Funding Opportunity Purpose: As advances in data and artificial intelligence (AI) transform scientific discovery, maintaining U.S. leadership in fundamental and translational research requires that researchers and students across the country to have access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure, including computing, data, and software. Today, access to this infrastructure is highly uneven across the nation. The NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs Program will support state or multi-state regional hubs, each structured as a coalition of institutions of higher education working in partnership with private industry, philanthropy, and state and local governments to provision the necessary AI infrastructure, develop the scientific and technical workforce equipped to leverage these capabilities, and accelerate AI-enabled scientific discovery.

AI Infrastructure Hubs combine contributions from:

• State and Regional Consortia: Consortia are responsible for separately raising the funding for the AI infrastructure, including computing, data, and software, through partnerships with the private sector, philanthropy and state and local governments.
• NSF: Building on this infrastructure, NSF's investments will (i) fund support from AI infrastructure professionals with the technical expertise to support researchers, students, and educators in applying AI infrastructure for scientific discovery; (ii) connect meritorious research with AI Infrastructure Hubs in their regions, and (iii) support faculty and educator training and instructional material development to expand the next-generation AI infrastructure and science and engineering workforce.

AI Infrastructure Hubs will engage with the broader regional ecosystem as appropriate. For example, Hubs can support formal workforce development offerings and make available AI resources to complement the experiential learning afforded by the Tech Access: AI-Ready America Coordination Hubs. The AI Infrastructure Hubs will also be expected to engage with the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) initiative to share resources, experiences, and lessons learned.

NSF intends to make only one award per state or multi-state region. Potential submitters are encouraged to collaborate within their state or multi-state regions. Planning grant proposals are accepted to assist in planning. State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs is led by the CISE Directorate in partnership with the TIP Directorate and the EDU Directorate

Opportunity Overview: 

The NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs program will expand access to the AI infrastructure, including compute, data, and software, required for AI-enabled scientific discovery, transforming research and workforce development opportunities for students. Hub resources may enable autonomous laboratories and AI-enabled research experiences across degree and certificate programs, as well as stackable credits that build a technical workforce equipped to leverage AI for scientific discovery.

NSF does not provide funding for acquisition of AI infrastructure, including computing, data, software, networking, storage, cloud services, or other AI systems or services, leaving that responsibility to regional and state consortia. Instead, NSF serves the catalytic role of prompting consortia to aggregate the necessary funding for procuring, deploying, operating, and maintaining AI infrastructure through partnerships with research institutions, industry, philanthropy, and state and local governments. AI infrastructure resources are the foundation of a successful AI Infrastructure Hub, access to which enables speed-to-science for meritorious research and AI infrastructure workforce development funded by NSF.

Key goals of the State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs Program are to:

• Expand Access to Compute: Empower and incentivize state or regional consortia to provide AI infrastructure to researchers and students by leveraging funding, expertise, and economies of scale across institutions and other stakeholders.
• Accelerate AI-Enabled Scientific Discovery: Expand access to AI methods, tools, computing, and data infrastructure across STEM research. Consortia may leverage state or regional initiatives such as the NSF AI-Ready America Coordination Hubs, and support initiatives that increase faculty experience, knowledge, and use of AI and AI infrastructure resources in STEM courses, instructional material, and research.
• Develop an AI for Science Workforce: Build a skilled technical workforce trained to use advanced computing and data resources to accelerate research, including degree and certificate programs with stackable credits reflecting in-demand skills.

An AI Infrastructure Hub proposal consists of five elements:

1. Hub consortium stakeholders, vision, and key deliverables.
2. Computing, data, and AI infrastructure.
3. Partnerships with regional stakeholders.
4. Development of an AI infrastructure workforce.
5. Faculty training and instructional material development to leverage AI infrastructure for scientific discovery.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: The PI institution may submit only one proposal for each competition specified in the solicitation.

FOA is available online at: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/us-national-science-foundation-state-regional-artificial/nsf26-513/solicitation

 Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: November 4, 2026

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

• Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    
• Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       
•  List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

Change in application form: Since the limited submission process does not involve OSP assistance with budget development, we are now using a budget template in the Submittable form. This template is designed to capture a general overview of the budget. Additionally, we have included a budget justification section directly in the form, eliminating the need for applicants to upload separate budget documents with their pre-proposal materials.

Please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu for assistance

Due to the time restraint on the deadline, this opportunity will be reviewed on a first-come-first served basis

Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

Providing America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers with effective, market-based risk management tools and solutions is a cornerstone of USDA’s intention to ensure a financially sustainable and competitive agricultural system. For an individual farm manager, risk management involves choosing tools and strategies designed to reduce the financial effects of the uncertainties of commodity prices, financial access, government policies, crop yields, market economies, weather, human factors, and other conditions that can cause fluctuations in farm income and subsequent profits.

The purpose of ARME, Assistance Listing 10.520, is to educate agricultural producers about the full range of risk management activities. These activities include futures, options, agricultural trade options, crop insurance, cash forward contracting, debt reduction, production diversification, marketing plans and tactics, farm resources risk reduction, and other appropriate risk management strategies. The program authority specifies that special emphasis shall be placed on farm viability and risk management strategies (including farm financial benchmarking, business planning and technical assistance, market assessment, transfer and succession planning, and crop insurance participation), education, and outreach specifically focused at farmers and ranchers in Section 133 of the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1524 (a))

The ARME program brings the existing knowledge base to bear on risk management issues faced by agricultural producers and expands the program throughout the United States on a regional, multi-regional, and national basis.

The primary goals of the ARME program are to 1) provide U.S. agricultural producers as appropriate, with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed risk management decisions that enhance profitability of their operations; and 2) deliver risk management education to farmers, ranchers, and producers.

The ARME program will fund four regional centers (Northeast Region, North Central Region, Southern Region, and Western Region) and one electronic support center (Electronic Support Center). Applicants must provide adequate justification that their organization has the required capacity to organize, coordinate, and lead centers in carrying out the activities required to address this program’s priorities across the entire region, including any U.S. Territories.

 Opportunity Overview: 

The Regional Risk Management Education Centers are expected to specifically focus on risk management activities with at least 50 percent of the total award designated for competitive subaward funding to target results- or outcome-based risk management education and training programs to farmers, ranchers, and producers. Regional and multi-regional programs must be flexible while addressing needs as determined by the people served, focus groups, and other parties knowledgeable and interested in agricultural risk management.

The regional centers are expected to address the risk management needs of farmers, ranchers, and producers in the following five risk management categories:

• Production Risk: Any production-related activity that may result in a range of possible outcomes that affect the quality and quantity of commodities.

• Market Risk: Any related activity or event that leads to the variability of prices farmers receive for their products or pay for production inputs.

• Financial Risk: Encompasses those risks that threaten financial health of the business, such as the volatility of prices, yields, and income, as well as changing interest rates, credit rules, and the availability of credit.

• Legal Risk: Generated by uncertainties surrounding and resulting from government policies and regulations related to tax laws, food safety, labeling and marketing, protected species, water use, animal health, chemical use, animal waste, other environmental laws and regulations, government commodity and income support programs, and the legal liabilities of a variety of legal claims issues faced by farms and ranches.

• Human Risk: Human relationships that impact the viability of farm and ranch businesses including communication, labor management and supply, intergenerational transition, estate planning, and heirs’ property, as well as human health and relationship issues including accidents, illness, disability, death, and divorce.

The purpose of the regional centers is to conduct regional and multi-regional-based competitive grants programs. The competitive grants (subaward) programs will support organizations and individuals who can carry out innovative and timely agricultural risk management education and outreach activities. Subaward recipients must have the knowledge and experience to understand audience needs and develop appropriate risk management curricula. Subaward recipients must also use meaningful engagement strategies to deliver direct education to farmers, ranchers, and producers or through risk management professionals, institutions, and agencies. Subaward recipients must identify the intended audience(s) and outcomes of their proposed outreach and engagement deliverables and activities and the metrics to measure the associated outcomes. Subaward recipients must be approved by NIFA.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.

