Diabetes Research Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DK 26 310

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 26 310

The Diabetes Research Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-26-310) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) center grant designed to strengthen and coordinate the national research effort focused on diabetes, its complications, and closely related endocrine and metabolic diseases. The core idea is to fund an institutional "center" structure that makes many investigators more effective together than they would be working separately on individual project grants. These Diabetes Research Centers (DRCs) are expected to connect basic science and clinical research communities, improve day-to-day communication across disciplines, and create a setting where collaborative, multidisciplinary work becomes easier to start and sustain.

A central requirement of a DRC is the provision of shared, specialized research resources through "cores." These cores are meant to function as high-value, centralized capabilities (for example, specialized assays, biostatistics support, data management, clinical research support resources, or other advanced technical services) that multiple research teams can access. The intent is to reduce duplication across labs, raise technical quality through dedicated expertise, and speed up progress by making key tools and services readily available to the broader diabetes research community at the applicant institution. Alongside the cores, each DRC must support a Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) Program, which typically provides smaller, targeted awards to help investigators launch new lines of investigation, generate preliminary data, test novel ideas, or bring new researchers into diabetes-related work. In practical terms, the P&F program is one of the main ways a center can stimulate innovation, seed high-risk/high-reward projects, and help investigators become competitive for larger independent grants later.

The NOFO encourages new or refreshed center programs that add real value rather than simply rebadging existing activities. Applications that introduce diverse perspectives, build around distinctive scientific themes, or offer innovative resources are specifically welcomed. Review emphasis is also expected to favor centers that can demonstrate meaningful synergy with other National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)-funded efforts, suggesting that alignment and coordination with existing NIDDK programs, networks, or institutional strengths will matter. Another highlighted expectation is a strong mentoring and training environment, with the center positioned as a hub that supports the development of future diabetes researchers through structured opportunities, access to expertise, and an ecosystem that helps early-stage investigators grow.

This is a discretionary grant program in the health category, administered by NIH under CFDA 93.847. The funding instrument is a P30 center grant, and the "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that clinical trials may be included when appropriate, but they are not mandatory for the application. The opportunity lists an expected number of awards of 7, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 (as stated in the source data). The original application closing date is January 27, 2027.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types, including public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, certain tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, among others as listed in the opportunity. At the same time, there are strict limitations on foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. A key administrative constraint is that only one application is permitted per institution, which means institutions must coordinate internally to submit a single, consolidated proposal representing their strongest plan for a Diabetes Research Center.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at building or strengthening institutional center infrastructure that can serve a broad diabetes research community, expand collaborative capacity through shared cores, accelerate new ideas through pilot funding, and create a productive pipeline of well-mentored investigators. The most competitive proposals are likely to be those that clearly show how the center structure will measurably improve research productivity and quality beyond what individual grants can accomplish, while also demonstrating innovative resources, strong interdisciplinary integration, and clear connections to the larger NIDDK-supported research ecosystem.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Diabetes Research Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-12-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-01-27.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA DK 26 310

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