FOA places clear importance on workforce development. A key expectation is that these centers will function as national resources for training and career development, helping cultivate new investigators who want to build careers in translational reproduction and infertility research. That training mission implies structured mentoring, opportunities to participate in collaborative projects, and access to the intellectual and technical environment of the center, so early-stage scientists can develop skills that bridge fundamental biology and clinical investigation.

The announcement also emphasizes public-facing responsibilities. Center investigators are expected to participate in community outreach and education efforts that increase awareness of reproductive and infertility research and explain why the work matters. This outreach component signals that NICHD wants center activities to extend beyond academic publications by improving public understanding, addressing misconceptions, and communicating the implications of research to broader audiences, which may include patients, families, educators, or community organizations.

Administratively, this opportunity uses the U54 cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally indicates substantial NIH involvement compared with a standard research project grant. While applicants still lead the scientific direction, the cooperative agreement structure often means the NIH program staff play an active role in overseeing progress, facilitating coordination across centers, and helping ensure that the program meets broader national goals in the reproductive sciences. The activity category is listed under health, income security, and social services, and the CFDA number is 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

The total estimated funding for the program is listed as $5,400,000. The FOA was posted on November 19, 2010, with an original and current closing date of May 26, 2011, and an archive date of June 26, 2011. These dates indicate the announcement is historical and was tied to a specific application cycle; the archived status typically means it is no longer accepting applications, though it remains useful for understanding the structure and expectations of the SCCPIR program.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, reflecting a desire to attract strong research and translational capabilities wherever they exist. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA further clarifies additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), regional organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Overall, the eligibility language is intentionally inclusive, but the practical requirement is that applicants must be capable of operating a high-functioning multidisciplinary center with translational research, training, and outreach components.

For applicants or readers seeking the original full text, the FOA points to the NIH Grants Guide web link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HD-12-169.html). It also provides NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for access or linking problems, indicating that technical questions about the announcement itself could be directed there rather than to scientific program staff.

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