Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) (P30 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 academic medical centers, research universities, and research institutions conducting multidisciplinary obesity and nutrition research. Eligible applicants typically include 501(c)(3) public charities, academic health centers, and other NIH-eligible research institutions located in the United States. The program supports the establishment or continuation of research centers that bring together researchers from diverse disciplines to address complex questions in nutrition and obesity prevention and treatment. Applicants must have the institutional capacity, resources, and infrastructure to support a multidisciplinary research team and collaborate across departments.
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Key dates
- Jun 30, 2026 Applications open
- Oct 20, 2026 Application deadline in 96 days
- Jun 1, 2027 Award announced
- Jun 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications from institutions/organizations that propose to establish core centers that are part of an integrated and existing program of nutrition and/or obesity research. The Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORC) program is designed to support and enhance the national research effort in nutrition and obesity. NORCs support three primary research-related activities: Research Core services, a Pilot and Feasibility (P and F) program, and an Enrichment program. All activities pursued by Nutrition Obesity Research Centers are designed to enhance the efficiency, productivity, effectiveness, and multidisciplinary nature of research in nutrition and obesity.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Application Form (SF-424 and SF-424 R&R)
- Project Narrative (describing the center's research focus, multidisciplinary approach, and specific aims)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional support/commitment letters
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Letters of support from collaborating institutions or departments
- Facilities and Resources description
- Research plan with specific projects and aims
- Strategic plan for center management and operations
- Plan for training and workforce development
- Data management and sharing plan
- Protection of human subjects and animal care approvals (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Mary Evans, PhD
- 📧 evansmary@niddk.nih.gov
- 📞 301-594-4578
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
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$37,490,770
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$34,242,949
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$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
Who is eligible to apply for a NORC grant?
Academic research institutions, universities, medical centers, and other organizations with NIH-eligible research infrastructure typically qualify. Your institution must have the capacity to support a multidisciplinary research program.
What research topics does this program support?
NORCs support research on obesity prevention, nutrition science, metabolic disorders, behavioral interventions, environmental factors affecting eating patterns, and related public health approaches to addressing obesity at individual and population levels.
How long is the funding period?
NORC grants are typically multi-year awards. Check the specific RFP for exact funding periods, but centers are generally designed for sustained research support.
What makes a competitive NORC application?
Strong applications demonstrate an innovative research agenda, a well-integrated multidisciplinary team, institutional commitment, adequate facilities, and potential to advance the field of nutrition and obesity research significantly.
How much funding can we expect?
NORC awards vary based on the scope of research and number of projects within the center. Consult the specific funding opportunity announcement for budget guidance and typical award ranges.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Assemble a truly multidisciplinary team before writing. Include researchers from nutrition, medicine, epidemiology, behavioral science, and other relevant fields; reviewers expect genuine collaboration, not just co-authored papers.
- Secure strong institutional support and a commitment letter from your institution's leadership demonstrating resource allocation, facilities, and administrative commitment to the center.
- Develop a cohesive overall research theme that ties multiple projects together meaningfully, rather than just bundling disconnected studies.
- Include a clear plan for managing the center operationally and fostering collaboration among research projects and investigators.
- Address how your center will contribute to training the next generation of obesity and nutrition researchers, including mentoring and educational components.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many applications fail because they lack genuine multidisciplinary integration or appear to be loosely affiliated projects rather than a coherent center. Others underestimate the importance of institutional commitment and infrastructure; reviewers want to see real facility support and administrative backing. Additionally, applicants often neglect to articulate a clear vision for how their center will advance the field or produce unique, high-impact research that wouldn't emerge from individual grants.
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