Modern Equipment for Shared-use Biomedical Research Facilities: Advancing Research-Related Operations (S15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions and organizations that operate shared-use biomedical research facilities and need to acquire or upgrade research equipment. Eligible applicants typically include NIH-funded research institutions, academic medical centers, research universities, nonprofit research organizations, and certain government research facilities with established shared-use core facilities. The grant supports equipment that advances research operations and infrastructure at facilities serving multiple independent research projects. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment to the shared-use model, show strong research activity, and provide evidence of institutional financial support. Geographic scope is nationwide, and the grant prioritizes equipment that enhances research capability and operational efficiency for the broader research community.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
This grant is for institutions and organizations that operate shared-use biomedical research facilities and need to acquire or upgrade research equipment. Eligible applicants typically include NIH-funded research institutions, academic medical centers, research universities, nonprofit research organizations, and certain government research facilities with established shared-use core facilities. The grant supports equipment that advances research operations and infrastructure at facilities serving multiple independent research projects. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment to the shared-use model, show strong research activity, and provide evidence of institutional financial support. Geographic scope is nationwide, and the grant prioritizes equipment that enhances research capability and operational efficiency for the broader research community.
Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites eligible academic or research institutions to apply for funding support to purchase latest scientific equipment that will enhance and modernize research-supporting operations of existing shared biomedical research facilities. Targeted are laboratory research core facilities, animal research facilities, and other similar shared-use research spaces. The goal of this NOFO is to strengthen research-auxiliary activities of biomedical research facilities and to enhance the efficiency of their operations.
The NOFO does not support the purchase of scientific research instruments or their components, nor components of building-level infrastructure equipment that indirectly support research activities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- HBCU
- HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution)
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for institutions and organizations that operate shared-use biomedical research facilities and need to acquire or upgrade research equipment. Eligible applicants typically include NIH-funded research institutions, academic medical centers, research universities, nonprofit research organizations, and certain government research facilities with established shared-use core facilities. The grant supports equipment that advances research operations and infrastructure at facilities serving multiple independent research projects. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment to the shared-use model, show strong research activity, and provide evidence of institutional financial support. Geographic scope is nationwide, and the grant prioritizes equipment that enhances research capability and operational efficiency for the broader research community.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIH Form SF-424 (R&R) and associated forms (budget, budget justification, biographical sketches)
- Project narrative describing shared-use facility, current equipment, research utilization, and proposed upgrades
- Budget narrative and detailed equipment cost justification
- Letters of institutional support and facility commitment
- Documentation of facility utilization (user numbers, research areas supported, publication/research outcomes)
- Equipment specifications and vendor quotes or cost estimates
- Facility management plan and maintenance strategy
- Curriculum vitae of facility director and key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.351 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$189,307,929
-
$188,853,963
-
$179,413,083
-
$156,271,917
-
$140,230,629
-
$132,964,607
-
$122,234,337
-
$37,946,246
-
$37,475,785
-
$33,218,050
Top States by Funding
- OR 7 awards $270.5M
- CA 8 awards $254.8M
- TX 10 awards $224.3M
- WA 2 awards $219.0M
- LA 5 awards $184.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.351). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $279,889,905 | |
| 2025 | $284,089,258 | |
| 2026 est. | $283,084,958 |
FAQ
What types of equipment are eligible for funding?
Equipment supporting biomedical research operations at shared-use facilities, including analytical instruments, imaging systems, bioinformatics infrastructure, and specialized research tools. Clinical trial equipment is not supported under this mechanism.
Who can submit an application?
Domestic nonprofit institutions with established NIH-funded research activities and operational shared-use facilities. This includes universities, academic medical centers, and nonprofit research organizations with demonstrated multi-user research infrastructure.
What is the typical funding range?
S15 grants typically range from $500,000 to $3 million, though actual amounts vary. Applicants should review the specific funding opportunity announcement for current limits and budget guidance.
How competitive is this grant?
This is a moderately competitive federal grant. Success requires strong institutional research infrastructure, documented facility utilization by multiple research groups, and clear alignment with institutional research priorities.
When are applications due?
The next deadline is September 25, 2026. Applications must be submitted through grants.nih.gov by the posted deadline. Check the funding opportunity announcement for any upcoming cycles.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly document your shared-use facility's current utilization, users, and research impact. Include data on how many research groups depend on the equipment and what research outcomes result.
- Align equipment requests with your institution's strategic research priorities and demonstrate how the facility supports diverse research programs across departments or disciplines.
- Build a strong institutional commitment narrative, including letters of support from research leadership, evidence of cost-sharing or institutional investment, and long-term facility management plans.
- Focus your application on how equipment upgrades will advance research operations and remove bottlenecks, rather than simply requesting the newest technology.
- Budget carefully and realistically. Include installation, training, service agreements, and personnel time. NIH reviewers scrutinize whether facilities have adequate operational capacity to maintain and maximize equipment use.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when institutions cannot demonstrate genuine multi-user demand for equipment or show limited research activity. Weak applications also lack institutional commitment—missing cost-sharing, inadequate management plans, or insufficient letters of support. Applicants sometimes request equipment misaligned with their actual research portfolio or fail to clearly explain how the equipment removes specific research barriers and advances operations at the facility.
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