 FOA is available online at: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/26f64b5f-04d5-4035-937e-9535f2038c4e

 Full Proposal Deadline: September 21, 2026

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    

Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       

 List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

Due to the time restraint on the deadline, this opportunity will be reviewed on a first-come-first served basis

Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

It is necessary to mitigate threats to sustain the overall competitiveness of U.S. agriculture to maintain an abundant, safe food supply for people and livestock; to support the farmers, ranchers who drive the U.S. food and agriculture sector; to maintain the vitality of rural communities; and to ensure profitability across the agricultural sector and affiliated industries. The CES, with its local and direct-education delivery model, is positioned to reach individuals, families, businesses, and communities to reduce biosecurity risks, weather events and disasters risks, cyber threats, and exposures to other shocks.

Diseases that affect livestock and backyard flocks can have a significant impact on animal health and production, live animal trade, and consumer confidence in meat and other animal products. Preventing the introduction and/or spread of plant pests and diseases is a critical component to plant life and health and are vital strategies to securing a crop production system that supports a safe and affordable food supply for people and livestock. Weather events and disasters, caused by natural hazards such as droughts, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, derechos, and hurricanes impact lives and livelihoods. Such incidents pose significant threats to the food and agriculture sector and can escalate biosecurity risks. As the food and agriculture sector becomes more dependent on technology and online services, cyber threat actors pose legitimate risks to breaching such systems.

The FADI-EDEN program is aligned with the following USDA Research and Development Priorities:

• Increasing Profitability for Farmers and Ranchers

• Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species

• Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land

• Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality

 Opportunity Overview: 

FADI-EDEN Program

The goal of the FADI-EDEN program, under assistance listing 10.304, is to support CES’s ability to maximize the resilience of the U.S. food and agriculture sector to biosecurity risks, weather events and disasters, cyber threats, and other shocks through the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). EDEN is a national, collaborative network of CES professionals who are dedicated to improved all-hazards management of domestic disasters. EDEN supports  all-hazards capacity-building efforts for peer CES professionals so that they are prepared for and skilled in directly providing education and technical assistance to farmers, youth and families, small businesses, and communities. The FADI-EDEN program provides coordination support and administrative leadership to EDEN so that it can achieve its mission.

The strength of the FADI-EDEN program has been its direct support to EDEN. CES professionals who are engaged with EDEN have expertise in agriculture and natural resources, individual and family health and well-being, youth development, and community and economic development. Through EDEN, CES professionals collaborate to respond to incidents that impact the U.S. food and agriculture sector; create and deliver educational resources and experiences aimed at the phases of the disaster management cycle; develop and/or enhance their skills and expertise in technical topics and direct education; and partner with local, state, Tribal, territorial, and Federal organizations and agencies to strengthen collaborations and reduce duplication of efforts and services.

The primary purpose of the FADI-EDEN program is to support a project that provides coordination support and administrative leadership for long-term and effective, all-hazards public outreach activities across the CES through EDEN. It is expected that such coordination support and leadership activities for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of multi-faceted extension activities will enhance and expand the CES’s abilities to share science-based information with intended audiences at the local, regional, and national levels.

The project will be administered for the CES by a cooperating entity that will be selected competitively. The FADI-EDEN program will fund one project that addresses the priorities as presented as a FY 2026 Scope of Work.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.

 FOA is available online at: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/199de229-1f8e-4dad-a155-2b078027bb29

 Full Proposal Deadline: September 21, 2026

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    

Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       

 List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

 Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

EPA is soliciting applications from eligible applicants for projects in four Project Areas as discussed in further detail below. While EPA expects to make at least one award in each area, there is no guarantee that this will be done, and EPA may redistribute the awards per area based on the quality of applications received and other applicable considerations. Currently, water utilities face challenges in recruiting, training, and retaining employees. These challenges are exacerbated with roughly one-third of the water sector workforce eligible to retire in the next 10 years. Additionally, as the technologies that are used in the water sector become more advanced (e.g., state of the art water reuse technology), there is a growing need to train and employ water protection specialists with specialized technical skills.

This program is aimed at funding workforce development programs through an increased collaboration among Federal, State, and local governments; and institutions of higher education to accelerate career pipelines and provide access to workforce opportunities. It aims to address the challenges faced by the water workforce in several key areas to help develop the next generation of water workers. A particular focus of this NOFO is to support water workforce development in rural, small, and tribal communities.

The proposed activities support the Agency’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative’s Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American.

Opportunity Overview:

Ensuring that all Americans have safe water to drink and essential wastewater services is a top priority for EPA and the Office of Water. The grant program supports the missions of both the Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) and the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW). OWM’s mission is to protect public health and the environment by supporting the Clean Water Act and related statutes. OWM promotes effective and responsible wastewater treatment, disposal, infrastructure, and management and by encouraging the protection and restoration of watersheds. OGWDW protects public health by supporting the Safe Drinking Water Act and related statutes and promotes the safety of the nation’s drinking water. Awards made through this funding opportunity will increase the number of trained water professionals and provide more opportunities for future water professionals to meet the demands of the water industry.

Activities will support the development of a sustainable workforce dedicated to maintaining drinking water and wastewater systems, ensuring the protection of public health and the environment. These efforts should aim for measurable results, clearly showing tangible benefits in communities.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Under this NOFO, only one application can be submitted per applicant. If an applicant submits more than one application, EPA will contact them before the review process begins to determine which application(s) will be withdrawn. 

FOA is available online at: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/334a82d8-874c-410e-97c4-c4971d65abc2                                                                                                            

Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline:  October 5, 2026  

 Documents Needed for the Preproposals: 

  · Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.               

  · Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format)              

  · List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

If assistance is needed to create the PDF, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

 Internal Review Process: The Research Division in consultation with a review committee, will decide which pre-proposals will continue to the full proposal submission stage. Anonymized reviewer feedback will be provided to all PIs whose pre-proposals were considered by the review committee, following the announcement of the finalist selection.

Due to the time restraint on the deadline, this opportunity will be reviewed on a first-come-first served basis

Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to solicit applications for the Atopic Dermatitis Research Network (ADRN) program. The ADRN program will support Centers that integrate clinical and translational research to improve our understanding and management of atopic dermatitis with emphasis on chronic skin inflammation and the defense mechanisms of the skin. To assist public and private nonprofit institutions and individuals to establish, expand and improve biomedical research and research training in infectious diseases and related areas; to conduct developmental research, to produce and test research materials. To assist public, private and commercial institutions to conduct developmental research, to produce and test research materials, to provide research services as required by the agency for programs in infectious diseases, and controlling disease caused by infectious or parasitic agents, allergic and immunologic diseases and related areas. Projects range from studies of microbial physiology and antigenic structure to collaborative trials of experimental drugs and vaccines, mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics as well as research dealing with epidemiological observations in hospitalized patients or community populations and progress in allergic and immunologic diseases. Because of this dual focus, the program encompasses both basic research and clinical research. 

 Opportunity Overview: 

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory pruritic skin disease that affects approximately 11% of children and up to 9% of adults in the United States. AD is associated with defective skin barrier function as well as with several cutaneous immune abnormalities, including type 2 inflammation, decreased expression of antimicrobial peptides, and low numbers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells. These abnormalities, several of which have been previously identified by the Atopic Dermatitis Research Network (ADRN), appear to translate into cutaneous defense defects given that patients with AD are more susceptible to certain viral (e.g., Herpes simplex, coxsackievirus) and bacterial (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) infections.

The extent of and the mechanisms responsible for the apparent defects in cutaneous host defense seen in AD patients are not fully defined; thus, effective therapies to reverse these defects are absent. Beyond its effects on cutaneous defenses, AD is associated with systemic inflammation and appears to be the first step in the development of other atopic conditions, including food allergy and asthma. Emerging evidence shows the occurrence of bidirectional signaling between the skin and gastrointestinal tracts via communications among the microbiota, epithelium, and immune system at these sites.

