National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NCBIB) (P41 Clinical Trials Optional)
Can you apply?
This grant is for established research institutions and academic medical centers seeking to develop and operate National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Eligible applicants include universities, medical schools, academic health centers, and nonprofit research institutions with demonstrated capacity in biomedical research infrastructure. The program supports multi-disciplinary research centers conducting innovative work at the intersection of engineering, imaging technologies, and biomedical sciences. The grant emphasizes collaborative research environments, training of next-generation scientists, and development of shared resources that advance the field. Geographic scope is nationwide. Activities funded include research, technology development, training programs, and provision of imaging/bioengineering core facilities and services to the broader research community.
This grant is for established research institutions and academic medical centers seeking to develop and operate National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Eligible applicants include universities, medical schools, academic health centers, and nonprofit research institutions with demonstrated capacity in biomedical research infrastructure. The program supports multi-disciplinary research centers conducting innovative work at the intersection of engineering, imaging technologies, and biomedical sciences. The grant emphasizes collaborative research environments, training of next-generation scientists, and development of shared resources that advance the field. Geographic scope is nationwide. Activities funded include research, technology development, training programs, and provision of imaging/bioengineering core facilities and services to the broader research community.
Program description
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages grant applications for Biomedical Technology Resource Centers (BTRCs). BTRCs are national resource centers for conducting research and development on new technologies that are driven by the needs of basic, translational, and/or clinical researchers. BTRCs also make their technologies available to other investigators, train members of the research community in the use of the technologies, and disseminate the technologies broadly.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- 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 established research institutions and academic medical centers seeking to develop and operate National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Eligible applicants include universities, medical schools, academic health centers, and nonprofit research institutions with demonstrated capacity in biomedical research infrastructure. The program supports multi-disciplinary research centers conducting innovative work at the intersection of engineering, imaging technologies, and biomedical sciences. The grant emphasizes collaborative research environments, training of next-generation scientists, and development of shared resources that advance the field. Geographic scope is nationwide. Activities funded include research, technology development, training programs, and provision of imaging/bioengineering core facilities and services to the broader research community.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Cover Sheet
- Project Narrative (specific aims, research strategy, and center organization)
- Center organizational structure and management plan
- Core facility descriptions with preliminary data and resource plans
- Letters of institutional commitment and support
- Biographical sketches (NIH format) of center director and core leaders
- Budget and budget narrative for 5-year project period
- Resources section (facilities, equipment, administrative infrastructure)
- Training and career development plan
- Data management and sharing plan
- Letters of support from potential center users/stakeholders
- Appendix materials as permitted (preliminary data figures, letters)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.286 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$92,619,798
-
$52,089,479
-
$49,303,120
-
$30,836,373
-
$21,139,516
-
$20,828,185
-
$18,841,297
-
$18,715,734
-
$18,062,337
-
$16,804,966
Top States by Funding
- MA 16 awards $154.3M
- CA 16 awards $148.0M
- GA 2 awards $102.0M
- MD 7 awards $77.2M
- NY 5 awards $53.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.286). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $372,638,570 | |
| 2025 | $375,813,652 | |
| 2026 est. | $14,223,045 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for NCBIB P41 funding?
Research institutions, universities, medical schools, and academic health centers with strong biomedical research programs and the capacity to operate a multidisciplinary center are eligible. The applicant organization must be able to establish governance structures, manage shared resources, and support a collaborative research environment.
What is the typical timeline for P41 awards?
P41 center grants typically provide 5 years of funding with the possibility of competing renewal. Planning should begin well in advance of the deadline, as application preparation is complex and requires extensive institutional commitment and multi-investigator coordination.
What types of research activities does this funding support?
NCBIB supports biomedical imaging and bioengineering research conducted within a center framework, including development of novel technologies, shared core facilities, training programs, and collaborative research projects that leverage center resources and expertise across disciplines.
How competitive is this funding mechanism?
P41 center grants are highly competitive. Success requires demonstrated institutional support, a strong scientific vision, experienced leadership, well-developed shared resource cores, and evidence of a vibrant research community that will use the center's resources.
What is the typical funding level for NCBIB centers?
P41 awards vary depending on the scope and number of cores, but typically provide substantial multi-year funding to support infrastructure, personnel, equipment, and operations. Budget flexibility exists for research centers, but funds must support center operations and shared resources rather than primarily individual investigator salaries.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build your application around institutional strength: demonstrate your organization's existing research infrastructure, track record of successful collaborative research, and commitment to interdisciplinary science at the intersection of imaging and bioengineering.
- Develop compelling research cores: identify 3-5 well-defined, complementary cores with experienced leadership, clear operational plans, and documented demand from your research community. Each core should address a distinct capability gap.
- Emphasize training and career development: P41 centers are expected to train postdocs, graduate students, and early-career researchers. Include specific training programs, mentorship structures, and outcomes metrics showing how your center develops future leaders in biomedical imaging and bioengineering.
- Secure robust institutional support: obtain letters and commitments from senior leadership documenting financial support, space, administrative infrastructure, and strategic commitment to the center's mission. This is critical for demonstrating sustainability.
- Start planning early: P41 applications require extensive preliminary data, organizational development, stakeholder engagement, and administrative preparation. Begin coordination with your institution's grants office and potential center leadership at least 12-18 months before the deadline.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail due to insufficient preliminary data demonstrating the scientific merit of proposed research cores or lack of clarity about how the center will operate as an integrated unit rather than a collection of independent labs. Another common weakness is inadequate evidence of institutional commitment—including insufficient space, administrative support, or financial backing—which raises concerns about center sustainability. Finally, many applicants underestimate the complexity of articulating a compelling overall scientific vision that justifies the multi-core center model and explains why individual grants would be insufficient.
Similar grants
- OPEN 27-0343-10 FFY27 Local Agency General Non-Enforcement — Illinois Department of Transportation
- ROLLING Annual Agency Threshold Application Applicants for Funding Start Here — Texas City of Austin - Austin Public Health
- CLOSED Virginia’s Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Grant – FY26 — Virginia The Virginia Department of Historic Resources
- ROLLING RTAP Grant Program (Rolling) — Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
- ROLLING Rail Industrial Access Grant (RIA) — Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation