Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 27 127

The Cooperative Centers for Experimental Hematology (CCEHs) (U54 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-27-127) is an NIH/NIDDK cooperative agreement designed to build a coordinated national network of research centers focused on nonmalignant hematology. The central idea is to expand broad community access to specialized tools, technologies, and scientific expertise that are often difficult for individual labs to develop or maintain on their own. Rather than funding isolated projects, this program supports centers that function as shared-resource hubs, helping researchers across the country accelerate discovery in areas of blood and blood-forming system biology and disease that are not cancer-related.

Under this NOFO, each funded CCEH Center is expected to establish an Administrative Core along with one to three Biomedical Research Cores. The Biomedical Research Cores are meant to provide high-impact, enabling capabilities for the wider hematology research community, such as advanced platforms, methods, model systems, data resources, or other specialized services that address clear unmet needs in nonmalignant hematology research. The Administrative Core is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the center, and it must also include an Enrichment Program. The Enrichment Program is a key feature of the opportunity and is meant to strengthen the field by recruiting, supporting, and retaining investigators, with an emphasis on junior scientists starting their careers as well as established researchers entering hematology from other disciplines. In practical terms, the enrichment activities typically align with training-like and community-building functions, such as seminars, workshops, pilot access mechanisms, consultations, or structured mentoring and networking that help investigators effectively use the center resources and build lasting collaborations.

A major expectation is that each center will operate as part of a larger, integrated consortium. Awardees are required to work collaboratively with NIDDK program staff, with a Hematology Coordinating Center (HCC), and with the other funded CCEH sites. Because the funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U54), NIDDK is anticipated to have substantial programmatic involvement, meaning the relationship is more collaborative and coordinated than a standard research grant. The emphasis is on shared goals, harmonized practices where appropriate, and consortium-wide coordination so that the collection of centers acts like a cohesive national infrastructure rather than separate, duplicative efforts.

This opportunity is explicitly designated as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which means applications should not propose clinical trials as part of the funded activities. The focus is instead on experimental and translational-enabling research resources, technology development, and service-oriented cores that empower nonmalignant hematology research, along with the administrative and enrichment structures needed to make those resources broadly accessible and effectively used by the community.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many entity types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, and various governmental and tribal entities (state, county, city/township, special districts, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). Applicants should still rely on the NOFO's Section III for the precise eligibility rules and any special conditions.

The NOFO also includes strict limits on foreign involvement. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this announcement. In addition, NIH policy described in the NOFO states that NIH will not issue awards that involve foreign subawards or subcontracts, and any application that includes foreign subawards/subcontracts in response to this NOFO will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding. At the same time, the policy does not necessarily prohibit all international interactions; it notes that unfunded international collaborations may still occur, and it does not bar paying foreign consultants in appropriate circumstances or purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors, provided those arrangements do not constitute a foreign subaward/subcontract or an unallowable foreign component.

From an administrative standpoint, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, with NIDDK leading the program, and the activity category is Health (CFDA 93.847). The opportunity anticipates making about five awards. The original closing date listed is 2026-09-30, and the NOFO record shows a creation date of 2026-08-31. The award ceiling is not specified in the summary provided, so applicants typically need to consult the full NOFO text for budget guidance, allowable costs, and any limits tied to the number or scope of cores.

Overall, the CCEH program is essentially an infrastructure-and-community investment for nonmalignant hematology: it funds centers that develop and deliver high-value shared resources, coordinate nationally through an NIH-involved consortium structure, and deliberately cultivate the next generation of hematology researchers while also attracting established scientists from other fields to bring fresh approaches into nonmalignant blood research.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Centers for Experimental Hematology (CCEHs) (U54- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-31.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-30. (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 5 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Cooperative Centers for Experimental Hematology (CCEHs) U54 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - RFA-DK-27-127

What is the CCEH funding opportunity (RFA-DK-27-127)?

The Cooperative Centers for Experimental Hematology (CCEHs) opportunity (U54 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH/NIDDK cooperative agreement designed to build a coordinated national network of research centers focused on nonmalignant hematology. The program is intended to function as national infrastructure by supporting centers that provide shared tools, technologies, platforms, model systems, data resources, and specialized expertise to the broader research community.

Which NIH institute is leading this program?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) leading the program.

What does "nonmalignant hematology" mean in the context of this program?

In this program, the focus is on blood and blood-forming system biology and disease areas that are not cancer-related. The intent is to support research resources and enabling capabilities that advance nonmalignant (non-cancer) hematology.

What is the main goal of the CCEH program?

The central idea is to expand broad community access to specialized tools, technologies, and scientific expertise that can be difficult for individual laboratories to develop or maintain on their own. Rather than supporting isolated projects, the program supports centers that act as shared-resource hubs for the national research community.

Is this opportunity meant to fund individual research projects?

No. The described emphasis is on centers that deliver shared resources and enabling capabilities, coordinated as a national network. The program is structured to support cores and center operations that serve the wider community, rather than funding standalone, investigator-initiated projects in isolation.

What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

The program uses a U54 cooperative agreement mechanism. This structure is intended to support a collaborative, coordinated relationship between awardees and NIDDK, with substantial programmatic involvement anticipated from NIDDK staff.

What does "cooperative agreement" imply for how the award will operate?

Because the mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U54), NIDDK is anticipated to have substantial programmatic involvement. This means the award is expected to operate in a more collaborative and coordinated manner than a standard research grant, with an emphasis on shared goals, consortium-wide coordination, and harmonized practices where appropriate.

How many awards does NIH anticipate making under this NOFO?

The opportunity anticipates making about five awards.

What is required in the structure of a funded CCEH Center?

Each funded center is expected to establish an Administrative Core and one to three Biomedical Research Cores.

What is the purpose of the Administrative Core?

The Administrative Core is responsible for overall management and coordination of the center. It also must include an Enrichment Program as a required component.

What is the Enrichment Program and why is it required?

The Enrichment Program is a key feature meant to strengthen the nonmalignant hematology field by recruiting, supporting, and retaining investigators. It places emphasis on junior scientists early in their careers and also on established researchers entering hematology from other disciplines. Enrichment activities are described as training-like and community-building functions that help investigators use center resources effectively and build collaborations.

What kinds of activities are described as part of the Enrichment Program?

The information provided indicates enrichment activities typically include things like seminars, workshops, pilot access mechanisms, consultations, and structured mentoring and networking, with the goal of enabling researchers to use center resources and form lasting collaborations.

What are Biomedical Research Cores expected to do?

Biomedical Research Cores are intended to provide high-impact, enabling capabilities for the wider hematology research community. Examples described include advanced platforms, methods, model systems, data resources, or other specialized services that address clear unmet needs in nonmalignant hematology research.

How many Biomedical Research Cores can a center propose?

Each funded CCEH Center is expected to include one to three Biomedical Research Cores.

Is participation in a national consortium required?

Yes. A major expectation is that each center will operate as part of a larger, integrated consortium. Awardees are required to work collaboratively with NIDDK program staff, a Hematology Coordinating Center (HCC), and the other funded CCEH sites.

What is the Hematology Coordinating Center (HCC) referenced in the opportunity?

The opportunity indicates that awardees must work collaboratively with a Hematology Coordinating Center (HCC) as part of consortium-wide coordination. The specific role and functions of the HCC are not detailed in the summary provided, but it is identified as a required consortium partner in the collaborative structure.

Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?

No. This opportunity is explicitly designated as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," and applications should not propose clinical trials as part of the funded activities.

If clinical trials are not allowed, what types of work does this program emphasize?

The focus is on experimental and translational-enabling research resources, technology development, and service-oriented cores that empower nonmalignant hematology research, along with the administrative and enrichment structures needed to make those resources broadly accessible and effectively used.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad across U.S.-based organizations, including (as examples listed) public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, and various governmental and tribal entities (such as state, county, city/township, special districts, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). Applicants are directed to rely on the NOFO's Section III for precise eligibility rules and any special conditions.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

No. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply under this announcement.

Are foreign components allowed in applications?

No. Foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this announcement.

Are foreign subawards or subcontracts allowed?

No. The policy described states that NIH will not issue awards that involve foreign subawards or subcontracts. Any application that includes foreign subawards/subcontracts in response to this NOFO will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding.

Does the NOFO prohibit all international interactions?

Not necessarily. The information provided notes that unfunded international collaborations may still occur, and it does not bar paying foreign consultants in appropriate circumstances or purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors, as long as those arrangements do not constitute a foreign subaward/subcontract or an unallowable foreign component.

What is the CFDA number and activity category listed for this opportunity?

The activity category is Health, and the CFDA listing provided is 93.847.

What is the application closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is 2026-09-30.

What is the NOFO record creation date shown in the summary?

The NOFO record shows a creation date of 2026-08-31.

Is there an award ceiling or specific budget limit provided in the summary?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the summary provided. Applicants are expected to consult the full NOFO text for budget guidance, allowable costs, and any limits tied to the number or scope of cores.

What makes this program different from centers that operate independently?

The program emphasizes consortium-wide coordination so the collection of centers functions as cohesive national infrastructure rather than separate, duplicative efforts. Centers are expected to align around shared goals and work in coordinated ways with NIDDK program staff, the HCC, and other CCEH sites.

What is the overall "big picture" purpose of the CCEH program?

As described, the CCEH program is an infrastructure-and-community investment for nonmalignant hematology. It funds centers that develop and deliver high-value shared resources, coordinate nationally through an NIH-involved consortium structure, and cultivate the next generation of hematology researchers while also attracting established scientists from other fields.

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