Limited Competition: Community-Partnered Nursing Research Centers for Schools and Colleges of Nursing with Limited NIH Funding (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is preparing to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Limited Competition: Community-Partnered Nursing Research Centers for Schools and Colleges of Nursing with Limited NIH Funding." This opportunity, expected under announcement number FOR-NR-25-006, will utilize the P20 Exploratory Centers grant mechanism. The forecasted release date for this NOFO is June 13, 2025, with applications due by December 13, 2025. The program seeks to support Schools or Colleges of Nursing (SON/CONs) that award research doctoral degrees and have historically received limited NIH funding, specifically no more than $5 million annually in any four of the last seven fiscal years. The primary objective is to enhance the capacity of these institutions to conduct community-partnered, interdisciplinary, nurse-led research that aligns with the NINR mission and addresses persistent health challenges. By creating centralized research resources, developing expertise in community-partnered research, and fostering interdisciplinary research teams, the program aims to elevate the institutions' research profiles and community impact. Funding will be discretionary and provided through grants under the P20 activity code, which supports exploratory center-type initiatives. Although the exact funding amounts (ceiling, floor, and total program funding) are not yet disclosed, there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, making the opportunity accessible to a wide range of eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include a broad spectrum of organizations such as state and county governments, federally and non-federally recognized tribal organizations and governments, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and both small and other for-profit organizations. As this is a forecasted opportunity, application forms and further instructions will be made available upon publication of the official NOFO. However, potential applicants are encouraged to begin preparing by developing collaborative research proposals and aligning them with the initiative's goals. The projected start date for awarded projects is July 1, 2026. For further information, applicants may contact Karen A. Kehl, PhD, RN, at the National Institute of Nursing Research via phone at 301-594-8010 or email at karen.kehl@nih.gov.