Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Planning Grants (R34 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research planning and capacity-building activities focused on Native American health. Applicants must be research institutions or tribal organizations with demonstrated commitment to Native American health research. Non-clinical trial research planning, community engagement, and institutional infrastructure development are supported. Geographic scope includes all 50 states and U.S. territories. Successful applications typically involve tribal partnerships or Native-led research initiatives.
Eligible recipients include 501(c)(3) organizations, universities, tribal colleges, and tribal nations. Individual researchers must be affiliated with eligible institutions. The grant prioritizes applicants serving Native American communities and tribes.
Clinical trials are not permitted under this mechanism. Planning grants support preliminary research design, feasibility studies, and team-building activities. Budget requests are typically modest, reflecting the planning phase focus.
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Program description
The purpose of the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Planning Grants program is to support federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes, Tribal colleges and universities, Tribal health programs, or Tribal organizations (collectively, eligible AI/AN Tribal entities) to plan and conduct preparatory work for developing competitive NARCH applications.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (Research Plan)
- Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (Key Personnel)
- Letters of Support (Tribal Partners)
- Facilities & Resources
- Protection of Human Subjects (CITI Training Certificates)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
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
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$57,271,194
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$56,019,458
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$54,912,096
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$53,329,877
-
$52,858,544
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$52,347,059
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$52,026,661
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$50,897,104
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$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 Planning Grants?
Research institutions, tribal organizations, universities, and tribal colleges can apply. Individual researchers must have institutional affiliation. Applicants should demonstrate commitment to Native American health research.
What types of research are supported?
Planning grants support preliminary research design, feasibility assessment, and capacity-building. Clinical trials are not allowed. Community engagement and partnerships with tribes are expected.
What is the typical funding range?
Planning grants (R34) typically provide modest funding. Budget amounts vary, but reflect the pre-research planning phase. Check specific funding announcements for current caps.
How competitive is this grant?
NIH R34 planning grants are moderately competitive. Strong tribal partnerships and evidence of community need increase competitiveness. Preliminary data and feasibility rationale strengthen applications.
What is the application deadline?
The fixed deadline is July 7, 2028. Applications open August 26, 2025. Plan to submit well before the deadline to avoid technical issues.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish a strong tribal partnership or advisory board before writing. Community buy-in is critical for NIH Native American health research.
- Focus on preliminary research design and feasibility, not fully developed protocols. Planning grants fund groundwork, not full implementation.
- Include letters of support from tribal leadership and research partners. These demonstrate genuine community collaboration.
- Clearly explain how your planning work addresses specific health disparities in Native American communities. Connect to broader health equity goals.
- Use plain language in your public summary. Avoid jargon and make your research accessible to community members and tribal stakeholders.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when tribal engagement is superficial or missing entirely. NIH expects meaningful, ongoing partnership with Native communities. Proposals proposing clinical trials are ineligible and automatically rejected. R34 grants require preliminary work focus, not full research protocols or extensive data collection.
Similar grants
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- CLOSED Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
- OPEN Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health — National Institutes of Health