Limited Competition: Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program: Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions developing innovative clinical and translational science projects. Eligible applicants include academic medical centers, research universities, and clinical research organizations that are CTSA consortium members or affiliated institutions. Projects must advance patient-centered outcomes research or clinical trial methodologies. Institutions must demonstrate commitment to infrastructure support and have qualified personnel in clinical research, biostatistics, and translational science. Geographic scope is U.S.-based institutions. Collaborative partnerships between institutions are encouraged and may strengthen competitiveness.
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Program description
The CTSA Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award (CCIA) aims to accelerate the pace of translational research by supporting the collaborative development, dissemination, and sustainable implementation of innovative solutions across the CTSA Program Consortium and beyond.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites investigator-initiated applications to develop, demonstrate, and disseminate innovative new approaches, technologies, resources, or models that increase the impact of research across diseases, transform the field of translational science, and bring more treatments for all people more quickly.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative (Research Strategy)
- Biographical Sketches (NIH format)
- Budget Justification
- Institutional Commitment Letters
- Vertebrate Animals or Human Subjects Assurances (if applicable)
- Letters of Support from Collaborators
- Facilities and Equipment Description
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.846 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$63,962,483
-
$60,038,896
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$34,166,872
-
$28,848,731
-
$24,598,295
-
$21,654,386
-
$21,510,846
-
$20,225,012
-
$17,794,329
-
$16,915,106
Top States by Funding
- MA 17 awards $143.1M
- CA 14 awards $133.2M
- NC 5 awards $127.9M
- NY 14 awards $127.4M
- PA 11 awards $104.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.846). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2018 | $476,478,975 | |
| 2019 | $490,084,446 | |
| 2020 | $505,547,334 | |
| 2021 | $509,241,630 | |
| 2022 | $499,786,367 | |
| 2023 | $548,439,000 | |
| 2024 est. | $545,593,000 | |
| 2025 est. | $541,712,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this CTSA grant?
Research institutions with clinical research infrastructure and CTSA consortium affiliation or partnership are eligible. Academic medical centers and clinical research organizations typically qualify if they meet NIH requirements.
What is the deadline and application timeline?
The deadline is October 19, 2027, with applications opening December 11, 2024. Plan 6-12 months for preparation and submission.
What types of projects are funded?
UG3/UH3 awards support innovative clinical and translational research projects with optional clinical trial components. Projects should advance clinical research methods or patient outcomes.
How competitive is this funding?
CTSA awards are highly competitive. Strong preliminary data, clear innovation, and demonstrated institutional support significantly improve chances. Budget commitment to research infrastructure matters.
What is the typical funding range?
Phase I (UG3) and Phase II (UH3) awards vary, typically ranging from $200,000-$500,000+ annually depending on project scope and clinical trial requirements.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize the innovation and translational impact of your project clearly in the aims and significance sections.
- Provide strong preliminary data demonstrating feasibility and proof-of-concept before submission.
- Highlight institutional commitment through letters of support from department leadership and research deans.
- Plan realistic timelines for the UG3 phase and articulate clear go/no-go criteria for UH3 advancement.
- Align your project with CTSA consortium priorities and demonstrate how collaboration strengthens the work.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak preliminary data or insufficient proof-of-concept weakens competitiveness significantly. Lack of clear innovation relative to existing clinical research diminishes review scores. Unclear institutional commitment or inadequate research infrastructure support typically results in unfavorable evaluations.
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