Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 940
The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program funding opportunity, titled "Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 18-940), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant competition that uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U54). In practical terms, this means NIH expects substantial involvement with awardees during the project period, with shared responsibilities and coordinated oversight rather than a hands-off, investigator-only model. The opportunity sits in the health funding activity category (CFDA 93.350) and is designed to strengthen the national clinical and translational research infrastructure by supporting hubs that can move discoveries more efficiently from basic science into clinical application, health practice, and improved patient and community outcomes.
The central purpose of the FOA is to invite institutions to participate as part of the CTSA Program, which emphasizes high-quality translational science and clinical research at local, regional, and national levels. The CTSA model typically aims to make research faster, more rigorous, and more useful by improving methods and processes across the translational pipeline. This includes building and refining research capabilities that help investigators design better studies, recruit and retain participants more effectively, ensure high standards of ethics and regulatory compliance, manage and share data responsibly, and translate results into real-world health impact. A key theme of the announcement is innovation: applicants are expected not only to run strong programs, but also to foster new approaches to translational science, including improved research methods and systems that can be adopted broadly.
Beyond research support, the FOA also highlights training and career development as major program priorities. CTSA hubs are expected to help develop the translational science workforce by offering structured education, mentorship, and career pathways for investigators and research staff. This can involve supporting early-career researchers, providing skills development in clinical research operations and translational methodologies, and creating environments where multidisciplinary teams can form and thrive. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation signals that proposing a clinical trial is not required for an application to be responsive, though clinical trials may be included if they align with the program goals and meet NIH requirements.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations that can lead a major translational science enterprise. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types to encourage participation from institutions that serve historically underrepresented communities, 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, the announcement is clear that non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) cannot apply as the primary applicant, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" are allowed when defined and justified under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. applicant may include certain well-defined international elements in the project if they are necessary and comply with NIH policy.
From an administrative standpoint, the FOA was created on September 27, 2018, and the original closing date listed is July 15, 2021. The posted source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which often means applicants need to consult the full FOA text and any related notices to understand budget expectations, hub size assumptions, and NIH’s anticipated funding levels. Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a major NIH infrastructure and capacity-building program for institutions prepared to operate a collaborative translational science hub, advance innovative research practices, and train the next generation of clinical and translational researchers while coordinating closely with NIH under a cooperative agreement structure.Apply for PAR 18 940
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Clinical and Translational Science Award (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): 93.350.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-09-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-07-15. (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, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) - FAQs
1. What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)".
2. What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) is PAR 18-940.
3. Which federal agency runs this grant competition?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant competition.
4. What kind of award mechanism is being used?
The FOA uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U54).
5. What does a U54 cooperative agreement mean in practical terms?
A U54 cooperative agreement indicates NIH expects substantial involvement with awardees during the project period. Responsibilities are shared, and there is coordinated oversight, rather than a fully hands-off, investigator-only model.
6. What is the main purpose of the CTSA Program funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to invite institutions to participate as part of the CTSA Program by supporting hubs that strengthen the national clinical and translational research infrastructure and help move discoveries more efficiently from basic science into clinical application, health practice, and improved patient and community outcomes.
7. What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
This opportunity is in the health funding activity category.
8. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 93.350.
9. What is a CTSA "hub" in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, a hub refers to an institution-led center or enterprise designed to improve the quality, efficiency, and impact of clinical and translational research at local, regional, and national levels as part of the broader CTSA Program.
10. What types of activities or capabilities does the FOA emphasize supporting?
The FOA emphasizes building and refining capabilities that help investigators:
- Design better studies
- Recruit and retain participants more effectively
- Maintain high standards of ethics and regulatory compliance
- Manage and share data responsibly
- Translate results into real-world health impact
11. What does the FOA mean by improving the "translational pipeline"?
The translational pipeline refers to the process of moving discoveries from basic science through clinical research and into practice and broader health impact. The FOA highlights improving methods and processes across this pipeline to make research faster, more rigorous, and more useful.
12. How important is innovation in this announcement?
Innovation is a key theme. Applicants are expected not only to operate strong programs, but also to foster new approaches to translational science, including improved research methods and systems that can be adopted broadly.
13. Does this FOA require applicants to propose a clinical trial?
No. The FOA is designated "Clinical Trial Optional", meaning a clinical trial is not required for an application to be responsive.
14. Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
Yes. Clinical trials may be included if they align with the program goals and meet NIH requirements.
15. What role do training and career development play in CTSA hubs?
Training and career development are major priorities. CTSA hubs are expected to develop the translational science workforce through structured education, mentorship, and career pathways for investigators and research staff, including early-career support and skills development in clinical research operations and translational methodologies.
16. What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations that can lead a major translational science enterprise. Eligible applicants include:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories)
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories)
17. Does the FOA encourage applications from institutions serving historically underrepresented communities?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types to encourage participation from institutions serving historically underrepresented communities, 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)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
18. Can a foreign institution apply as the primary applicant?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) cannot apply as the primary applicant for this opportunity.
19. Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. The FOA states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
20. Are any international elements allowed at all?
Yes. The FOA indicates that foreign components are allowed when defined and justified under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may include well-defined international elements if they are necessary and comply with NIH policy.
21. When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on September 27, 2018.
22. What is the original closing date listed in the provided information?
The original closing date listed is July 15, 2021.
23. Does the provided information include an award ceiling?
No. The posted source data does not specify an award ceiling.
24. Does the provided information state how many awards NIH expects to make?
No. The posted source data does not specify the expected number of awards.
25. Based on the information provided, what should applicants do if they need budget expectations or anticipated funding levels?
The provided information indicates applicants may need to consult the full FOA text and any related notices to understand budget expectations, hub size assumptions, and NIH's anticipated funding levels.
26. What is the overall intent of this opportunity in plain terms?
Overall, this opportunity functions as a major NIH infrastructure and capacity-building program for institutions prepared to operate a collaborative translational science hub, advance innovative research practices, and train the next generation of clinical and translational researchers while coordinating closely with NIH under a cooperative agreement structure.
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