Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 20 025
The Diabetes Research Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-20-025) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) center grant run through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Its purpose is to strengthen and accelerate the national diabetes research enterprise by funding institution-based centers that make diabetes and related metabolic and endocrine research more efficient, more collaborative, and more productive. Rather than primarily paying for a single research project, a P30 Diabetes Research Center is built to support a broad community of investigators by providing shared resources, expertise, and structured internal funding that help multiple research teams move faster and work across disciplines.
The FOA emphasizes two central components that every funded center is expected to deliver. The first is a set of Research Core services. These cores are shared, centralized resources that investigators can use to conduct high-quality, cutting-edge diabetes research without each lab having to independently build and maintain the same expensive infrastructure. In practice, cores often include specialized technical platforms, consultative services, and standardized methods that increase rigor and reproducibility, reduce duplication, and lower barriers for both established and early-stage investigators to pursue ambitious questions in diabetes, its complications, and related endocrine or metabolic conditions. The second required component is a Pilot and Feasibility (P and F) program. This is a structured internal mini-grant mechanism the center uses to seed new ideas, support early-stage projects, and help investigators generate preliminary data that can later be leveraged into larger external grants. The P and F program is meant to stimulate innovation, bring new investigators into diabetes research, and encourage creative, high-impact directions that might be difficult to fund through traditional pathways without initial proof-of-concept results.
A major through-line of the announcement is that all center activities should improve the efficiency and effectiveness of diabetes research at the applicant institution while also promoting multidisciplinary work. The goal is to create a research environment where clinicians, basic scientists, population researchers, engineers, and other relevant experts can work together using common resources and coordinated programs. The FOA situates this within the broader NIDDK Diabetes Research Centers program, noting that as of 2020 the program consisted of 16 centers at research institutions with strong records of excellence in diabetes-related research. The announcement points applicants to diabetescenters.org for general program context, which signals that this FOA is part of an established national network with shared expectations about what a successful center looks like and how it contributes to the field.
The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning the center grant mechanism itself can accommodate clinical trial activity when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not inherently required for an application to be responsive. The program is focused on supporting the infrastructure and developmental funding that make high-quality research (including, when relevant, clinical studies) more feasible, rather than acting solely as a clinical trial award.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of domestic organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed include 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 Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible categories such as 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), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws a clear boundary around foreign involvement: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" as defined in NIH Grants Policy are allowed, which typically means that while the applicant organization must be U.S.-based, certain scientifically justified parts of the work may be conducted abroad under NIH policy and oversight.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health and nutrition area (CFDA 93.847). The FOA was created on 2020-11-19, and the original closing date listed is 2021-05-20. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, which often means prospective applicants need to consult the full FOA and any NIH notices for budget guidance, allowable costs, and the anticipated scale of awards.
Overall, the funding opportunity is aimed at institutions that already have a substantial base of diabetes-related research and want to formalize and expand it through a coordinated center structure. The strongest applications are typically those that can show an existing community of diabetes investigators who will actively use shared cores, a compelling plan for how the cores will tangibly improve research quality and throughput, and a well-designed Pilot and Feasibility program that will reliably produce new projects, new investigators, and new external funding in diabetes and its complications.Apply for RFA DK 20 025
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, 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 2020-11-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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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Diabetes Research Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) - RFA-DK-20-025 FAQs
What is the Diabetes Research Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity?
It is an NIH center grant funding opportunity (RFA-DK-20-025) administered through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It supports institution-based Diabetes Research Centers designed to make diabetes and related metabolic/endocrine research more efficient, collaborative, and productive.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to strengthen and accelerate the national diabetes research enterprise by funding centers that provide shared resources, expertise, and structured internal funding to a broad community of investigators, rather than primarily supporting a single standalone research project.
How is a P30 Diabetes Research Center different from a single research project grant?
A P30 center is built around infrastructure and programs that support many investigators. It typically focuses on shared Research Cores and an internal Pilot and Feasibility program so multiple research teams can move faster, share capabilities, and work across disciplines.
What are the required components of a funded Diabetes Research Center under this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes two central components expected of every funded center: (1) a set of Research Core services and (2) a Pilot and Feasibility (P and F) program.
What are Research Cores in the context of this FOA?
