Core Centers for Clinical Research (CCCR) (P30) | RFA AR 17 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AR 17 002

The Core Centers for Clinical Research (CCCR) (P30) opportunity (RFA-AR-17-002) is a National Institutes of Health grant program run by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). It is designed to support centralized, shared core resources that strengthen and accelerate clinical research connected to NIAMS mission areas, especially arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, rheumatologic diseases, and skin conditions. Rather than funding a single clinical trial or one stand-alone research project, the CCCR model is meant to build an institutional or multi-investigator hub that multiple research teams can use to improve how clinical research is planned, measured, conducted, and interpreted across NIAMS-related diseases.

A central emphasis of this program is methodological science for clinical research. In practical terms, NIAMS is looking for centers that can develop, refine, validate, and help investigators adopt better methods, metrics, and outcome measures. The intent is to address both current gaps and emerging needs in clinical research, such as improving how symptoms and disease activity are quantified, how progression is tracked, how patient-centered outcomes are captured, how biomarkers or imaging endpoints are validated, and how clinical studies can be designed and analyzed more rigorously. By investing in these shared methodological capabilities, the CCCRs aim to speed progress in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, while also improving comparability and quality across studies in the NIAMS portfolio.

As a P30 center grant, the CCCR is structured around cores that provide services and expertise to supported investigators. These cores typically function as shared infrastructure, which can include clinical research operations support, biostatistics and study design consultation, recruitment and retention strategies, data management, informatics, regulatory support, standardized assessments, and other cross-cutting functions that make clinical research more efficient and more scientifically robust. The overarching idea is that building and coordinating these capabilities at a center level creates economies of scale, promotes consistent best practices, and enables investigators to implement innovative tools and measures that might otherwise be too resource-intensive to develop independently.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants span state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education when applicable); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities. The notice also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, certain eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the funding notice places clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. While the text references non-domestic entities in an eligibility list, it then clarifies they are not permitted applicants under this opportunity, so applicants need to be U.S.-based and structured accordingly.

From the published source details, the program falls under the NIH health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.846. The funding instrument is a grant, and NIAMS anticipated making about 8 awards under this announcement. The original closing date listed for applications was January 17, 2019, and the opportunity was created on September 16, 2016. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided data, meaning applicants would typically need to consult the full funding announcement and NIH budget guidance to understand any caps, recommended budget ranges, and allowable cost structures for the center components.

Overall, this opportunity is aimed at organizations that can demonstrate a strong clinical research environment in NIAMS-relevant diseases and can credibly operate shared, high-impact methodological and operational cores. The value proposition NIAMS is seeking is a center that not only supports multiple clinical research efforts, but also moves the field forward by creating and disseminating better tools for measuring outcomes and conducting clinical studies, ultimately improving the evidence base for preventing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal, rheumatologic, and skin diseases.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Core Centers for Clinical Research (CCCR) (P30)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.846.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-09-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA AR 17 002

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