The ADRN program will support Centers that integrate clinical and translational research to further improve our understanding of chronic inflammatory and defense mechanisms of the skin by focusing on differences in skin structure/function and immune responses between patients with AD and either healthy individuals or disease controls. Research areas of interest may include, but are not limited to:

• Understanding the genetic variations, epigenetic alterations, signaling pathways, and protein and lipid modifications contributing to the evolution of epithelial barrier dysfunction in children and adults with AD.
• Evaluating the role of the skin microbiome in host defense, including the effects of pathogenic and therapeutic microbiome perturbations on cutaneous immunity and AD.
• Evaluating the immune and skin barrier impairments leading to cutaneous viral (e.g., Herpes simplex) and bacterial (e.g., S. aureus) infections.
• Comparing immune responses to cutaneous pathogens in AD versus other chronic or inflammatory skin conditions, such as psoriasis or ichthyosis.
• Improving our knowledge of the skin-gut axis in the context of inflammation and altered immune responses in AD.
• Designing and conducting small, pilot clinical trials to prevent or improve AD and its chronic consequences on skin function and defenses in adults or children, as well as on the progression of chronic atopic diseases in children.

The focus of the ADRN is on human disease, with the majority of the proposed research defined as human subjects research or utilizing human material (including primary human cells, biologic samples, and clinical data). Studies using only transformed human cell lines will not satisfy this requirement. The ADRN will support limited animal research based on the need for experimentation that is not possible in humans or with human materials, with inclusion of new approach methodologies (NAMs) that utilize human samples or clinical datasets where feasible in lieu of animal models.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

 FOA is available online at: https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/62700bad-65de-48bf-8678-d5a0bf13203d/attachments/9e67125c-8b20-42ca-9ed5-fd5600f68927/RFA-AI-27-004-Full-Announcement.html

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 04, 2026  

Full Proposal Deadline: September 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    

Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       

 List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

Due to the time restraint on the deadline, this opportunity will be reviewed on a first-come-first served basis   

Funding Opportunity Purpose: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is announcing the continuation of the Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program, referred to as Superfund Research Program (SRP) Centers. SRP Center grants will support problem-based, solution-oriented research Centers that consist of multiple, integrated projects representing both the biomedical and environmental science and engineering disciplines; as well as cores tasked with administrative (which includes Center leadership, data management, and training); translational research and engagement; and research support functions.  The scope of the SRP Centers is taken directly from the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, which limits competition for this program to accredited institutes of higher education.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 for funding.

Funding Opportunity Goal(s)  To support innovative research and training through multi-project, interdisciplinary grants.  Areas of research may include: (1) advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects of hazardous substances on human health; (2) methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances; (3) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment; and (4) basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances

Opportunity Overview: The NIEHS invites qualified investigators from domestic institutions of higher education to submit an application for an SRP Center grant. SRP legislation, under SARA of 1986, allows NIEHS the flexibility to create university-based Centers to conduct research to address the wide array of scientific uncertainties facing the national Superfund program.  Per42 USC 9660 (a)(3)eligible applicants are limited to accredited institutes of higher education. 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 for funding. The complex problems related to sites impacted by hazardous substances requires the expertise of both biomedical research (BMR) and environmental science and engineering (ESE) disciplines. Applicants responding to this Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) are expected to design a research Center that integrates BMR (e.g., toxicology, epidemiology, mechanistic studies) with ESE (e.g., remediation, geosciences, ecological sciences). The goal of a NIEHS SRP Center is to improve public health by supporting integrative, multidisciplinary research incorporating the following: responsiveness to mandates; problem-based, solution-oriented research; relevance to SRP and Superfund.

Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Specific to this NOFO: Only one application per institution is allowed,

FOA is available online at: https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/daffbf0f-45f1-423b-8b6d-e994db43ce08/attachments/34dc9d30-f07f-4e33-bebe-4eb30bd82666/RFA-ES-27-004-Full-Announcement.html

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 04, 2026                                                                                                                                 Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: September 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM      

Documents Needed for the Preproposals: 

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

• Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    
• Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       
•  List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

Change in application form: Since the limited submission process does not involve OSP assistance with budget development, we are now using a budget template in the Submittable form. This template is designed to capture a general overview of the budget. Additionally, we have included a budget justification section directly in the form, eliminating the need for applicants to upload separate budget documents with their pre-proposal materials.   

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu. 

Due to the time restraint on the deadline, this opportunity will be reviewed on a first-come-first served basis 

Funding Opportunity Purpose: The goal of the Institutional Biomedical Undergraduate Research Training (BURT) program is to strengthen research training environments and develop a pool of well-trained students who:

• Complete their baccalaureate degrees in biomedically-related fields, and
• Transition into and complete biomedical, research-focused higher degree programs (such as Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.).

 This notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a Limited Competition invites applications from eligible organizations to apply. Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the applications will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious applications will be considered. This funding announcement provides support to eligible, domestic organizations to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed approaches to biomedical undergraduate training and mentoring to help build a strong biomedical research workforce for the nation.

Applicant organizations must enroll undergraduate students and have received NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) funding averaging less than $50 million in total costs (direct and F&A/indirect) per year over the last three fiscal years (FY). To promote undergraduate research training opportunities across a range of eligible organizations, the program will accept applications in two tracks:

• Single Site: To support trainees from a single baccalaureate-degree granting organization.
• Community College Partnerships: To support community college trainee development through strong collaborations between at least one associate-degree granting organization (that is, a community college) and at least one baccalaureate-degree granting organization.

The proposed research training programs will incorporate didactic, research, and career development elements to prepare trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the nation.

Opportunity Overview: The overall goal of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program is to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. Each NIGMS-funded NRSA program is expected to provide a rigorous, well-designed research training program that includes mentored research experiences, courses, seminars, and additional training opportunities to equip trainees with the following skills required for careers in the biomedical research workforce:

• Technical (for example, appropriate methods, technologies, and quantitative/computational approaches).
• Operational (for example, independent knowledge acquisition, rigorous experimental design, interpretation of data, and conducting research in the safest manner possible).
• Professional (for example, management, leadership, communication, and teamwork).

Developing a highly skilled biomedical research workforce is essential to strengthening the nation’s economic competitiveness and improving public health. Undergraduate education is key to pursuing a career in the biomedical research workforce, and over 45% of undergraduate students begin their education at associate-degree granting organizations (that is, community colleges). Structured research training programs that provide financial support, high quality mentoring, robust networks, authentic research experiences and opportunities for skills development lead to improved biomedical degree completion rates and enhanced commitment to a research career. Therefore, there is a strong need to develop research training programs to effectively support the skills and career development of undergraduate students.

Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Specific to this NOFO: NIGMS will accept only one application, and support only one award, per applicant organization.

FOA is available online at: https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/d88aea72-290a-4396-83ba-139886a6ffc8/attachments/e59a911d-8bc5-483a-a7e0-0d1ac27bff83/PAR-26-033-Full-Announcement.html

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 04, 2026                                                                                                                                 Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: September 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM        

Documents Needed for the Preproposals: 

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

• Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    
• Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       
•  List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

Change in application form: Since the limited submission process does not involve OSP assistance with budget development, we are now using a budget template in the Submittable form. This template is designed to capture a general overview of the budget. Additionally, we have included a budget justification section directly in the form, eliminating the need for applicants to upload separate budget documents with their pre-proposal materials.   

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu. 

Due to the time restraint on the deadline, this opportunity will be reviewed on a first-come-first served basis  

Funding Opportunity Purpose: The goal of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is to develop a pool of well-trained clinician-scientist leaders available to address the nation’s biomedical research needs. Specifically, this funding announcement provides support to eligible, domestic organizations to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed approaches to dual-degree training and mentoring that will keep pace with the rapid evolution of the biomedical research enterprise and lead to the completion of both a clinical degree (for example, M.D., D.O., D.V.M., D.D.S., Pharm.D., etc.) and a research doctorate degree (Ph.D.).  

With the dual qualifications of a rigorous scientist and clinician, graduates will be equipped with the skills to develop research programs that accelerate the translation of research advances to the understanding, detection, treatment, and prevention of human disease, and to lead the advancement of biomedical research.  Areas of particular importance to NIGMS are optimizing training efficiency, fostering the persistence of alumni in research careers, and enhancing the clinician-scientist workforce.  NIGMS expects that the proposed research training program will incorporate didactic, research, mentoring and career development elements to prepare trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the nation.

Opportunity Overview: The overall goal of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program is to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. More information about NRSA programs may be found at the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award website. The NRSA program has been the primary means of supporting predoctoral and postdoctoral research training programs since enactment of the NRSA legislation in 1974. 

Each NIGMS-funded MSTP award is expected to provide a rigorous, well-designed research training program that includes mentored research experiences, courses, seminars, and additional training opportunities that equip clinician scientists with the following skills required for careers in the biomedical research workforce:

• Technical (for example, appropriate methods, technologies, and quantitative/computational approaches).
• Operational (for example, independent knowledge acquisition, rigorous experimental design, interpretation of data, and conducting research in the safest manner possible).
• Professional (for example, management, leadership, communication, and teamwork).

Through this funding announcement, NIGMS encourages changes in integrated clinical and graduate research training to keep pace with the rapid evolution of the biomedical research enterprise, which is increasingly complex, interdisciplinary, quantitative, and collaborative. Other changes in the biomedical research enterprise include the approaches utilized to investigate clinically relevant research questions, and the range of careers that dual-degree recipients are pursuing. Additionally, there is an increasing recognition of the need to enhance reproducibility of biomedical research results through scientific rigor and transparency, and to promote a culture where the highest standards of practice are used to ensure the safety of all individuals in the research environment. This funding opportunity is intended to encourage and enable the scientific community to develop and implement evidence-informed approaches to biomedical research training and mentoring that will effectively train future, rigorous clinician scientists to become leaders in biomedical research and clinical medicine.

Programs are encouraged not to simply layer additional activities onto existing structures but to instead use creative and transformational approaches to integrate clinical and biomedical graduate training, including curricular reform, that preserve the best elements of current programs, while enhancing the focus on the development of trainee skills.

NIGMS strives to ensure that future researchers will be drawn from the entire pool of potential contributors and seeks to support individuals at multiple training and career stages in a variety of organizations and educational settings across the country. The Overarching Objective of the MSTP is to develop a pool of well-trained clinician scientists (that is, a Ph.D. combined with a clinical degree, such as an M.D., D.O., D.V.M., D.D.S., Pharm.D., etc.) who have the following:

• A broad understanding across biomedical disciplines.
• The skills to independently acquire the knowledge needed to advance their chosen fields and careers.
• The ability to think critically and identify important biomedical research questions and approaches that push forward the boundaries of their areas of study.
• A strong foundation in scientific reasoning, rigorous research design, experimental methods, quantitative and computational approaches, and data analysis and interpretation.
• The skills to conduct research in the safest manner possible, and a commitment to approaching and conducting biomedical research responsibly, ethically, and with integrity.
• Experience initiating, conducting, interpreting, and presenting rigorous and reproducible biomedical research with increasing self-direction.
• The ability to utilize clinical experience and observations to identify biomedical research questions and to develop impactful research programs that push forward the boundaries of their areas of study.
• The skills necessary to integrate research and clinical activities and the capacity to translate scientific research findings into clinical practice.
• The ability and skills to lead changes that promote health for all, reduce health disparities and improve the health of those medically underserved across diseases, disorders, and conditions.
• The ability to work effectively in teams with colleagues from a variety of scientific backgrounds, and to promote safe and supportive scientific research environments.
• The skills to teach and communicate scientific methodologies and findings to a wide variety of audiences (for example, discipline-specific, across disciplines, and for the public).
• The knowledge, professional skills and experiences required to identify and transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce that utilize the dual-degrees (for example, the breadth of careers that sustain biomedical research in areas that are relevant to the NIH mission)

Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Specific to this NOFO: NIGMS will accept only one MSTP application per institution. 

FOA is available online at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-128.html

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 04, 2026                                                                                                                                 Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: September 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM   

Documents Needed for the Preproposals: 

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

• Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    
• Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       
•  List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

Change in application form: Since the limited submission process does not involve OSP assistance with budget development, we are now using a budget template in the Submittable form. This template is designed to capture a general overview of the budget. Additionally, we have included a budget justification section directly in the form, eliminating the need for applicants to upload separate budget documents with their pre-proposal materials.   

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu. 

Funding Opportunity Purpose: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for a Research Coordinating Center (RCC) to participate in a new consortium with clinical centers that will test anti-obesity medication (AOM) treatment strategies for youth with obesity that maximize benefits and minimize risks of AOM use. Such intervention strategies should support the promotion of healthy growth and development; adequate nutritional status/intake, healthy eating and physical activity behaviors; mental health and well-being (e.g., body image, self-esteem, mood, etc.), and quality of life and be feasible to implement in clinical care settings. Priority areas include testing strategies to determine optimal developmental stage for AOM initiation, rate and amount of weight loss, AOM class, dose, frequency, and duration, and content and intensity of adjunct lifestyle therapies that may be imperative to ensure normal psychological and physical development and to potentially avoid lifelong dependence on AOMs. Investigators should also evaluate potential predictors of response/ nonresponse to various treatment strategies under evaluation. The clinical centers may conduct independent or multicenter trials but will collaborate on the development of protocols, use of common measures and data elements, use of a central laboratory and standardized procedures to collect data and biospecimens, and data analyses and manuscripts

The RCC will lead, manage, and harmonize efforts for the Consortium including 1) providing management and administrative support; 2) providing leadership and expertise on statistical design and analysis, 3) providing research coordination with a central laboratory, 4) harmonizing data collection methods and use of common data elements, 5) developing the database; 6) conducting data management and data analyses for Consortium studies; and 7) fostering research collaborations. 

Funding Opportunity Goal(s)  To support innovative research and training through multi-project, interdisciplinary grants.  Areas of research may include: (1) advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects of hazardous substances on human health; (2) methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances; (3) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment; and (4) basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances

Opportunity Overview: Childhood obesity is common and increasing. In the United States, about 21% of children and teens have obesity. Obesity in children is linked to serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, liver disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and mental health concerns and many continue to have obesity as adults. Because of this, finding safe and effective treatments for children with obesity is very important.

After many years of research, obesity is still hard to treat. Healthy eating and physical activity programs are the main treatments, but they must be very intense and frequent to lower Body Mass Index (BMI). Even then, weight loss is often small, does not last, and many children do not see meaningful improvement. These programs are also hard to access, especially for low-income families and those in rural areas. For children with severe obesity, weight-loss surgery can lead to larger and longer-lasting weight loss. However, some people regain weight over time, and these surgeries are invasive and require lifelong medical care.

Since 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three weight loss medications liraglutide, semaglutide, and phentermine/topiramate for long term weight management in children ages 12 years and older with obesity. Research shows that these newer medications can greatly lower BMI and average weight loss can be close to what is seen with weight loss surgery. These medications also improve blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. However, weight loss can vary widely between children, ranging from 5% to 20% or more of their BMI. As with lifestyle programs and surgery, there is no clear way to predict which children will respond best to these medications.

In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics released guidelines recommending weight loss medications to be used along with intensive healthy behavior and lifestyle treatment. However, there is still limited evidence to help doctors make the best treatment decisions. Stopping these medications often leads to weight regain, and long term treatment may be needed. Short term studies show that these medications are generally safe and well tolerated, with mostly gastrointestinal side effects, but long term safety is still unknown. Newer weight loss medications also strongly reduce hunger and increase fullness, leading to rapid and substantial weight loss. This raises important unanswered questions on optimal and safe use of AOMs in youth, including what intensity of behavioral/lifestyle intervention is needed while on AOMs, whether patients maintain adequate nutrient intake and healthy eating behaviors during treatment, and the impact on body composition during growth and development. Well-designed studies are needed to help guide how to use these medications safely and effectively in clinical practice and to understand their long term safety in children.

Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Specific to this NOFO: Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in Part 2, Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

FOA is available online at: https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/86e848c2-6ff6-4b35-a18b-bc2d031f81c1/attachments/653d9dd8-4b1a-4938-b7ba-faa8915d06d6/RFA-DK-27-136-Full-Announcement.html

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 04, 2026                                                                                                                                 Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: October 09, 2026, at 5:00 PM   

Documents Needed for the Preproposals: 

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

• Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    
• Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       
•  List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

Change in application form: Since the limited submission process does not involve OSP assistance with budget development, we are now using a budget template in the Submittable form. This template is designed to capture a general overview of the budget. Additionally, we have included a budget justification section directly in the form, eliminating the need for applicants to upload separate budget documents with their pre-proposal materials.   

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu. 

