Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for tribal institutions and Native American organizations engaged in health research. Tribal colleges, tribal universities, and tribal research centers can apply. Applicants must be based in the United States and serve Native American communities. The grant supports research activities that address health disparities in Native American populations.
Organizations must have the capacity to conduct health research and partner with tribal nations or communities. Eligible recipients include tribal nations, tribal enterprises, and tribally-affiliated academic institutions. The program prioritizes research that builds research infrastructure and workforce in Indian country.
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Key dates
- Feb 10, 2026 Applications open
- Jul 8, 2027 Application deadline in 357 days
- Apr 1, 2028 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
The Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program funds federally-recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes and Tribal colleges or universities, Tribal health programs, or Tribal organizations (collectively, federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal Entities) to support health-related research, research career enhancement, and research infrastructure enhancement activities.
This is a Forecast for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Eligibility Section for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (research aims and community partnerships)
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Tribal approval documentation
- Letters of support from tribal partners
- Curriculum vitae for key personnel
- DUNS number and SAM.gov registration
Program contact
- 👤 NARCH Program
- 📧 nigms_narch_program@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.859 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$59,464,779
-
$57,271,194
-
$56,019,458
-
$54,912,096
-
$53,329,877
-
$52,858,544
-
$52,347,059
-
$52,026,661
-
$50,897,104
-
$49,349,731
Top States by Funding
- ME 4 awards $143.3M
- MS 4 awards $135.1M
- NY 5 awards $131.6M
- CA 5 awards $129.3M
- RI 4 awards $126.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.859). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $3,085,929,426 | |
| 2025 | $3,092,472,727 | |
| 2026 est. | $3,093,422,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for NARCH funding?
Tribal colleges, tribal universities, tribal organizations, and Native American-serving institutions can apply. Applicants must have research capacity and tribal community partnerships.
What types of research does NARCH support?
The program funds health research addressing Native American health disparities. It supports infrastructure development and capacity-building for tribal research centers.
Are there geographic restrictions?
Applicants must serve Native American communities and be U.S.-based. Priority is given to research benefiting specific tribal nations or regions.
How competitive is this funding?
Competition is moderate to high. Reviewers prioritize community engagement, research quality, and sustainability plans.
What is the typical funding range?
Grants typically range from $200,000 to $500,000 annually. Award amounts vary based on project scope and institutional capacity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize partnerships with tribal nations and community advisory boards. Strong tribal engagement is essential for funding.
- Demonstrate how your research directly addresses Native American health disparities. Connect to specific health priorities in target communities.
- Build in capacity-building and workforce development goals. Funders want long-term institutional strengthening, not just one-time projects.
- Include a sustainability plan showing how the research center will continue beyond grant funding. Explain funding diversification strategies.
- Highlight your institution's cultural competence and commitment to respectful, community-driven research practices.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when tribal partnerships are mentioned but not meaningfully integrated. Community advisory boards should guide research direction, not just rubber-stamp decisions. Many proposals focus only on research outputs and neglect the capacity-building mission. Sustainability plans are vague or unrealistic. Budget narratives don't clearly link costs to building tribal research infrastructure.
Similar grants
- OPEN Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
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- OPEN Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- CLOSED Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health