Research Cores are shared, centralized resources that investigators can use to conduct high-quality, cutting-edge diabetes research without each lab having to build and maintain the same expensive infrastructure. Cores may include specialized technical platforms, consultative services, and standardized methods.
Why do Research Cores matter to investigators at an institution?
They are intended to increase rigor and reproducibility, reduce duplication, and lower barriers to using advanced methods and infrastructure. This can help both established and early-stage investigators pursue ambitious questions in diabetes, its complications, and related endocrine or metabolic conditions.
What is the Pilot and Feasibility (P and F) program?
The P and F program is a structured internal mini-grant mechanism operated by the center. It is used to seed new ideas, support early-stage projects, and help investigators generate preliminary data that can be leveraged into larger external grant applications.
What kinds of outcomes is the P and F program meant to produce?
Based on the FOA description, it is meant to stimulate innovation, bring new investigators into diabetes research, encourage creative and high-impact directions, and generate proof-of-concept results that help investigators compete for larger external awards.
Is a clinical trial required for this opportunity?
No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which means clinical trial activity can be included when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not inherently required for an application to be responsive.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" imply about the focus of the award?
It implies the award is primarily focused on supporting infrastructure and developmental funding (like shared cores and pilot funding) that make high-quality research more feasible, including clinical studies when relevant, rather than functioning solely as a clinical trial award.
What research areas does the FOA aim to support?
The FOA targets diabetes research and related metabolic and endocrine research, including diabetes complications and related endocrine or metabolic conditions, with an emphasis on improving how research is conducted institution-wide.
What is the overall theme or "through-line" of the announcement?
All center activities should improve the efficiency and effectiveness of diabetes research at the applicant institution while promoting multidisciplinary work and collaboration across different research backgrounds.
What kinds of multidisciplinary collaboration does the FOA encourage?
The FOA describes an environment where clinicians, basic scientists, population researchers, engineers, and other relevant experts can work together using common resources and coordinated programs.
How does this FOA relate to the broader NIDDK Diabetes Research Centers program?
The FOA situates the opportunity within the established NIDDK Diabetes Research Centers program and notes that, as of 2020, the program consisted of 16 centers at research institutions with strong records of excellence in diabetes-related research.
Where does the FOA point applicants for general program context?
It points to diabetescenters.org for general program context, signaling this FOA is part of an established national network with shared expectations for successful centers.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic (U.S.) organization types and governmental entities, including state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; tribal governments and tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and also includes faith-based or community-based organizations, among other categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes eligible federal agencies among the eligible applicant categories.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are any types of international involvement allowed?
Yes. "Foreign components" (as defined in NIH Grants Policy) are allowed, meaning the applicant organization must be U.S.-based, but certain scientifically justified parts of the work may be conducted abroad under NIH policy and oversight.
What is the CFDA number and program area mentioned for this opportunity?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant in the health and nutrition area with CFDA number 93.847.
When was this FOA created and what closing date is listed in the provided information?
The FOA was created on 2020-11-19, and the original closing date listed is 2021-05-20.
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. In the provided source data, the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified.
What does it mean if the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data?
It typically means prospective applicants need to consult the full FOA and any NIH notices for budget guidance, allowable costs, and the anticipated scale of awards.
What types of institutions are this opportunity best suited for?
It is aimed at institutions that already have a substantial base of diabetes-related research and want to formalize and expand it through a coordinated center structure.
What characteristics are implied for strong applications?
The description suggests strong applications typically demonstrate an existing community of diabetes investigators who will actively use shared cores, a compelling plan for how cores will improve research quality and throughput, and a well-designed Pilot and Feasibility program that produces new projects, brings in new investigators, and supports future external funding.
What is the practical value of a center model for early-stage investigators?
Based on the FOA summary, the center model can reduce barriers to entry by providing access to shared infrastructure and expertise and by offering pilot funding that helps early-stage investigators generate preliminary data for larger external grant proposals.
What is the intended impact on rigor and reproducibility?
The FOA highlights that shared cores can provide standardized methods and centralized expertise, which can increase rigor and reproducibility and reduce duplicative efforts across laboratories.
Does this FOA position the center as part of a national network?
Yes. By referencing the broader NIDDK Diabetes Research Centers program and pointing to diabetescenters.org, it signals that funded centers are part of an established national network with shared expectations and contributions to the field.
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