Announcement of UTRGV Limited Submission Internal Competition     All PI-eligible UTRGV faculty/staff interested in submitting a proposal to the Limited Submission opportunity must submit the internal pre-proposal via Submittable platform (using single PDF document) by the deadline. Please see OSP Handbook, page 8, for PI eligibility details. Internal pre-proposals must comply with all instructions and address the criteria referenced in this announcement.   

Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications from institutions/organizations that propose to establish core centers that are part of an integrated and existing program of nutrition and/or obesity research. The Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORC) program is designed to support and enhance the national research effort in nutrition and obesity. NORCs support three primary research-related activities: Research Core services, a Pilot and Feasibility (P and F) program, and a Scientific Catalyst program. All activities pursued by Nutrition Obesity Research Centers are designed to enhance the efficiency, productivity, effectiveness, and multidisciplinary nature of research in nutrition and obesity. To promote extramural basic and clinical biomedical research that improves the understanding of the mechanisms underlying disease and leads to improved preventions, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes, digestive, and kidney diseases. Programmatic areas within the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases include diabetes, digestive, endocrine, hematologic, liver, metabolic, nephrologic, nutrition, obesity, and urologic diseases.

 Opportunity Overview: 

This NOFO invites applications for Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC) grants to support research in nutrition and/or obesity. The mission of the NORC program is to serve as a key component of the NIDDK-supported research effort to advance nutrition and obesity research inclusive of advancing basic science research, clinical studies and implementation research, and stakeholder engagement as well as the goal of strengthening biomedical research workforce training. 

To accomplish this mission, the NORCs:

• Create an environment that supports important and innovative research;
• Attract and retain early-stage investigators and investigators new to nutrition/obesity research;
• Provide core services that leverage funding and unique expertise;
• Foster interdisciplinary collaborations, especially in emerging areas of research, to catalyze new ideas and scientific approaches;
• Raise awareness and interest in fundamental and clinical nutrition and/or obesity research at their institutions, as well as locally, regionally, and nationally;
• Promote the translation of scientific discoveries from bench to bedside to the community to improve public health; and
• Enhance nutrition and obesity research education and training opportunities.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

 FOA is available online at: https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/cb36f642-f92b-4b27-9bc8-47440c03eb09/attachments/5c4fbb52-415a-459c-a6c6-7c427079b6cb/RFA-DK-27-120-Full-Announcement.html

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 21, 2026                                                                                                                                 Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: October 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM  

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    

Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       

 List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

Internal Review Process: The Research Division in consultation with a review committee, will decide which pre-proposals will continue to the full proposal submission stage. Anonymized reviewer feedback will be provided to all PIs whose pre-proposals were considered by the review committee, following the announcement of the finalist selection.

Announcement of UTRGV Limited Submission Internal Competition     All PI-eligible UTRGV faculty/staff interested in submitting a proposal to the Limited Submission opportunity must submit the internal pre-proposal via Submittable platform (using single PDF document) by the deadline. Please see OSP Handbook, page 8, for PI eligibility details. Internal pre-proposals must comply with all instructions and address the criteria referenced in this announcement.   

Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

CPRIT recognizes that there are more exceptional ideas than can be funded using traditional mechanisms. Moreover, outstanding projects need gap funding between major grants to sustain these projects and ensure they remain competitive at the national level. CPRAs seek to provide short-term funding to sustain exceptional projects or for investigators to start new directions of investigation. Topics include all aspects of cancer research and are expected to contribute major new insights into the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of cancers. Using this mechanism, CPRIT intends to support innovative projects that focus on exceptionally promising topics to ensure they remain competitive for more conventional and longer-term mechanisms of funding.

Areas of interest include basic research, translational studies, and population-based and/or clinical investigations. While almost any aspect of biology may be relevant to cancer research, the degree of relevance to cancer research will be an important criterion for evaluation of projects for funding by CPRIT (section 10.3.1). For example, are alterations in the process in question primarily responsible for oncogenesis or secondary manifestations of malignant transformation? Will understanding the process or interfering with it offer selective and useful insight into the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer? Successful applicants for funding from CPRIT will have addressed these questions satisfactorily.

 Opportunity Overview: 

Applicants may request up to a maximum of $250,000 in total costs for up to 2 years. Because of the nature of this funding mechanism, renewal applications will not be accepted. Only 1 submission per investigator is permitted. Award funds may be used to pay for salary and benefits, research supplies, equipment, and clinical costs. Requests for funds for travel to scientific meetings other than the CPRIT biennial conference are not appropriate for this funding mechanism, nor are requests for funds to support construction and/or renovation. State law limits the amount of award funding that may be spent on indirect costs to no more than 5% of the total award amount.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Due to the highly competitive nature of this RFA and available funding, CPRIT is imposing a limit of 8 applications (6/8 available) from an academic research institution and 1 each from nonacademic institutions on the number of CPRA applications that may be submitted by an institution during this review cycle.

 FOA is available online at: https://www.cprit.texas.gov/media/fdlkwz4l/rfa-r-272-cpra_final.pdf

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 21, 2026 

Full Proposal Deadline: November 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    

Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       

 List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

Internal Review Process: The Research Division in consultation with a review committee, will decide which pre-proposals will continue to the full proposal submission stage. Anonymized reviewer feedback will be provided to all PIs whose pre-proposals were considered by the review committee, following the announcement of the finalist selection.

Announcement of UTRGV Limited Submission Internal Competition     All PI-eligible UTRGV faculty/staff interested in submitting a proposal to the Limited Submission opportunity must submit the internal pre-proposal via Submittable platform (using single PDF document) by the deadline. Please see OSP Handbook, page 8, for PI eligibility details. Internal pre-proposals must comply with all instructions and address the criteria referenced in this announcement.   

Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

The CPRIT CIA will do the following:

    • Provide physicians with the opportunity to expand clinical research skills, eg, gaining experience in advanced methods and experimental approaches and developing external relationships with industry and pharmaceutical company partners and clinical research leaders at federal agencies.

   • Provide an opportunity to establish or expand partnerships with laboratory-based collaborators to design and conduct correlative studies needed to interpret the outcome of an interventional trial.

   • Provide the protected time from clinical responsibilities required to develop and conduct investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials.

   • Increase the pool of clinical investigators at Texas academic institutions who are conducting patient-oriented studies, who will be able to compete successfully for peer-reviewed grants and become institutional leaders in clinical research, and who will mentor the next generation of clinical investigators. CIA recipients will also capitalize on basic discoveries and translate them through the conduct of innovative clinical trials involving cancer patients or individuals at risk for cancer.

To accomplish these objectives, the CPRIT CIA will provide awards of up to $300,000 for up to 5 years to physicians who are within the first 5 years of a faculty appointment as an Associate Professor to acquire additional skills and experience in clinical research, to develop preliminary data that can be used to prepare applications for future clinical research projects to further both the investigator’s career and the CPRIT mission, and to provide mentorship for an early-stage investigator in clinical research. This award may be used for the following:

   • To provide salary support to the PI for levels of effort between 4 and 6 months full-time professional effort annually (33%-50%).

   • Up to $75,000 annually may be requested to support didactic study including enrollment in a degree-granting graduate training program course to enhance theoretical and practical skills in design, implementation, and interpretation of data from clinical investigations or to expand their ongoing clinical trials by including translational studies, such as biomarker studies, correlative studies, or extended data analyses.

Relevance to cancer and to CPRIT’s priority areas are important evaluation criteria for CPRIT funding. CPRIT encourages the participation of all groups underrepresented in biomedical research.

 Opportunity Overview: 

The overall goal of the CPRIT CIA is to ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained and accomplished physician-scientists is available to address Texas’ and the nation’s needs in clinical oncology research. The number of highly talented individuals entering a career in clinical investigation is decreasing at a time when the excitement and challenge associated with clinical cancer research has never been greater. The reasons for the decline in cancer clinical investigators are many and include the increased demands on clinical faculty to generate clinical revenue and, as a consequence, limited opportunities for clinical faculty to pursue research, as well as the increasingly complex nature of clinical research requiring specialized training not offered by clinical training programs. Consequently, clinical faculty often do not have the opportunity or experience required to initiate and maintain a career as a clinical investigator.

