Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54 - Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MD 24 012

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 24 012

The Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program (U54 - Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement opportunity designed to strengthen the United States research enterprise by expanding the capacity for high-quality health sciences research at institutions that have long-standing, demonstrated commitments to educating students who are underrepresented in the biomedical and health-related sciences and, in many cases, to delivering care in medically underserved communities. In practical terms, this program aims to build and sustain research infrastructure and institutional capability so these institutions can compete more effectively for research funding, support impactful research programs, and contribute more strongly to addressing health disparities and improving outcomes in communities that have historically had less access to resources and research investment.

This funding opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement (U54), which generally means the NIH expects to have substantial programmatic involvement during the project period compared with a standard grant mechanism. That typically translates into an ongoing partnership style of oversight, coordination, and technical guidance between the awardee and NIH program staff, with shared responsibilities to ensure the center-level goals are met. The funding announcement also notes that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose research activities that include clinical trials, but they are not required to do so; applicants can focus on infrastructure and research capacity-building elements and other research activities appropriate to their institutional strengths and community needs.

Eligibility is centered on U.S.-based institutions of higher education that grant doctoral degrees in the health professions or in a health-related science and that can document a historical mission and sustained commitment to educating underrepresented students. The program also recognizes institutions that provide clinical services to medically underserved communities as aligned with its purpose. In addition to the broad categories of public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education, the opportunity explicitly highlights several categories of eligible minority-serving institutions, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Applicants are expected to rely on the full Funding Opportunity Announcement for the precise eligibility criteria and documentation requirements, since NIH programs often require specific institutional characteristics, degree offerings, and evidence of mission alignment.

The geographic and organizational restrictions are clear: non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this announcement. In other words, the work supported by this program is intended to be carried out entirely within eligible U.S. institutions and allowable domestic components, reinforcing the program goal of strengthening domestic research capacity in targeted institutions and communities.

From an administrative perspective, this is a discretionary federal funding opportunity in the health category under CFDA (now commonly referred to through Assistance Listing) 93.307. The sponsoring agency is NIH, and the opportunity is identified as RFA-MD-24-012, indicating it is released through the NIH Institute or Center focused on minority health and health disparities-related capacity building (commonly associated with NIH institutes that manage RCMI). The original closing date listed is November 18, 2024, and prospective applicants should plan around NIH submission timelines, including internal institutional routing, registrations (for example, SAM.gov and grants systems), and any required NIH electronic submission steps. The listing provided does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, so applicants would need to consult the full announcement for budget limits, project period length, required cores or components, review criteria, and any program-specific expectations for center structure, governance, evaluation, and sustainability planning.

• 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 2024-09-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

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