Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DK 22 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 22 011

The Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-22-011) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant run through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Its goal is to fund institutional “core center” programs focused on cystic fibrosis (CF) that can strengthen and accelerate both basic science and clinical research, with an emphasis on moving discoveries toward new and improved therapies. Rather than funding a single research project, this P30 mechanism is meant to build and maintain shared infrastructure and coordinated programs that multiple investigators can use, helping an institution act as a hub for CF research and translation.

The FOA is centered on the idea that strong CF programs benefit from shared resources and deliberate collaboration. The centers are expected to provide core services and expertise that individual labs or clinical teams would struggle to maintain on their own. By pooling resources, standardizing methods, and supporting cross-disciplinary work, the centers are positioned to speed up research that ranges from fundamental CF biology to clinical studies that test interventions. The “Clinical Trial Optional” label signals that clinical trials may be included when appropriate, but they are not mandatory for every application.

Each center is structured around three required, research-enabling components. First are Research Cores, which deliver shared services, technologies, and other resources to the CF research community at the applicant institution (and often in collaboration with partner groups). These cores are intended to directly support the scientific work needed to develop, evaluate, and refine therapeutic strategies. Second is a Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) program, which typically provides smaller, targeted awards to launch new ideas, generate preliminary data, and bring new investigators or new directions into the CF research portfolio. This component is often a key mechanism for innovation and for seeding projects that can later compete for larger NIH grants. Third is an Administrative Core that handles leadership, governance, evaluation, and overall center coordination, coupled with an enrichment program that promotes scientific exchange and community-building activities such as seminars, workshops, visiting speakers, training, and other efforts that broaden and strengthen CF research capacity.

A major purpose of these centers is to foster collaborations among investigators and, where appropriate, among institutions with an established CF research base. NIDDK notes that it already supports a network of CF Research and Translation Centers (seven at the time of the announcement) at institutions with demonstrated excellence in both basic and clinical CF research. The FOA points applicants to public listings of currently funded centers through NIDDK and the cystic fibrosis centers website, underscoring that these awards are meant to sustain a high-performing national ecosystem of CF translational research hubs.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain tribal entities. At the same time, the FOA is clear that foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. In practice, this means the work and supported infrastructure must be domestic.

From the funding details provided, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within health (and broadly listed under food and nutrition/health in the activity category), tied to CFDA number 93.847. The award ceiling is listed as $750,000. The original closing date was July 28, 2022, and the FOA was created April 12, 2022. While the summary information does not specify the exact number of expected awards in the excerpt provided, the context suggests this is a competitive center program intended for institutions with a substantial, already-established CF research effort that can justify and effectively use shared cores, a pilot program, and coordinated administration/enrichment to deliver measurable advances in CF research and therapy development.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-04-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-28. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for RFA DK 22 011

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