health · HHS-NIH11

Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Expansion/Sustainability Phases (COBRE-E/S) (P30 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of Health · PAR-27-055

1007 days left

Deadline

May 25, 2029

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

NIH's Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Expansion/Sustained Phase is a limited competition for institutions that have ALREADY received COBRE Phase I and Phase II awards and want to continue into the sustained/expansion phase. This is NOT for new applicants — it's a continuation grant for established COBREs transitioning to long-term sustainability. Rolling deadline through 2029.

Who Should Apply

ONLY institutions with existing COBRE Phase I and Phase II awards transitioning to the sustained phase. Must demonstrate how the center will become self-sustaining with decreased federal support.

Who Should NOT Apply

Institutions without existing COBREs, new applicants, or centers still in Phase I or early Phase II.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must have completed COBRE Phase I and Phase II
•Must transition toward sustainability with decreasing federal support
•Limited competition (existing COBRE awardees only)
•Rolling deadline through May 2029
•Must show center investigators obtaining independent NIH funding
•No cost-sharing required

💡 GrantQuick Tip

If you're a COBRE approaching the end of Phase II, this is your next step. NIH wants to see that your center's junior investigators have obtained R01s or equivalent independent funding — that's the primary metric of success. Show that the center is becoming self-sustaining: institutional commitment to core facilities, investigators winning their own grants, and a clear plan for the center's identity after federal support decreases.

Competitiveness: Moderate (within eligible pool) — limited to existing COBREs. Those with strong junior investigator success rates advance; those without struggle.

What This Grant Funds

The Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program supports biomedical research capacity building in states that have historically received low levels of NIH funding. The Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence: Expansion/Sustainability Phases (COBRE-E/S) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports the expansion and sustainability of biomedical research centers in IDeA-eligible institutions. These centers will focus on building research capacity in broad scientific areas of strategic importance for the institutions. The goal of COBRE-E is to expand research capacity by growing the institutional faculty base and supporting research projects and core facilities in the new area. The objective of COBRE-S is to sustain the infrastructure by continuing the growth of the faculty base and consolidating research cores. This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered.

Attachments

PDF

PAR-27-055-Full-Announcement.html

Who Can Apply

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Eligibility is restricted to institutions that meet all the following criteria:In an IDeA-eligible state, commonwealth, or jurisdiction, which 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; andAward doctoral degrees in health-related sciences or are independent biomedical research institutes/medical centers with ongoing biomedical research programs funded by the NIH or other federal agencies; andHold three or fewer active COBRE awards (except for COBRE Phase 3), including those in no-cost extension at the time of application submission. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that hold four or more active Phase 1, Phase 2, COBRE-D, COBRE-E, and COBRE-S awards, including those in no-cost extension.Foreign Organizations/International CollaborationsNon-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organization) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Eligible Applicant Types

State GovernmentsPublic And Indian Housing AuthoritiesPublic Colleges & UniversitiesCity/Township GovernmentsOther Tribal OrganizationsOther (see NOFO for details)County Governments501(c)(3) NonprofitsFederally Recognized Tribal GovernmentsIndependent School DistrictsNonprofits without 501(c)(3)Small BusinessesPrivate Colleges & UniversitiesSpecial District GovernmentsFor-Profit Organizations

Funding Details

Cost Sharing Required?: No
Funding Instrument: grant

Key Dates

Posted: June 18, 2026

Application Deadline: May 25, 2029 (1007 days remaining)

Agency Contact

NIGMS_COBRE_E@mail.nih.gov NIGMS_COBRE_E@mail.nih.gov

NIGMS_COBRE_E@mail.nih.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov