Collaborative International Research Project (Parent PF5 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 U.S.-based organizations conducting research with international partners. Only domestic (U.S.) entities can serve as the prime applicant. Foreign organizations cannot apply directly, but must partner with a U.S. prime awardee.
At least one international subproject is required. The proposed research must align with the scientific mission of one or more NIH Institutes, Centers, or Offices. International collaborations must provide access to unique talent, resources, populations, or conditions unavailable in the U.S.
Foreign consultants alone do not qualify as an international component. Equipment purchases or collaborations without NIH funding to foreign partners are not eligible. The structure supports linked prime domestic awards paired with independent foreign subawards for NIH oversight.
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Program description
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks to advance its mission by maintaining strong, productive, and secure international research collaborations in support of the NIH mission. The NIH Collaborative International Research Project (Parent Announcement) supports international research collaborations. This opportunity specifically implements an award structure of prime domestic awards with independent foreign awards that are linked to the prime. This structure provides NIH with oversight capacity for international collaborations, and allows NIH to track international funding, as identified in NOT-OD-25-104. This funding opportunity is specifically designed for NIH to support funded international collaborations between a domestic prime organization and foreign organizations. This NOFO should not be used for foreign consultants, purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors, foreign collaborations that do not involve NIH funding or any other foreign component that would not result in a foreign subaward. All collaborative international research project applications must include at least 1 international subproject. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICOs) based on their scientific missions. The application will be evaluated as a whole, and the international subproject(s) will be evaluated on whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily available in the United States or that augment existing United States resources, and whether the proposed project has specific relevance to the mission and objectives of the ICO and has the potential for significantly advancing the health sciences in the United States.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- NIH Biographical Sketch (all senior/key personnel)
- Resources and Environment
- Letters of Support from international collaborators
- Facilities and Resources documentation
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 operasystemspolicy@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.310 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$973,507,476
-
$383,462,829
-
$190,396,050
-
$179,737,926
-
$169,422,678
-
$167,922,818
-
$147,947,250
-
$143,679,156
-
$115,739,255
-
$91,722,927
Top States by Funding
- CA 3 awards $1,196.2M
- NC 4 awards $446.1M
- WA 1 awards $383.5M
- MD 2 awards $317.4M
- NY 4 awards $261.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.310). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,174,839,078 | |
| 2025 | $1,062,277,534 | |
| 2026 est. | $28,100,048 |
FAQ
Who can be the prime applicant?
Only U.S. domestic organizations. Foreign organizations cannot apply as the prime applicant or co-applicant.
Can my international collaborators apply directly?
No. International partners must be included as subawardees under a U.S. prime applicant.
What counts as an eligible international component?
Research activities conducted by foreign institutions funded through NIH subawards. Hiring foreign consultants or buying equipment from foreign vendors does not qualify.
How many international partners do I need?
At least one international subproject is required. You may include multiple international partners.
Does my research need to relate to specific NIH institutes?
Yes. Your project must align with the scientific mission of at least one NIH Institute, Center, or Office.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Identify which NIH IC(s) align with your research before drafting the proposal. This alignment is essential for evaluation.
- Clearly describe how your international partners provide access to unique resources, populations, or conditions not available in the U.S.
- Structure your budget with a clear prime domestic award and linked independent foreign subawards. This demonstrates NIH's oversight capacity.
- Partner with established foreign institutions. NIH values collaborations with researchers who have track records and institutional support.
- Document how the international component substantially advances your research goals. Consultant roles or equipment purchases alone are insufficient.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying as a foreign organization or with only foreign entities as leaders. Proposing international elements that lack NIH funding or foreign subawards. Including foreign consultants or equipment purchases as the only international component without substantive research collaboration.
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