Center Core Grant for Vision Research (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions that want to establish or maintain an eye and vision research center. Eligible applicants include universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions with 501(c)(3) status or equivalent. The grant supports core facilities, shared resources, and administrative functions that serve multiple vision research projects. Organizations must demonstrate institutional commitment and host a substantial vision research program.
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Key dates
- Mar 9, 2026 Applications open
- Sep 25, 2026 Application deadline in 70 days
- Feb 1, 2027 Award announced
- Feb 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
The goal of these institutional Center Core Grants is to build research infrastructure within an institution for the purpose of providing technical support to groups of NEI R01-funded investigators. The NEI Center Core Grant combines three or more Resource and/or Service Cores for a group of R01 investigators to enhance their research, consolidate resources, avoid duplication of efforts, and/or contribute to cost effectiveness by providing a service with lower costs or higher quality than could be attempted for independent projects by several individual Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)). Shared resources and facilities that are accessible to a group of independently funded investigators lead to greater productivity for the separate projects and can provide instrumentation and facilities that are too costly to be maintained by an individual investigator. The design and purpose of each Center Core may vary in how it serves its users. This program is designed to enhance an institution’s environment and capability to conduct vision research and to facilitate collaborative studies of the visual system and its disorders and promote new research within the NEI mission and Strategic Plan. Grants are required to have an administrative core and three or more resource and/or service cores. Any researcher at the institute can use the core facilities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) - Federal application form
- Project Narrative (Research Plan)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional Support Letter
- Letters of Support from Research Users
- Biosketches of Key Personnel
- Description of Facilities and Resources
- Organizational Chart and Management Plan
Program contact
- 👤 NEI Extramural Programs
- 📧 NEI_extramural@nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.867 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$73,768,606
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$61,555,044
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$35,249,682
-
$27,603,179
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$27,051,746
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$22,003,615
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$20,411,581
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$19,986,536
-
$18,098,351
-
$16,012,672
Top States by Funding
- MA 13 awards $157.7M
- FL 4 awards $153.5M
- CA 11 awards $121.1M
- PA 8 awards $114.0M
- NY 10 awards $109.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.867). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $696,472,579 | |
| 2025 | $702,696,370 | |
| 2026 est. | $863,753 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Research institutions, universities, and academic medical centers with established vision research programs. Most successful applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations or government institutions.
What activities does this grant support?
Core facilities, shared equipment, administrative infrastructure, and support services that benefit multiple research projects within your institution.
Do I need preliminary data?
Yes. You should have existing vision research programs and pilot data demonstrating the value of your proposed core facilities.
How competitive is this funding?
Very competitive. Strong applicants demonstrate significant institutional investment, experienced leadership, and active research portfolios.
What is the typical funding range?
P30 grants typically range from $500,000 to over $2 million annually, depending on center scope and research portfolio.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with a research needs assessment showing demand for your proposed core facilities from your institution's vision researchers.
- Provide detailed letters of support from faculty who will use your center's resources and services.
- Demonstrate institutional commitment through matching funds or in-kind contributions of space and equipment.
- Develop a clear governance structure and sustainability plan that extends beyond the grant period.
- Build your application around data showing how shared resources will accelerate research productivity and collaboration.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak institutional commitment or insufficient evidence that the center addresses real research needs. Proposing cores without adequate preliminary data or research demand from your institution. Failing to demonstrate experienced leadership or sufficient dedicated staffing for core operations.
Similar grants
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- OPEN NEI Clinical Research Study Planning Grant Program (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN KUH P30 Resource Core Center (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NEI Research Grant for Vision-Related Secondary Data Analysis (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- CLOSED NIAMS P30 Centers Program (P30 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health