Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 27 055
The Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Expansion/Sustainability Phases (COBRE-E/S) (P30 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity (PAR-27-055) is an NIH grant under the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program. It is designed to strengthen long-term biomedical research capacity at institutions located in states and jurisdictions that have historically received relatively low levels of NIH funding. The core idea is to help these institutions build durable research ecosystems by investing in people (faculty growth), projects (research initiatives), and shared infrastructure (core facilities) in scientific areas that align with the institution's strategic priorities.
This NOFO supports two related center phases: COBRE Expansion (COBRE-E) and COBRE Sustainability (COBRE-S). COBRE-E is aimed at expanding research capacity in a new or growing biomedical research area for the institution. In practical terms, that means increasing and strengthening the faculty base in the targeted scientific theme, launching and supporting research projects that help investigators establish competitive programs, and building or enhancing core facilities that enable high-quality research. COBRE-S shifts the emphasis toward sustaining what has been built. It focuses on keeping the research infrastructure strong over time by continuing faculty growth where needed and consolidating or optimizing research cores so that the center remains productive and financially and scientifically stable beyond the award period.
The opportunity is labeled as a limited competition, meaning NIH will only invite applications from organizations that meet specific eligibility requirements described in the NOFO (with eligibility details emphasized in Section III). Applications go through standard NIH peer review, and only those judged meritorious will move forward for possible funding. The activity code is P30, which is a center core grant mechanism typically used to support shared resources and facilities that benefit multiple investigators, rather than funding a single investigator's research plan. The listing also clearly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so applicants should not propose clinical trials under this award, and should structure the center's activities accordingly.
Eligibility is tightly defined. Applicants must be located in an IDeA-eligible state, commonwealth, or jurisdiction. The eligible locations listed are Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. In addition, the institution must either award doctoral degrees in health-related sciences or be an independent biomedical research institute or medical center that has ongoing biomedical research programs funded by NIH or other federal agencies. Finally, there is an important cap on the number of active COBRE awards an institution may hold at the time of submission: the applicant organization must hold three or fewer active COBRE awards (including those in no-cost extension), with an exception noted for COBRE Phase 3. Institutions with four or more active awards across Phase 1, Phase 2, COBRE-D, COBRE-E, and COBRE-S (including no-cost extensions) are not eligible to apply.
The NOFO also places strict limits on foreign involvement. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. Foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this opportunity. That means the center's proposed cores, projects, and supported activities must be structured to avoid foreign components and otherwise comply with NIH policies for domestic-only awards under this announcement.
Administratively, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the assistance listing (CFDA) number provided is 93.859. The eligible applicant types shown in the source data are broad (ranging from various government entities to higher education institutions, nonprofits, and some for-profit organizations), but the practical eligibility is still constrained by the specific IDeA-location, doctoral-degree/biomedical-institute status, and COBRE-award-count requirements described above. The original closing date listed is 2029-05-25, and the opportunity was created on 2026-06-18. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, so interested applicants would need to consult the full NOFO text for budget limits, project period details, and any institute-specific expectations.Apply for PAR 27 055
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Expansion/Sustainability Phases (COBRE-E/S) (P30 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2029-05-25.
- 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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FAQs: Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Expansion/Sustainability Phases (COBRE-E/S) (P30 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-27-055)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH funding opportunity announcement (NOFO) titled "Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Expansion/Sustainability Phases (COBRE-E/S) (P30 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," PAR-27-055. It is part of the NIH Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program and is intended to strengthen long-term biomedical research capacity at eligible institutions in states and jurisdictions that have historically received relatively low levels of NIH funding.
What is the main purpose of COBRE-E/S?
The goal is to help institutions build durable biomedical research ecosystems by investing in (1) people, through faculty growth and development; (2) projects, through research initiatives that help investigators build competitive programs; and (3) shared infrastructure, through core facilities that enable high-quality research. The supported scientific areas are expected to align with the institution's strategic priorities.
What does "limited competition" mean for this NOFO?
"Limited competition" means NIH will only invite applications from organizations that meet specific eligibility requirements described in the NOFO. Applications are still peer reviewed through standard NIH processes, and only those judged meritorious will be considered for potential funding.
What are the two phases supported under this NOFO?
This NOFO supports two related center phases: COBRE Expansion (COBRE-E) and COBRE Sustainability (COBRE-S).
What is COBRE Expansion (COBRE-E) intended to support?
COBRE-E is designed to expand research capacity in a new or growing biomedical research area for the institution. In practical terms, it supports strengthening the faculty base within the targeted scientific theme, launching and supporting research projects to help investigators establish competitive programs, and building or enhancing core facilities that enable high-quality research.
What is COBRE Sustainability (COBRE-S) intended to support?
COBRE-S focuses on sustaining and stabilizing what has already been built. The emphasis shifts toward maintaining strong research infrastructure over time, continuing faculty growth where needed, and consolidating or optimizing research cores so the center remains productive and financially and scientifically stable beyond the award period.
What NIH grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The activity code is P30, which is a center core grant mechanism. It is typically used to support shared resources and facilities that benefit multiple investigators rather than supporting a single investigator's individual research plan.
Are clinical trials allowed under this award?
No. The opportunity explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applicants should not propose clinical trials and should design the center's cores, projects, and activities accordingly.
Which organizations are eligible to apply based on location?
Applicants must be located in an IDeA-eligible state, commonwealth, or jurisdiction. The eligible locations listed are Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
What institutional type requirements must an applicant meet?
In addition to being located in an IDeA-eligible state or jurisdiction, the institution must either (1) award doctoral degrees in health-related sciences, or (2) be an independent biomedical research institute or medical center that has ongoing biomedical research programs funded by NIH or other federal agencies.
Is there a limit on how many active COBRE awards an institution can hold and still apply?
Yes. At the time of submission, the applicant organization must hold three or fewer active COBRE awards (including those in no-cost extension). An exception is noted for COBRE Phase 3. Institutions with four or more active awards across Phase 1, Phase 2, COBRE-D, COBRE-E, and COBRE-S (including no-cost extensions) are not eligible to apply.
Do no-cost extensions count toward the active COBRE award limit?
Yes. The eligibility cap explicitly includes COBRE awards that are in no-cost extension status.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. In addition, foreign components (as defined by NIH in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this opportunity.
What does "foreign components are not allowed" mean for the proposed center activities?
It means the center's proposed cores, projects, and supported activities must be structured to avoid foreign components and otherwise comply with NIH policies for domestic-only awards under this announcement.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number provided for this opportunity?
The assistance listing number provided in the source data is 93.859.
What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
What is the closing date listed in the provided information?
The original closing date listed is 2029-05-25.
When was this opportunity created, based on the provided information?
The opportunity was created on 2026-06-18.
Are award ceiling and expected number of awards provided?
No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
Where should applicants look for budget limits, project period details, and institute-specific expectations?
The provided information indicates that interested applicants should consult the full NOFO text for budget limits, project period details, and any institute-specific expectations.
Does broad applicant-type eligibility in the source data mean any organization can apply?
No. While the eligible applicant types shown in the source data are broad (including government entities, higher education institutions, nonprofits, and some for-profit organizations), actual eligibility is constrained by the specific requirements described: being in an IDeA-eligible location, meeting the doctoral-degree/biomedical-institute status requirement, meeting the cap on active COBRE awards, and complying with the domestic-only/foreign component restrictions.
What kinds of investments does the NOFO emphasize for building research capacity?
The NOFO emphasizes investment in faculty growth (people), research initiatives and projects that help investigators establish competitive programs (projects), and core facilities that provide shared infrastructure for multiple investigators (shared resources).
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