Gabriella Miller Kids First Training and Outreach Core (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions, medical centers, universities, and nonprofits that support pediatric cancer research and the advancement of children's health. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, academic institutions, hospitals, or research centers eligible to receive federal research funding. The program funds training and outreach cores that enhance research capacity, disseminate knowledge, and build workforce in pediatric oncology and related fields. Geographic scope is nationwide. This U24 mechanism specifically supports research infrastructure and coordination activities, but excludes clinical trials as primary research activities. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to advancing pediatric health outcomes, improving research training, and creating educational outreach that benefits the broader research community.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Key dates
- May 14, 2025 Applications open
- Oct 30, 2025 Application deadline
- Jul 30, 2026 Award announced
- Jul 30, 2026 Project start
Program description
The NIH Common Fund, with other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First), which seeks to help researchers uncover new insights into the biology of childhood cancer and congenital anomalies, including the discovery of shared genetic pathways between these disorders, to understand the underlying mechanisms of disease and ultimately lead to more targeted therapies and interventions for patients and families. The program’s Training and Outreach Core initiative will fund continued engagement of the research and patient communities expertise in activities that will improve the value of Kids First data. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the UL1 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into training and researcher and patient community engagement are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Hospital
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 R&R Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (typically 12-15 pages describing aims, methods, and impact)
- Budget and Budget Justification (including detailed personnel, equipment, travel, and other direct costs)
- Biographical Sketches (NIH format for key personnel)
- Institutional Support Letter(s) confirming resources and commitment
- Letters of Collaboration from partner institutions
- Research Strategy or Core Operations Plan
- NIH Fillable Forms (PHS 398 or electronic submission via eRA Commons)
- Facilities and Administrative Costs documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Concepcion R. Nierras, Ph.D. Office of Strategic Coordination (OSC), DPCPSI, OD
- 📧 concepcion.nierras@nih.gov
- 📞 301-435-5840
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.310 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$973,507,476
-
$383,462,829
-
$190,396,050
-
$179,737,926
-
$169,422,678
-
$167,922,818
-
$147,947,250
-
$143,679,156
-
$115,739,255
-
$91,722,927
Top States by Funding
- CA 3 awards $1,196.2M
- NC 4 awards $446.1M
- WA 1 awards $383.5M
- MD 2 awards $317.4M
- NY 4 awards $261.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.310). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,174,839,078 | |
| 2025 | $1,062,277,534 | |
| 2026 est. | $28,100,048 |
FAQ
What types of organizations can apply for this grant?
501(c)(3) nonprofits, universities, medical schools, academic medical centers, hospitals, and other NIH-eligible research institutions can apply. Your organization must have institutional capacity to conduct federally-funded research.
Can we use these funds for clinical trials?
No. This is explicitly a U24 for training and outreach cores. Clinical trials are not allowed as primary research activities. The focus must be on building research infrastructure, capacity, and workforce development.
What activities does this funding support?
Typical activities include training programs for researchers and clinicians, curriculum development, mentorship initiatives, national workshops, dissemination of research findings, and programs that build capacity in pediatric cancer research and related pediatric health fields.
How competitive is this grant?
U24 grants are moderately to highly competitive. Success depends on demonstrated track record in research training, established partnerships, strong institutional support, and clear plans to advance the research community. NIH funding rates vary but are typically 20-35% for research grants.
What is the typical funding range?
U24 awards typically range from $300,000 to $1.5 million annually over a 5-year project period, though amounts vary by application scope and review scores. Applicants should check the specific funding opportunity announcement for detailed budget guidelines.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize institutional commitment: Include strong letters of support from your organization's leadership and collaborating institutions showing dedicated resources, space, and personnel for the core.
- Demonstrate research community impact: Show how your training and outreach will enhance the broader research landscape. Provide evidence of past success in training researchers, developing educational materials, or building research networks.
- Build partnerships strategically: Include letters of collaboration from other research centers, patient advocacy organizations, and national networks. U24 cores succeed through connectivity and collaboration.
- Focus on sustainability: Detail how the core will be sustained beyond the grant period through institutional funding, fee-for-service models, or diversified revenue. Reviewers want assurance this isn't a temporary initiative.
- Use strong preliminary data: If applicable, include evidence of successful training programs, participant outcomes, publication records, or network growth that demonstrates your team's capacity to deliver.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they propose clinical trials or direct patient care as the primary activity—this mechanism is for infrastructure and training only. Another common pitfall is insufficient detail on how the core will sustain itself financially and operationally after the grant period ends. Finally, applicants sometimes underestimate the importance of demonstrating broad research community impact and partnerships; reviewers want evidence that the core will benefit scientists and trainees beyond a single institution.
Similar grants
- CLOSED Continued Development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource Center (U2C Clinical Trials Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- CLOSED Genome Sequencing Center for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Discovery of the Genetic Basis of Childhood Cancers and of Congenital Anomalies: Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- CLOSED NIH Research Program Projects (Parent P01 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Leveraging Network Infrastructure to Conduct Innovative Research for Women, Children, Pregnant and Lactating Women, and Persons with Disabilities (UG3/UH3 – Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health