Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers seeking to collaborate with the NIH Clinical Center on clinical studies or research projects. Academic institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and healthcare facilities may apply. Federal and state government agencies are also eligible. International organizations may apply if they meet specific criteria. Projects must involve direct clinical research or patient care conducted at or through the NIH Clinical Center facilities.
Applicants must have the ability to conduct clinical research and access to patient populations or research infrastructure. Teams should include both clinical and research expertise. The grant supports collaborative projects that leverage the Clinical Center's unique resources and patient base.
Activities supported include clinical trials, observational studies, translational research, and other clinical investigations. Projects must align with NIH research priorities. All research must comply with ethical standards and institutional review requirements.
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Program description
The goal of this program is to support collaborative translational research projects aligned with NIH efforts to enhance the translation of basic biological discoveries into clinical applications that improve health. It encourages high quality science demonstrating the potential to result in understanding an important disease process or lead to new therapeutic interventions, diagnostics, or prevention strategies within the research interests and priorities of the participating NIH Institutes/Centers (ICs).Specifically, the program seeks to broaden and strengthen translational research collaborations between basic and clinical researchers both within and outside NIH to accelerate and enhance translational science by promoting partnerships between NIH intramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research within the labs and clinics of the NIH) and extramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research in labs outside the NIH), and by providing support for extramural investigators to take advantage of the unique research opportunities available at the NIH Clinical Center by conducting clinical research projects in collaboration with NIH intramural investigators.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative
- Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
- Clinical Protocol
- Letters of Institutional Support
- IRB/Ethics Approval documents
- NIH Biosketch for Key Personnel
- Data Safety Monitoring Plan
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 ClinicalCtrPartner@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.313 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$5,096,612
-
$2,994,561
-
$2,736,581
-
$2,735,186
-
$2,417,324
-
$1,332,345
-
$1,108,110
Top States by Funding
- TX 1 awards $5.1M
- GA 1 awards $3.0M
- NC 1 awards $2.7M
- MD 1 awards $2.7M
- MI 1 awards $2.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.313). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $48,892,335 | |
| 2025 | $54,230,732 | |
| 2026 est. | $52,202,393 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Academic medical centers, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and some government agencies can apply. Your institution must have research capabilities and ability to partner with the NIH Clinical Center.
What is the deadline?
The application opens December 8, 2025, with a deadline of March 6, 2027. This is a fixed deadline, so submissions must arrive by that date.
What types of projects are funded?
Clinical trials, observational studies, translational research, and patient-focused studies at the NIH Clinical Center are supported. Projects must involve direct clinical activity or access to the Clinical Center's patient population.
How competitive is this grant?
This is a highly competitive federal grant program. Strong preliminary data, clear clinical significance, and strong institutional partnerships are essential for success.
What is the typical funding range?
Awards vary widely depending on project scope and duration. Multi-year funding is typical for clinical research projects.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish a strong collaborative relationship with your NIH Clinical Center partner before applying. Coordination is essential for success.
- Clearly demonstrate how your project leverages the Clinical Center's unique patient population or facilities. Generic clinical research won't be competitive.
- Include detailed protocols that show compliance with ethical review and safety monitoring standards. Clinical research requires rigorous oversight.
- Provide strong preliminary data showing feasibility. The review panel will expect evidence the research can be executed.
- Build a team with both clinical expertise and research experience. Interdisciplinary collaboration strengthens applications.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often fail to establish genuine partnership with Clinical Center staff before submission. Treating the Clinical Center as a secondary resource rather than core to the research design weakens applications. Weak preliminary data and unclear clinical significance are frequent rejection reasons.
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