Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54)- Clinical Trials Optional | RFA MD 20 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 20 006

The Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54) - Clinical Trials Optional funding opportunity (RFA-MD-20-006) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to strengthen the United States research enterprise by building and expanding health-science research capacity at institutions that have a long-standing and active commitment to educating students from underrepresented backgrounds and, in many cases, delivering clinical care in medically underserved communities. The core idea is to invest in institutions that are positioned to address minority health and health disparities, not only by supporting specific research projects, but by improving the broader infrastructure, training environment, and research culture needed to sustain competitive biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research programs over time. Because this is a U54 cooperative agreement, NIH is expected to have substantial programmatic involvement, meaning awardees typically work in closer partnership with NIH than they would under a standard grant mechanism.

The program’s goals center on institution-wide and investigator-focused growth. First, it aims to enhance an institution’s overall research capacity in basic biomedical, behavioral, and/or clinical research, which often includes strengthening shared resources, research cores, methods support, governance, and administrative structures that make high-quality research feasible and efficient. Second, it is intended to help investigators at all career stages become more competitive for external research funding, with a strong emphasis on increasing the ability of faculty and research teams to win NIH grants. This competitive emphasis is particularly tied to research that targets diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect minority populations and other health disparity groups, reinforcing NIMHD and NIH priorities around equity-focused science and measurable improvements in population health.

A third major aim is workforce and career development, with a specific focus on creating an environment where new and early-career investigators can thrive. In practice, this typically means structured mentorship, protected research time, pilot funding, access to core facilities and methodological expertise, and clear pathways for junior faculty to build publishable portfolios that can lead to independent external funding. The fourth goal is to raise the quality and impact of scientific inquiry overall while promoting rigorous research specifically focused on minority health and health disparities. This reflects an expectation that awardee institutions will not only do more research, but will do it at a level of rigor, reproducibility, and relevance that improves competitiveness and advances the field.

The fifth goal emphasizes community engagement and partnership. RCMI centers are expected to establish sustainable, ongoing relationships with community-based organizations that can partner meaningfully with the institution. This focus recognizes that many health disparity challenges are deeply connected to social context, access to care, trust, and lived experience. Strong community partnerships can support better study design, more effective recruitment and retention, improved translation of findings into practice, and research questions that reflect real community priorities. The “clinical trials optional” designation indicates that applicants may propose clinical trials if they align with the center’s goals, but they are not required to include clinical trials to be responsive to the opportunity.

Eligibility is focused on U.S.-based institutions and organizations. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), among others as described in the funding announcement. The opportunity explicitly highlights categories of institutions that often align with the RCMI mission, 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). At the same time, foreign participation is not permitted: non-U.S. entities cannot apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity in the health category (CFDA 93.307). The original closing date listed for the announcement was July 14, 2020, and the opportunity record notes NIH as the sponsoring agency. While the provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the U54 mechanism and cooperative agreement structure typically signal significant center-level support tied to defined milestones, reporting expectations, and active NIH engagement. For full requirements, expectations, and any program-specific definitions, applicants are directed to the official funding announcement, which governs eligibility details and application structure.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54)- Clinical Trials 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 2020-02-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-14. (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, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

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