Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 23 001
The Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-MD-23-001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to strengthen the United States research enterprise in the health sciences by investing in institutions that have long-standing, demonstrated commitments to educating students who are underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research and, in many cases, to providing care in medically underserved communities. In practical terms, the program aims to grow sustainable research capacity at eligible institutions by supporting research infrastructure and center-based activities that can elevate competitiveness, productivity, and impact in health-related research. Because this is a U54 cooperative agreement, awardees should expect substantial NIH program involvement compared with a traditional grant, with the project carried out in collaboration with the funding institute or center.
This opportunity sits in the health funding category and is tied to CFDA number 93.307. It is labeled “Clinical Trial Optional,” meaning applicants may propose clinical trials if they are appropriate for the center’s goals, but a clinical trial is not required. The overall emphasis is on building and expanding institutional and center-level capability to conduct strong health sciences research, particularly in settings that train diverse talent and serve communities that experience health disparities.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations, while still being anchored in the RCMI program’s core purpose. The opportunity highlights institutions that award doctorate degrees in the health professions or in health-related sciences and that can show both historical and current commitments to educating underrepresented students. It also underscores institutions that deliver health care and provide clinical services to medically underserved communities, reflecting an expectation that supported research capacity can connect meaningfully to real-world health needs. In addition, the announcement explicitly calls out several categories often associated with minority-serving or community-centered missions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). It also includes eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, provided they meet the detailed eligibility rules in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement.
At the same time, the solicitation is clear about restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. Applicants need to structure proposals so that the applicant organization and the work supported under the award remain within allowable domestic boundaries.
The eligible applicant types listed in the source data cover a wide range of domestic entities, including state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as permitted. Even with this broad list, the RCMI program’s intent still matters: competitive applications generally need to align clearly with the program’s mission of building research capacity at institutions that serve and train underrepresented populations and/or provide clinical services in underserved areas.
From a funding standpoint, the award instrument is a cooperative agreement, and the listed award ceiling is $3,500,000. The source data does not specify an expected number of awards. The original closing date for applications was March 1, 2023, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of January 3, 2023. Anyone planning to pursue the program now would need to verify whether a reissued announcement or new cycle is available, since the provided closing date reflects the original submission deadline.
Overall, RFA-MD-23-001 is best understood as a center-focused NIH investment intended to expand national health research capacity by building durable institutional strengths in research, workforce development, and potentially community- and clinic-connected research, with eligibility and project design tightly aligned to domestic, minority-serving, and underserved-community-serving missions described in the full announcement.Apply for RFA MD 23 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-01-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-03-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,500,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the RCMI (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-MD-23-001)?
RFA-MD-23-001 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity under the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program. It uses a U54 cooperative agreement mechanism to support center-based efforts that strengthen health sciences research capacity at eligible U.S. institutions, especially those with demonstrated commitments to educating students underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research and/or providing care in medically underserved communities.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program aims to grow sustainable research capacity by supporting research infrastructure and center-level activities that improve an institution's competitiveness, productivity, and impact in health-related research. The emphasis is on building and expanding institutional capability rather than supporting a single standalone project.
What does it mean that this is a U54 cooperative agreement?
A U54 cooperative agreement indicates substantial NIH program involvement compared with a traditional grant. Awardees should expect the project to be carried out in collaboration with the NIH funding institute or center, with more active engagement from NIH staff than would typically occur under standard grant mechanisms.
Is a clinical trial required to apply?
No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which means applicants may propose clinical trials if appropriate for the center's goals, but proposing a clinical trial is not required.
What funding category does this opportunity fall under?
This opportunity is in the health funding category and is associated with CFDA number 93.307.
Who is this opportunity designed to support?
It is designed to support institutions with long-standing, demonstrated commitments to educating students underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research. It also emphasizes institutions that provide clinical services and deliver health care in medically underserved communities, reflecting a focus on strengthening research capacity where it can connect to real-world health needs and health disparities.
What types of institutions are specifically highlighted as relevant to the RCMI mission?
The opportunity explicitly calls out mission-aligned categories often associated with minority-serving or community-centered institutions, including:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
Are institutions that award doctorate degrees relevant for this program?
Yes. The opportunity highlights institutions that award doctorate degrees in the health professions or in health-related sciences and that can demonstrate both historical and current commitments to educating underrepresented students.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants, provided they meet the detailed eligibility rules described in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes eligible federal agencies among the categories that may apply, as long as they meet the detailed eligibility requirements in the FOA.
Can faith-based or community-based organizations apply?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly mentioned as potentially eligible, provided they satisfy the detailed eligibility rules in the full FOA.
Can regional organizations apply?
Yes. Regional organizations are listed among the entities explicitly called out as potentially eligible, assuming they meet the FOA's detailed requirements.
Are state and local governments eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant types include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, among others, subject to the program's eligibility rules and alignment with the RCMI mission.
Are special district governments and independent school districts eligible?
Yes. Special district governments and independent school districts are included in the eligible applicant types listed in the source data, provided they meet the detailed eligibility rules in the FOA.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicant types. The program particularly emphasizes institutions aligned with the RCMI purpose, including those educating underrepresented students and/or serving medically underserved communities.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments are included among eligible applicant types, subject to the FOA's detailed eligibility rules.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant types include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), as long as they meet the FOA requirements and align with the intent of the RCMI program.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible applicant types. All applicants still need to meet the detailed eligibility rules and align with the RCMI program's mission and domestic requirements.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included among the eligible applicant types listed in the source data, provided they meet the FOA's detailed eligibility rules.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S. organization apply if the work will be performed outside the United States?
The solicitation states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. Applications should be structured so the applicant organization and the work supported under the award stay within allowable domestic boundaries.
Does this program allow foreign components or foreign involvement?
No. Foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed for this opportunity.
How much funding can be requested under this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling in the source data is $3,500,000. (The information provided does not state an expected number of awards.)
How many awards will NIH make?
The source data provided does not specify the expected number of awards.
When was this opportunity created and when was it due?
The opportunity record indicates a creation date of January 3, 2023. The original closing date for applications was March 1, 2023.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
Based on the information provided, the listed closing date was March 1, 2023. Anyone interested in applying now would need to verify whether NIH has reissued the announcement or opened a new application cycle.
What types of activities does the program support?
The program supports research infrastructure and center-based activities intended to elevate an institution's research competitiveness, productivity, and impact in health-related research. The focus is on building durable, institutional strengths in research capacity and center-level capability.
How should an applicant think about alignment with the RCMI mission?
Even though the eligible applicant types listed are broad, the intent of the RCMI program is central. Competitive applications generally need to align clearly with building research capacity at institutions that serve and train underrepresented populations and/or provide clinical services in medically underserved areas, while staying within domestic eligibility and foreign involvement restrictions described in the FOA.
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