Limited Competition: Renewal of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) (Phase 2) (P20 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 063

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 063

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a limited-competition grant opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Renewal of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) (Phase 2) (P20 - Clinical Trial Optional)," funding opportunity number PAR-23-063. This program sits within NIH's broader Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) initiative, which is designed to help build and strengthen innovative biomedical and behavioral research centers at institutions that are eligible under the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program. COBRE funding is structured in three sequential phases, each lasting five years, with Phase 2 serving as a renewal stage for centers that successfully completed Phase 1 and are ready to deepen their capabilities and expand their impact.

The core purpose of a COBRE Phase 2 award is to solidify and advance the progress made during Phase 1 by continuing to improve research infrastructure and by developing a strong, sustainable community of investigators who share scientific interests and can collaborate effectively. In practical terms, Phase 2 is intended to help an institution move from "building capacity" to "competing at a higher level," by supporting the maturation of investigators and the research environment so that participating faculty are better positioned to win independent, peer-reviewed research funding (such as NIH R-series awards or comparable external support). A central theme of the opportunity is the creation and reinforcement of a critical mass of researchers: not just individual investigators working in parallel, but a coherent, collaborative center with shared focus areas, mentoring and development pathways, and institutional resources that increase competitiveness long after the COBRE support ends.

This opportunity uses the P20 mechanism and is designated "clinical trial optional," meaning applicants may propose research activities that include clinical trials if they are appropriate to the center's goals, but a clinical trial is not required. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is health. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, and it is associated with CFDA number 93.859. The listed award ceiling is $1,500,000, indicating that applications are expected to fit within that maximum budget level as described in the announcement and any associated NIH policy guidance. The original closing date is May 28, 2025, and the opportunity was created on December 20, 2022, which is helpful for understanding the lifespan of the announcement and planning submission timelines.

Eligibility is constrained and notably excludes foreign participation in several forms. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In addition, foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed under this announcement. These restrictions reinforce that the program is intended to build research capacity at U.S.-based, IDeA-eligible institutions. The source information also lists "small businesses" under eligible applicants, but the announcement itself is a COBRE Phase 2 renewal mechanism typically tied to institutions running established research centers; in any case, applicants should rely on the full Funding Opportunity Announcement language and NIH eligibility rules to confirm organizational eligibility and the specific conditions of "limited competition" for Phase 2 renewals.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a targeted renewal pathway for established COBRE centers that have already demonstrated success in Phase 1 and are ready to take the next step: strengthening infrastructure, advancing shared research programs, and accelerating investigator development so the center and its researchers can compete more consistently for independent external funding and sustain a high-quality research ecosystem at the institution. For final details on what NIH expects in a Phase 2 renewal application, including allowable costs, required components (such as cores, investigator projects, and mentoring plans), review criteria, and the precise definition of limited competition, applicants are directed to the full Funding Opportunity Announcement.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Renewal of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) (Phase 2) (P20 - Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2022-12-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-05-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

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