Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Coordinating Center (U24 - Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MD 26 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 26 001

The Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Coordinating Center (U24 - Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-MD-26-001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to create and support a single national coordinating center for the RCMI initiative. It is sponsored by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and is rooted in a longstanding congressional mandate established under P.L. 98-619 (the 1985 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act). The core purpose is to strengthen and align the work of the RCMI network by providing centralized coordination, program-wide evaluation, and shared resources that help RCMI U54 Centers meet their overarching goals in research capacity building and minority health and health disparities science.

At a practical level, the Coordinating Center is expected to serve as the hub for activities that cut across all funded RCMI U54 Centers. This includes organizing and coordinating network-wide efforts, facilitating communication and collaboration among centers, and supporting consistent approaches to shared needs across the consortium. A major element is prospective evaluation of the overall RCMI program, meaning the Coordinating Center is not only tracking what has happened, but also building systems to assess progress and outcomes over time in a structured way. In addition to supporting the U54 Centers, the Coordinating Center is positioned as a national resource, responding to requests and information needs that can come from RCMI site leadership and key personnel, NIMHD and NIH staff, the broader scientific community, and members of the public.

The award mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial NIH program involvement compared with a standard grant. The notice specifies “Clinical Trial Optional,” meaning the project may include a clinical trial if it fits the Coordinating Center’s aims, but a clinical trial is not required. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding in the health area and is associated with CFDA number 93.307. The funding is structured around making one expected award, with an award ceiling of $3,500,000, signaling that NIH intends to fund a single organization to carry out these national coordinating responsibilities at scale.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types, including various levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special districts), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other eligible entities as defined in the funding notice. However, the opportunity places clear limits on foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. Applicants are directed to consult the NOFO’s Section III for detailed eligibility requirements and any additional conditions that govern who can apply and under what circumstances.

Key logistical details include an original closing date of August 7, 2026, and a posting/creation date of July 8, 2026. In short, this opportunity funds one national center to coordinate and evaluate the RCMI program, unify and support the activities of RCMI U54 Centers, and provide a responsive, program-wide infrastructure that can serve NIH, participating institutions, researchers, and the public while remaining entirely U.S.-based in its applicant and component structure.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Coordinating Center (U24 - Clinical Trial 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 2026-07-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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 MD 26 001

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