Multi-Purpose Resource-Related, Multi-Component Research Services Centers Cooperative Agreement (U2C – Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 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 institutions and universities seeking to establish specialized resource and service centers. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, universities, or research institutions capable of providing multi-component research services. The center must offer highly specialized cores with nationally recognized expertise in areas like metabolic phenotyping, nutrition, data coordination, or community engagement. Services are primarily directed to external clients at other institutions who lack access to these specialized resources. Projects should align with NIDDK's mission, focusing on obesity, diabetes, integrative physiology, and related metabolic conditions.
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Key dates
- Jul 1, 2026 Applications open
- Jan 28, 2027 Application deadline in 196 days
- Nov 1, 2027 Award announced
- Dec 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcement invites applications for NIDDK Multi-Purpose Resource-Related Research, Multi-Component Centers Cooperative Agreement (U2C – Clinical Trial Not Allowed). To help increase rigor, reproducibility and cost efficiencies, U2C centers offer highly specialized cores that provide a range of topic focused services including but not limited to hands-on technical services, consulting, research/data coordination, or other research support services provided by nationally recognized experts. In contrast to other types of Core Centers, the U2C services should be largely provided to clients located at another institution where the needed service or expertise is not available. Provided services enable high impact research within NIDDK’s research mission including but not limited to integrative physiology, metabolic phenotyping, nutrition, community engagement, communications, and/or data and research coordination. The disease focus should similarly be within NIDDK’s mission, such as obesity and diabetes. The clients for these services can be a consortia, research partners or individual investigators and should offer experiential training in at least one of the provided services. Applications to this NOFO can propose optional opportunities and/or a pilot and feasibility grant program depending on the needs of the program.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative and Specific Aims
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Institutional Biosketches (key personnel)
- Organizational Capacity and Experience
- Letters of Support (from anticipated clients/partners)
- Research Plan (cores, services, training, sustainability)
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases
- 📧 NIDDK_DEM@nih.gov
- 📞 NIDDK_DEM@nih.gov
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.847 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$438,527,853
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$200,221,259
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$152,979,352
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$112,529,392
-
$66,521,567
-
$45,186,589
-
$39,699,167
-
$37,490,770
-
$34,242,949
-
$31,624,784
Top States by Funding
- WA 3 awards $492.3M
- NC 4 awards $291.6M
- FL 2 awards $184.1M
- MA 6 awards $168.4M
- PA 6 awards $168.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.847). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,971,472,000 | |
| 2025 | $2,043,166,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $111,289,000 |
FAQ
What types of institutions can apply?
Academic research institutions, universities, and 501(c)(3) research organizations eligible for NIH funding. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to provide specialized services to external researchers.
What does the center need to provide?
Multi-component cores offering specialized services like technical support, consulting, metabolic phenotyping, data coordination, or research support. Services should target clients at other institutions lacking this expertise.
Is a letter of intent required?
Check the full NOFO for LOI requirements. Many NIH cooperative agreements require preliminary submissions before full applications.
How long is the project period?
Typical NIDDK U2C centers operate on 5-year project periods with possible renewal. Check the NOFO for specific duration terms.
What's the funding level for this program?
The total pool is $9 million. Individual award amounts vary by scope and approach. Budget narrative and detailed justification are typically required.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize national recognition and expertise in your specialized cores. Reviewers want established, not emerging, technical capabilities.
- Clearly define your client base and demonstrate unmet service needs they cannot access elsewhere. External use is critical.
- Include concrete training plans. U2C centers must offer experiential learning in at least one service area.
- Propose a sustainable service delivery model with clear workflows and quality metrics for external clients.
- Align your disease focus and research areas explicitly with NIDDK priorities: obesity, diabetes, integrative physiology, and metabolic phenotyping.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing a center that primarily serves internal institutional researchers rather than external clients. NIH emphasizes services for investigators who lack access to needed expertise elsewhere. Failing to demonstrate national-level expertise and recognition. Centers must provide unique, specialized capabilities that justify external client investment. Vague descriptions of core services or training components. Reviewers need specific, measurable descriptions of what services clients receive and how training is delivered.
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