Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: May 25, 2025 | September 25, 2025 | January 25, 2026 | May 25, 2026 | September 25, 2026
Funding Amounts: Typical direct costs: $600,000–$750,000/year (plus up to $500,000 for special-purpose equipment over 5 years); project period up to 5 years; max 15 years total funding per center.
Summary: Supports national resource centers to develop, disseminate, and train users in innovative biomedical imaging and bioengineering technologies for broad research and clinical impact.
Key Information: Letter of intent required 12 weeks before application; limited submission; early-stage clinical trials only (Phase I or equivalent).
Description
This opportunity funds National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NCBIB) as Biomedical Technology Resource Centers (BTRCs). These centers are expected to be national resources, developing and disseminating innovative technologies that address the needs of basic, translational, and/or clinical researchers. Centers must:
- Conduct cutting-edge technology research and development (TR&D) projects.
- Make technologies broadly available to the research community.
- Train users at all levels (from clinicians to students) in the use of these technologies.
- Disseminate new methods and tools widely.
Centers are expected to have a nationwide impact, with collaborative and service projects distributed across the U.S. The program supports early-stage clinical trials (Phase I, first-in-human, safety, feasibility, or other small trials that inform technology development), but not later-stage or pivotal trials.
Due Dates
- Upcoming application deadlines:
- May 25, 2025
- September 25, 2025
- January 25, 2026
- May 25, 2026
- September 25, 2026
- Letter of Intent: Required 12 weeks before the application due date.
- All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Funding Amount
- Direct costs: Not limited, but typically $600,000–$750,000 per year.
- Special-purpose equipment: Up to $500,000 (total) may be requested over a 5-year period, restricted to equipment purchases.
- Project period: Up to 5 years per award; centers may be renewed for a maximum of 15 years total funding.
- Number of awards: Contingent on NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments and organizations (federally recognized and other)
- Faith-based and community-based organizations
- U.S. territories and possessions
- Regional organizations
- Eligible agencies of the federal government
Note:
- Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
- Foreign components, as defined by NIH policy, are allowed within U.S. applications.
- Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided each is scientifically distinct.
- An individual may not serve as PD/PI on more than one application to this NOFO at any time.
- This is a limited submission opportunity; see the full announcement for institutional limits.
Application Process
-
Letter of Intent:
- Required 12 weeks before the application due date.
- Should include project title, PD/PI(s), key personnel, participating institutions, and the NOFO number/title.
- Email to: Behrouz Shabestari, PhD (shabestb@mail.nih.gov)
-
Application Preparation:
- Follow NIH Multi-Project (M) Application Guide.
- Components required: Overall, Administration, at least 3 TR&D projects (4 recommended max), Technology Training and Dissemination.
- Include required attachments for Collaborative Projects (CPs) and Service Projects (SPs).
- For budgets requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year, a white paper and pre-application contact with NIBIB staff is required at least 12 weeks before submission.
-
Submission:
- Submit electronically via Grants.gov using ASSIST or institutional S2S system.
- Ensure all required registrations (SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov) are complete.
-
Review:
- Peer review by NIBIB-convened panel.
- Second-level review by the NIBIB Advisory Council.
- Criteria include significance, innovation, approach, investigator(s), environment, and national impact.
Additional Information
- Clinical Trials: Only early-stage clinical trials (Phase I, first-in-human, safety, feasibility, or other small trials) are allowed. No support for Phase II/III/IV or pivotal trials.
- Duration Limit: Centers may receive a maximum of 15 years of NIBIB funding.
- Training & Dissemination: Centers must provide robust training and dissemination activities, including a strong web presence.
- Collaborative/Service Projects: New applications must include at least 5 CPs and 5 SPs; renewals require at least 10 of each.
- External Advisory Committee: Required for all centers.
- Data Management and Sharing: All applications must include a Data Management and Sharing Plan.
External Links
Contact Information