There is concern that this pattern of oncology-trained clinicians electing not to pursue careers in patient-oriented research and clinical investigation will seriously impair the ability to translate what has been discovered in the preclinical setting into advances that can benefit patients. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to develop a pipeline of cancer clinicians equipped with the skills and experience necessary to pursue careers in patient-oriented research and capable of leading innovative discovery campaigns through the conduct of clinical trials, and to provide these clinical investigators with the protected time from clinical responsibilities that is required to develop and conduct investigator-initiated clinical trials.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: An institution may submit only 2 applications (2/2 available)  under this RFA during this funding cycle.

 FOA is available online at: https://www.cprit.texas.gov/media/bqxdbzbx/rfa-r-272-cia-_final.pdf

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 21, 2026 

Full Proposal Deadline: November 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    

Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       

 List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

Internal Review Process: The Research Division in consultation with a review committee, will decide which pre-proposals will continue to the full proposal submission stage. Anonymized reviewer feedback will be provided to all PIs whose pre-proposals were considered by the review committee, following the announcement of the finalist selection.

Announcement of UTRGV Limited Submission Internal Competition     All PI-eligible UTRGV faculty/staff interested in submitting a proposal to the Limited Submission opportunity must submit the internal pre-proposal via Submittable platform (using single PDF document) by the deadline. Please see OSP Handbook, page 8, for PI eligibility details. Internal pre-proposals must comply with all instructions and address the criteria referenced in this announcement.   

Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

The past decade has spawned new strategies to treat patients with cancer. Technology has enabled scientists and clinicians to dissect individual patients’ cancers down to the very genes that cause them to grow and progress, thereby opening new doors to the development of treatment specific for that patient. This Precision Cancer Medicine, as it has been named, requires tests or biomarkers to determine the gene/protein drivers of a given cancer and then new drugs that effectively target and block those drivers. Industry and academic centers have responded by developing new drugs that target these defective pathways, resulting in a plethora of new agents that need testing in patients. The sheer number of these new drugs and the requirement that they be tested only in the subset of patients harboring the gene/pathway alteration have made clinical testing of these new agents challenging. No longer do we test a new drug on all patients or all patients with a specific disease, like breast or colon cancer. Now these drugs must be tested on a much smaller subset of patients defined by the abnormal driver pathway in their tumor. This has resulted in the need to increase the number of patients going on clinical trials beyond the 3% to 5% of cancer patients that now participate in clinical research trials.

Another important issue is that many patients who could benefit or desire to participate in a new drug trial don’t have access to those trials because (1) they are from an underserved or underinsured population without access to a cancer center, (2) they do not have close geographic access to an urban cancer center where most of these trials are offered, or (3) they can’t afford to travel to another destination and stay there for the duration of the clinical trial. This problem often gives rise to a selection bias for the trial in that only insured, white, male, urban patients are studied in a clinical trial. It is recognized that different ethnic or racial groups may respond differently to a drug and need to be captured in early trials before a new drug enters the marketplace. Thus, solutions to address these issues must consider bringing the trials closer to the patients or providing support to bring the patients to the trial if it can’t be done locally. These problems are particularly important in large states like Texas where patients are often hundreds of miles from an academic urban clinical research center offering state-of-the-art clinical trials of new and promising treatments.

There are other barriers to increasing access to clinical trials other than patient financial and geographic concerns, and these relate in part to the medical care available in a smaller community:

1. Oncologists don’t have the necessary resources or time to establish a clinical trials program that includes an experienced research pharmacist, research nurse, study coordinator, and other staff that are critical for a busy physician to enter patients on a clinical trial.

2. Community physicians may not have the experience, knowledge, or resources to carry out clinical trial research; for example, there are many regulatory requirements that need to be followed to ensure patient safety and to address other legal issues.

3. Community physicians may not be interested in this aspect of patient care.

4. Certain trials such as sophisticated immune therapy trials with adoptive T-cell or CAR-T cell therapies, trials involving bone marrow transplantation, or those requiring repeated tumor biopsies to learn if the tumor is responding or resistant to therapy can only be done in experienced centers of excellence.

 Opportunity Overview: 

The goal of the CTNA is to inaugurate new clinical trials networks in Texas in order to provide oncologists and their patients who currently have limited access to cancer therapeutic trials opportunities to participate in cancer trials. This mechanism will support access to phase 2 and 3 cancer therapeutic trials appropriate for a community oncology care setting. Clinical trials evaluating surgical or radiation cancer therapies or imaging are not appropriate for this mechanism. Clinical trials evaluating behavioral or prevention services are not appropriate for this mechanism.

To inaugurate this program, CPRIT plans to provide, on a competitive application basis, resources to LIs to support development and operations of a clinical trials network with oncology care facilities that currently have limited access to clinical trials (Network Affiliate).

LIs will provide their Network Affiliates access to phase 2 and selected phase 3 trials that are appropriate for a community practice setting and meet the needs of that affiliate’s patient population.

With award funds, the LI will provide their Network Affiliates access to a web-based protocol management system; consent forms tailored to meet the language, cultural, and socioeconomic needs of the patient population served; data safety and quality control monitoring; training of research personnel, including opportunities to receive CME, CNE, and ACRP maintenance certifications; and access to LI tumor boards with capability for virtual meeting participation to assess patient eligibility for clinical trials.

Network Affiliates are required to identify a physician champion (physician leader) who will provide overall leadership at their site, demonstrate onsite research pharmacy capability, and identify clinical research personnel responsible for patient eligibility determination, protocol registration, data collection, and adverse event reporting.

Network Affiliates will be expected to use the LI’s IRB or a central IRB to ensure timely activation of clinical trials. Agreements to use a common IRB must be in place prior to initiating the CTNA contract.

Network Affiliates will be expected to demonstrate capability for processing and storing plasma and biosamples.

Metrics of success include the following:

1. Ability to evaluate trial eligibility for all new patients and enter eligible patients on therapeutic trials.

2. Satisfactory performance on quality control and clinical protocol audit evaluations.

3. Satisfactory staff training and demonstration of continued learning.

4. Ability of Network Affiliate to enroll patients with molecularly defined subsets.

5. Referral of Network Affiliate patients suitable for more complex trials to the LI.

Once LI Networks are satisfactorily demonstrated, LI’s will submit to CPRIT their plans to support expansion of the LI’s Network Affiliates to up to 2 additional community-based practices that are geographically located outside the LI catchment. Note that for the purpose of this award, the LI catchment is the geographic region where greater than 80% of the LI patients reside.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: An entity may only submit 1 application as the LI under this RFA. Network Affiliates may be listed on 1 application submitted under this RFA.

 FOA is available online at: https://www.cprit.texas.gov/media/sh0phplm/rfa-r-272-ctna_final.pdf

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 21, 2026 

Full Proposal Deadline: November 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    

Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       

 List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

Internal Review Process: The Research Division in consultation with a review committee, will decide which pre-proposals will continue to the full proposal submission stage. Anonymized reviewer feedback will be provided to all PIs whose pre-proposals were considered by the review committee, following the announcement of the finalist selection.

Announcement of UTRGV Limited Submission Internal Competition     All PI-eligible UTRGV faculty/staff interested in submitting a proposal to the Limited Submission opportunity must submit the internal pre-proposal via Submittable platform (using single PDF document) by the deadline. Please see OSP Handbook, page 8, for PI eligibility details. Internal pre-proposals must comply with all instructions and address the criteria referenced in this announcement.   

Funding Opportunity Purpose: 

The aim of this award mechanism is to expand access to clinical trials in Texas by providing financial support to attract clinical oncologists with expertise in the conduct of cancer clinical trials to health care systems, community hospitals or community oncology practices, critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers, or safety-net providers in rural regions or areas with underserved populations in Texas to establish or expand clinical research programs that add to the clinical trials portfolio of the state. Rural and/or underserved counties may be identified via web-based tools from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Cancer clinical trials are critical to developing new standard-of-care treatment options and improving patient outcomes. Yet, most patients are not able to participate in trials, and those who do participate are not reflective of the population living with cancer. Where trials are offered across the United States likely has a large impact on patient access and participation in research. Furthermore, increased travel time is associated with a higher risk of presenting with advanced cancer and lower enrollment in trials.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) routinely uses geospatial analysis techniques with publicly accessible data sources to identify oncology clinicians and practices relative to population-based indicators of need, such as cancer diagnoses, social vulnerability, and rurality. A recent study leveraged ASCO’s infrastructure and data available from ClinicalTrials.gov to describe the national landscape of cancer treatment trials to examine the demographic and social features of US geographies by trial availability (Kirkwood MK et al, JCO Oncol Practice 21:427, 2024).

