Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54 Clinical Trials Optional) | RFA MD 22 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 22 002

The Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement opportunity designed to strengthen the United States research enterprise by building and expanding health-sciences research capacity at institutions that have a long-standing, demonstrable commitment to educating underrepresented students and, in many cases, delivering care to medically underserved communities. This specific announcement, "Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54 Clinical Trials Optional)," is a specialized center award mechanism (U54) that supports a coordinated, institution-wide approach to research infrastructure and investigator development rather than a single stand-alone research project. Because it is a cooperative agreement, awardees should expect substantial NIH programmatic involvement during the project period, typically through collaborative oversight, milestones, and ongoing coordination intended to maximize impact and accountability.

At its core, the opportunity aims to increase an institution's ability to conduct high-quality, competitive research across a broad set of disciplines, including basic biomedical research, behavioral research, population research, and clinical research. The "clinical trials optional" designation means applicants may propose clinical trials if they are appropriate to the center's scientific goals, but they are not required to do so. The emphasis is on building a durable ecosystem that can consistently produce rigorous science, compete effectively for external funding, and generate findings that matter for communities experiencing health disparities.

The program lays out five primary, interconnected goals. First, it seeks to enhance institutional research capacity so that recipient institutions can perform world-class research; in practice, this commonly includes strengthening shared resources, research administration, cores, advanced methods support, and the overall infrastructure that enables modern biomedical and health research. Second, it is meant to improve investigators' competitiveness for extramural funding, especially NIH awards, by elevating grant readiness, mentorship structures, pilot funding pathways, and the support systems needed for successful proposal development and resubmission. Third, it focuses on cultivating an environment that supports research career development for postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and other early-stage investigators, recognizing that sustainable capacity depends on a strong pipeline of trained researchers who can become independent and productive. Fourth, it aims to improve the tools and conduct of research broadly, with a specific eye toward advancing minority health and reducing health disparities, which typically involves strengthening methodological rigor, data systems, community-engaged approaches, and the translation of evidence into practice. Fifth, it prioritizes sustainable partnerships with community-based organizations to support research that is responsive to community needs and to ensure effective dissemination of results back to the communities most affected, rather than allowing findings to remain solely in academic settings.

Eligibility is intentionally broad across U.S. organizational types, reflecting that research capacity building and health disparities work can be housed in many institutional settings. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments), independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education when relevant to the category), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also highlights inclusion of institutions and organizations with specific missions serving historically underrepresented populations, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. However, the opportunity explicitly excludes non-U.S. (foreign) institutions and organizations from applying, and it also bars non-domestic components of U.S. organizations and any foreign components as defined by NIH policy.

Administratively, this is a discretionary federal funding opportunity in the health category, offered under the NIH and associated with CFDA 93.307. The funding opportunity number is RFA-MD-22-002, and the mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U54). The original closing date listed for this announcement was January 26, 2022, and the opportunity was created on December 10, 2021. While the provided source text does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the structure and stated goals make clear that NIH intends these awards to function as institution-shaping center grants that build lasting capacity, improve competitiveness for NIH and other extramural research funding, and support research programs that directly address diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect populations experiencing health disparities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54 Clinical Trials Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-12-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 MD 22 002

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