National Centers for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI) (P50) (Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HD 23 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 23 011

The National Centers for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI) (P50) (Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA HD 23 011) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant that supports Specialized Research Centers using the P50 mechanism. It is a re-competition of the existing NCTRI program, meaning NIH is renewing the center-based effort through a new solicitation rather than launching an entirely new initiative. The core idea is to fund a set of coordinated, multi-project research centers that work as a connected national network focused on reproduction and infertility, with a strong emphasis on translational research that moves findings back and forth between the laboratory and clinical settings. In practical terms, the program is designed to speed up the cycle where clinical observations inform basic science, and basic science discoveries are developed into clinically meaningful tools, interventions, or approaches that improve human reproductive health.

A defining feature of this opportunity is the expectation that awardees will function as a network rather than as isolated labs. The FOA emphasizes bidirectional knowledge transfer, which typically means centers are expected to integrate patient-oriented insights, clinical data, and real-world reproductive health challenges with mechanistic studies, model systems, and technology development. The ultimate outcome the program is aiming for is better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies related to infertility and reproductive disorders, achieved through research excellence, innovation, and efficient translation from discovery to practice and back again.

The award uses the P50 Specialized Research Center structure, which generally supports a coordinated program of research under a single center umbrella, often involving multiple research projects and shared resources. While the details of required cores and project structures are not provided in the excerpt, the P50 format is widely used by NIH to support team science where common infrastructure, shared technologies, and coordinated leadership can produce results that would be difficult for single-investigator awards to achieve. The FOA also states "Clinical Trial Optional," signaling that applicants may propose clinical trials if they are scientifically justified and aligned with the center's translational goals, but a trial is not required to be competitive. This gives applicants flexibility to propose anything from preclinical translation work through early-stage or other clinical studies, provided the overall program remains cohesive and translational.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city or township 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 that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying under those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories often associated with expanding the diversity and reach of federally funded research, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is restricted in a way that is common for NIH center programs. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the FOA allows foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain foreign collaborations or performance sites when they meet NIH's definition and are justified, even though the applicant institution itself must be domestic. This structure typically supports bringing in unique expertise, populations, or resources from abroad while keeping primary leadership, accountability, and award administration within an eligible U.S. institution.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity falls under the Health, Income Security and Social Services funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.865. The listed award ceiling is $1,100,000, which indicates the maximum amount expected per award under the program parameters as presented in the source data. The original closing date shown is July 28, 2022, and the opportunity record creation date is March 17, 2022. While the excerpt does not list the expected number of awards, the network language implies NIH intends to support multiple centers that collectively form the NCTRI national consortium.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at organizations capable of mounting a coordinated, center-level translational research program in reproduction and infertility, with the collaborative mindset and infrastructure needed to contribute to a national network. Competitive applicants would generally be positioned to connect basic discovery and clinical application in a deliberate, two-way pipeline, using the P50 center mechanism to align multiple research efforts around shared goals, shared resources, and measurable advances in human reproductive health.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Centers for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI) (P50) (Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-03-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-28. (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 $1,100,000.00 in funding.
• 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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