This analysis revealed that most US counties have limited to no cancer clinical trial offerings, a disparity magnified in counties that are nonmetropolitan, with high social vulnerability, and with high cancer mortality. Seventy percent of US counties had no reported active trials in 2022 representing 19% of people age ≥55 years. Rural counties were particularly affected in that 86% of nonmetropolitan counties had no trials versus 44% of metropolitan counties. Eighteen percent of counties without trials had oncologist care sites, providing an opportunity to expand access to trials. These results emphasize that efforts to facilitate diverse site participation are needed to promote equitable access to trials and to ensure that patients participating in trials match the characteristics of patients who will receive interventions once approved.

The issue of geographic distance is exacerbated in Texas, particularly in West and South Texas, where many patients with cancer live in geographic regions that are distant from oncologists, suggesting that access to research staff and infrastructure is similarly uneven. Limited or no access for cancer patients to clinical trials in areas of Texas creates an opportunity for CPRIT to deploy funding in an area of critical need that is not heavily represented in other funding portfolios. Ensuring that more patients with cancer can participate in trials over the course of their care will require multiple components, including expanding the pool of clinical trialists as well as increasing the workforce of trained research staff and infrastructure.

This RFA mechanism addresses the first of these gaps—expanding the pool of trained oncology clinical trialists—and will provide flexibility to support clinical oncologists at every level from early-stage oncologists (Assistant Professor level) to mid-level oncologists (Associate Professor level) to established clinical oncologists (Professor level) whose body of work has made an important contribution to clinical research and the development of cancer therapies. Awards are intended to provide institutions with a competitive edge in recruiting talented investigators, thereby advancing clinical cancer research efforts and promoting economic and workforce development in the State of Texas.

 Opportunity Overview: 

The goal of this award mechanism is to recruit and retain experienced clinical trialists, eg, in any oncology specialty, to lead cancer research programs in rural and/or underserved communities in the State of Texas. This award honors candidates at all levels of experience, e.g., equivalent to Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level, who have a demonstrated background in clinical trials such as cooperative group or industry experience. This mechanism will support the recruitment or retention of oncologists who will increase access to phase 2 and 3 (and even possibly phase 1) cancer therapeutic trials appropriate for a community oncology care setting. Oncologists who conduct only clinical trials evaluating surgical or radiation cancer therapies or imaging are not appropriate for this mechanism. Similarly, oncologists who conduct only clinical trials evaluating behavioral or prevention services are not appropriate for this mechanism.

All nominees should be recognized as clinical research investigators, held in the highest esteem by professional colleagues. Senior nominees must be recognized for contributions that have had a significant influence on their discipline. They must have clearly established themselves as exemplary physicians and with exceptional accomplishments in mentoring clinical cancer research activities. It is expected that the nominee will contribute significantly to, and have a major impact on, the institution’s overall cancer clinical research initiative. Nominees will be leaders capable of initiating and developing creative ideas leading to novel solutions related to the conduct of clinical research. They may also lead a strong patient-oriented research group and have a robust publication portfolio commensurate with their level of experience.

Ideal nominees will have specific expertise in cancer-related areas needed to address an institutional priority. This funding mechanism considers expertise, accomplishments, and breadth of experience as vital metrics for guiding CPRIT’s investment in that person’s originality, insight, and potential for continued contribution. Relevance to cancer research and to alignment with geographic opportunities and patient access priorities are also important evaluation criteria for CPRIT funding.

The CPRIT RRCTA will do the following:

   • Provide physicians with the opportunity to develop or expand external relations with industry and pharmaceutical company partners, clinical research leaders at academic institutions, and national cooperative groups.

   • Provide the protected time from clinical responsibilities required to develop and conduct clinical trials, e.g., industry sponsored or cooperative group.

   • Increase the pool of clinical investigators in Texas who are conducting patient-oriented studies who will be able to compete successfully to bring clinical studies to their institutions and become institutional leaders in clinical research and who will mentor the next generation of clinical investigators.

To accomplish these objectives, the CPRIT RRCTA will provide awards of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 for up to 5 years to physicians to develop or expand clinical research programs to further both the investigator’s career and the CPRIT mission to increase access to clinical trials to patients with cancer in Texas and to provide mentorship in clinical research. This award may be used for the following:

   • To provide salary support to the nominee for levels of effort between 40% to 50% full-time professional effort annually.

   • To support essential clinical trials staff, e.g., research nurses, regulatory managers.

   • To support clinical trials start-up costs.

CPRIT anticipates that the outcome of these awards will be the recruitment/retention of qualified clinical trialists to institutions serving rural and/or underserved communities and the subsequent initiation or expansion of trial portfolios within the first year; establishment of sustainable leadership locally; and enhanced engagement with trial sponsors and clinical cooperative groups, patients, and referring providers.

 Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization: Institutions are limited to the submission of 1 application in response to this Request for Applications (RFA).

 FOA is available online at: https://www.cprit.texas.gov/media/wp0jmagd/rfa-r-272-rrcta_final.pdf

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. 

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 21, 2026 

Full Proposal Deadline: November 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Documents Needed for the Preproposals:

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    

Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       

 List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu

Internal Review Process: The Research Division in consultation with a review committee, will decide which pre-proposals will continue to the full proposal submission stage. Anonymized reviewer feedback will be provided to all PIs whose pre-proposals were considered by the review committee, following the announcement of the finalist selection.

Announcement of UTRGV Limited Submission Internal Competition     All PI-eligible UTRGV faculty/staff interested in submitting a proposal to the Limited Submission opportunity must submit the internal pre-proposal via Submittable platform (using single PDF document) by the deadline. Please see OSP Handbook, page 8, for PI eligibility details. Internal pre-proposals must comply with all instructions and address the criteria referenced in this announcement.   

Funding Opportunity Purpose: The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) is committed to achieving a society in which all people live long, healthy lives. The vision, mission, and goals are found in Healthy People 2030, a USPHS-led national activity to achieve better health in the United States by the year 2030. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is linked to the goals of Healthy People 2030, that are intended to prevent work-related diseases, injuries, and deaths while improving worker health, safety, and well-being.

As noted by Healthy People 2030, the health and well-being of the U.S. workforce is central to the strength of the economy. Because people spend so much time working, their work environment has a major impact on their health. Many people get injured or die on the job, and develop health conditions from exposure at work, such as hearing loss, skin diseases and lung problems. Tailored interventions can help reduce work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths, and promote worker well-being.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 mandates that NIOSH provide an adequate supply of qualified personnel to carry out the purposes of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. NIOSH ERCs have a key role in meeting this mandate and contribute to the Institute’s core mission of preventing workplace injuries and illnesses.

In 1977, NIOSH supported 9 ERCs in 9 states and 5 Health and Human Services (HHS) Federal Regions. Presently, NIOSH supports 18 ERCs across all 10 HHS Regions. Over 20,700 individuals graduated from ERCs in the core and allied disciplines in occupational safety and health (OSH) from 1977 - 2023. As capacity in OSH practice and research has increased, the number and rates of work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities have decreased (BLS, 2021).

The far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the vital role OSH has in the United States and beyond. From occupational exposures that led to illness and death to the mental and economic stressors the pandemic placed across individuals, workplaces and communities, ERCs responded rapidly to the needs of their students, staff and faculty and regional stakeholders by providing broad-based approaches to protection from the virus. This included guidance on proper use and decontamination of personal protective equipment, respirator fit testing, social distancing for worksites, and the use of physical protective barriers. Many ERCs developed communication products, resource guides, online courses, and webinars on safe work practices during the pandemic.

ERCs will continue to train OSH practitioners and researchers with the knowledge and skills to respond to natural, man-made, environmental, and public health disasters. Historically, ERCs have provided expertise in worker health and safety following events such as hurricanes (Katrina, Maria, and Harvey), the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, illicit drug exposures to law enforcement and emergency medical services, and Ebola and influenza outbreaks. ERC's responses have included outreach activities and research training opportunities that highlighted the expertise of ERC's faculty, staff, and trainees.

