Planning for Regional Centers of Research Excellence in Non-communicable Diseases in Low and Middle Income Countries (P20) | RFA CA 15 007

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 15 007

Planning for Regional Centers of Research Excellence in Non-communicable Diseases in Low and Middle Income Countries (P20) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity (RFA-CA-15-007) designed to support the early, structured planning needed to launch Regional Centers of Research Excellence (RCREs) focused on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Rather than primarily funding large-scale, mature research programs, this announcement emphasizes the groundwork required to build strong regional research hubs: defining a center vision, shaping a realistic initial research agenda, mapping resources and gaps, and creating the partnerships and administrative structures that can sustain competitive NCD research over time.

A central feature of the program is collaboration. Applications are expected to be built around active partnerships between investigators at institutions in high-income countries (HICs) or upper-middle-income countries (UMICs) and investigators, research administrators, and other relevant stakeholders in LMICs. The intent is not simply to add an international component, but to establish true joint planning and shared scientific direction. Proposed planning activities must reflect a clear understanding of the region’s current research capabilities and constraints, along with a credible plan to strengthen those capabilities. The FOA highlights multiple parts of the research pipeline, encouraging planning that can support basic science, translational research, clinical research, and population science approaches to NCDs, depending on what is most relevant to the region and feasible to build.

From a scientific perspective, the planning process is expected to identify NCD research questions that are regionally important, timely, and actionable. In other words, the planning award should help the team converge on an initial research focus that matches the local disease burden and health system realities, and that the collaborating institutions can realistically pursue together. The FOA signals that reviewers will look for evidence that the collaboration can function effectively, including the ability to coordinate across institutions and countries, align priorities, and develop a coherent, regionally grounded research strategy that can evolve into a full RCRE effort.

Administratively, this opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under an education and health activity category, and it uses the NIH P20 mechanism, which is commonly used for exploratory center development and planning activities. The maximum award amount listed is $200,000 (award ceiling). The original closing date provided in the source information is 2016-08-23, and the opportunity was created on 2015-09-14. The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.394 through 93.399), reflecting its placement within NIH funding catalogs and related program areas.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based public and private entities as well as non-U.S. organizations, which aligns with the international partnership model the FOA is trying to promote. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other categories. The FOA also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth is meant to encourage applications that reflect the varied institutional landscapes involved in regional and cross-border NCD research capacity building.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a catalyst for building the foundation of regional NCD research excellence in LMIC settings. It supports the detailed planning needed to assemble multinational teams, assess and strengthen local research infrastructure and administration, and settle on a high-priority NCD research direction that is both scientifically compelling and regionally meaningful. The expected end product of this planning effort is a well-justified, collaborative roadmap for a Regional Center of Research Excellence that is positioned to conduct impactful NCD research and to grow sustainable research capacity in the region.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Planning for Regional Centers of Research Excellence in Non-communicable Diseases in Low and Middle Income Countries (P20)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.397, 93.398, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-08-23. (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 $200,000.00 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 CA 15 007

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