Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 16, 2025 (New) | July 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | September 7, 2025 (AIDS) | October 16, 2025 (New) | November 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | January 7, 2026 (AIDS) | Additional standard NIH dates through January 2028
Funding Amounts: Up to $150,000 direct costs per year (plus F&A for consortia); maximum project period is 2 years.
Summary: Supports planning and protocol development for large-scale collaborative clinical vision research, including epidemiologic studies and clinical trials, but does not fund clinical trials themselves.
Key Information: Clinical trials are not allowed; funding is for planning and preparatory activities only.
Description
This opportunity from the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the NIH, provides support for the planning phase of large-scale clinical vision research projects. The grant is intended to help investigators develop detailed study protocols and Manuals of Procedures (MOPs) for future collaborative clinical research, including randomized clinical trials and epidemiologic studies related to eye and vision conditions. The funding is specifically for preparatory activities and does not support the conduct of clinical trials or the collection of preclinical/animal data.
The grant may be used for:
- Developing and finalizing study protocols and MOPs
- Conducting preliminary studies to refine procedures or document recruitment feasibility
- Establishing collaborative arrangements and administrative procedures
- Developing data management tools and safety monitoring plans
- Preparing for regulatory approvals and standardizing procedures across sites
Note: The grant must not be used to generate data on the effects of a proposed intervention or to conduct any research that meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
Due Dates
- New Applications: June 16, 2025 | October 16, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | June 16, 2026 | October 16, 2026 | February 16, 2027 | June 16, 2027 | October 16, 2027
- Renewal/Resubmission/Revision: July 16, 2025 | November 16, 2025 | March 16, 2026 | July 16, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | March 16, 2027 | July 16, 2027 | November 16, 2027
- AIDS-related Applications: September 7, 2025 | January 7, 2026 | May 7, 2026 | September 7, 2026 | January 7, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | September 7, 2027 | January 7, 2028
All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. See the NIH standard due dates for more details.
Funding Amount
- Direct Costs: Up to $150,000 per year (plus applicable F&A for consortia)
- Project Period: Maximum of 2 years
- 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 (other than institutions of higher education)
- 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 (federally recognized and other)
- Faith-based and community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories and possessions
- Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) and foreign components of U.S. organizations
Note: Applicant organizations must complete all required registrations (SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov, etc.) prior to submission.
Application Process
- Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov using the NIH ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution.
- Instructions: Follow the NIH How to Apply - Application Guide and the specific instructions in the funding announcement.
- Required Documents: Prepare all standard NIH forms, including the Research Strategy, Budget, and Data Management and Sharing Plan.
- Consultation: Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with NEI staff at least 10 weeks prior to the application due date.
- Page Limits: Adhere to the NIH Table of Page Limits.
- Appendix: Only limited materials allowed (e.g., blank questionnaires).
Additional Information
- Clinical Trials Not Allowed: Applications proposing to conduct a clinical trial or collect preclinical/animal data will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
- Scope: The grant is for planning and preparatory activities only, such as protocol development, feasibility studies, and administrative setup.
- Standardized Data: NEI encourages the use of common data elements and standardized imaging formats (e.g., FHIR, OMOP, FAIR, DICOM) for ocular imaging and data interoperability.
- Milestones: Applicants should define clear, quantifiable milestones for planning progress.
- Data Management: All applications must include a Data Management and Sharing Plan in accordance with NIH policy.
External Links
Contact Information