Opportunity Overview: 

Centers will have different strengths, focus areas, experiences and capacities.  NIOSH ERCs are essential to moving the OSH field forward.  Developing highly skilled and knowledgeable OSH practitioners and researchers to advance worker health, safety and well-being is crucial to address issues that are multi-regional, national, and global in scope.

ERCs focus on the core OSH disciplines of IH, OHN, OM, and OS and must support at least 2 of the core disciplines through their academic training program. Allied disciplines are also offered through many of the ERCs. Allied disciplines include, but not limited to, occupational health psychology, Total Worker Health, mining safety, agricultural safety and health, and ergonomics.

ERCs serve as resources for our nation's workforce through continuing education and outreach in their region. ERCs have strong collaborations with professional associations, worker advocacy groups, businesses, industries and public health agencies.

ERCs may also support research training programs through Pilot Project Research Training Programs and Targeted Research Training. ERCs conduct research on priorities in NORA and emerging issues.

The applicant must provide an overall description of the ERC addressing the burden of occupational injuries and illnesses within the region, the regional and national need to an ERC in their region and the ERC's impact or potential for impact to improve worker health, safety, and well-being. The narrative should address significance, investigators, innovation, approach, and environment. Applicants may indicate this in the Research Strategy of their application.

Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization:   Only one is allowed.

A current recipient or applicant of the NIOSH T03, Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants award is not eligible to apply for an award or a sub-award under this Funding Opportunity Announcement.

FOA is available online at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-25-002.html

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: July 23, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m

Internal Competition Results Announced: August 13, 2026                                                                                                                         

Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: October 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM      

Documents Needed for the Preproposals: 

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

• Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    
• Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       
•  List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

Change in application form: Since the limited submission process does not involve OSP assistance with budget development, we are now using a budget template in the Submittable form. This template is designed to capture a general overview of the budget. Additionally, we have included a budget justification section directly in the form, eliminating the need for applicants to upload separate budget documents with their pre-proposal materials.   

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu. 

 Internal Review Process: The Research Division in consultation with a review committee, will decide which pre-proposals will continue to the full proposal submission stage. Anonymized reviewer feedback will be provided to all PIs whose pre-proposals were considered by the review committee, following the announcement of the finalist selection.

Announcement of UTRGV Limited Submission Internal Competition     All PI-eligible UTRGV faculty/staff interested in submitting a proposal to the Limited Submission opportunity must submit the internal pre-proposal via Submittable platform (using single PDF document) by the deadline. Please see OSP Handbook, page 8, for PI eligibility details. Internal pre-proposals must comply with all instructions and address the criteria referenced in this announcement.   

Funding Opportunity Purpose: This funding opportunity provides support for a National Center for Construction Safety and Health Research and Translation (National Construction Center) to address the significant and varied burden of work-related injuries and illnesses in the U.S. construction industry. The NIOSH National Construction Center serves as a national leader in construction research, implementation, and dissemination of scientific discoveries to benefit construction workers by working to prevent or reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. The NIOSH National Construction Center recipient will address both regional and national construction worker safety and health issues and prioritize the creation, dissemination, and widespread use of evidence-based solutions to address the most critical safety and health problems in the construction industry. Furthermore, the NIOSH National Construction Center will establish a publicly accessible online repository for research data, indicators, and research-to-practice materials and products. The overarching goal of the National Construction Center is to reduce adverse construction worker health and safety outcomes by studying, developing, and implementing evidence-based practices and solutions.

Applications for this funding opportunity should have a national scope for research, implementation, dissemination, and related activities described in this announcement. The proposed projects should aim to achieve the following objectives: 1) reducing and preventing construction worker exposures to safety and health hazards, 2) improving the safety culture and safety climate within the construction industry, 3) applying prevention through design, the hierarchy of controls, and emerging technologies where appropriate to address industry hazards, and 4) widely disseminating best practices and other information for use by workers, employers, contractors, and site owners. The National Construction Center is expected to work closely with NIOSH construction program leadership, academic and research partners, and other organizations to advance research integration and inform best practices and effective worksite solutions in the U.S. construction industry. Applicants should clearly describe how the intended outcomes of the proposed work will contribute to the specified goals in NIOSH's Strategic Plan and, in the NIOSH Priority Goals for Extramural Research.

Opportunity Overview: 

consider the required and optional components essential to the National Construction Center function, detailed below, in providing an overall description of the proposed Center, addressing 1) the burden of occupational injuries and illnesses for the construction sector, 2) the national need for the Center’s proposed programs and projects, and 3) the Center’s impact, or potential for impact, on construction worker health and safety.

To effectively address the purpose and scope of this NOFO, the following required components will enable the Center to cohesively address established goals and objectives for providing impact:

• Planning, Administration, and Evaluation Core
• Construction Industry Data and Statistical Core
• Communication, Outreach, and Education Core
• Research-to-Practice Core
• Applied Research Projects (collectively, the Applied Research Core)

Planning, Administration, and Evaluation Core (up to 20% of total costs/year). The purpose of this core is to 1) provide oversight, leadership, and management for the Center, including establishment and maintenance of advisory committees; 2) engage in long-range planning, coordination, and implementation of work that crosses multiple cores, programs or projects; and 3) develop and assist in implementing evaluation efforts at the Center, core, program and project levels.

Construction Industry Data and Statistical Core (up to 10% of total costs/year). This core acquires, analyzes, interprets and disseminates data, indicators, and important changes/trends within and impacting the construction sector. The types of data can include construction related injury, illness, disability, deaths, industry characteristics, advances in methods, equipment, or technologies, as well as indicators such as employment and demographic economic variables.

Communication, Outreach, and Education Core (up to 10% of total costs). The purpose of this core is to ensure that evidence-based approaches, technologies, guidelines, policies, best practices, or similar activities that are known to be effective are promoted and disseminated to benefit workers and their associated work environments. This core develops partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders to help ensure that research outputs, outcomes, and impacts can be disseminated widely. A variety of pathways should be used, such as live meetings, webinars, websites, and social media.

Research-to-Practice Core (up to 30% of total costs/year). This core ensures a systematic approach focused on the use, adoption, and adaptation of interventions and technologies that translate research findings into practice to reduce and eliminate occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the construction sector. The purpose of this core is to bridge the gap between research and practice by effectively integrating knowledge, interventions, and technologies into workplace policies, procedures, and practices.

Applied Research Core (up to 30% of total costs/year). This core consists of a variety of individual research projects that address burden, need, and impact to improve occupational safety and health in the construction sector. Applied research builds the evidence base for effective prevention and intervention practices.

Guidance has been provided for the approximate budget allocation expected for each core. Applicants may request, with justification, more or less funding for any of the cores, provided they do not exceed the total costs allowed under this NOFO.

Applicants are encouraged to propose a pilot studies subprogram as part of the Planning, Administration, and Evaluation Core or the Research-to-Practice Core. Provide a clear description of the program within the appropriate core and fully justify the requested budget. All laws and regulations related to federal funding will apply. NIOSH will neither peer-review individual pilot project proposals nor make available an institutional review board for that purpose.

Maximum Number of Applications Allowed Per Organization:   Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique UEI number) is allowed.

FOA is available online at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-24-001.html

Internal Competition Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m

Internal Competition Results Announced: September 04, 2026                                                                                                                         

Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline: October 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM      

Documents Needed for the Preproposals: 

Submitters will complete and submit a form providing the following:

• Draft project summary/abstract of up to 2 pages; References do not count toward the 2-page limit.    
• Biographical sketches for the PIs and Co-PIs (any format);       
•  List of collaborators and any other senior/key personnel, if any.

Change in application form: Since the limited submission process does not involve OSP assistance with budget development, we are now using a budget template in the Submittable form. This template is designed to capture a general overview of the budget. Additionally, we have included a budget justification section directly in the form, eliminating the need for applicants to upload separate budget documents with their pre-proposal materials.   

*If assistance is needed, please contact Salvador Arellano III at salvador.arellano01@utrgv.edu. 

 Internal Review Process: The Research Division in consultation with a review committee, will decide which pre-proposals will continue to the full proposal submission stage. Anonymized reviewer feedback will be provided to all PIs whose pre-proposals were considered by the review committee, following the announcement of the finalist selection.