National Centers for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI) (P50 - Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HD 19 017

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 19 017

The National Centers for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI) funding opportunity (RFA-HD-19-017) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services grant that supports a small number of specialized research centers focused on improving human reproductive and gynecological health. It is a re-competition, meaning NIH is renewing or recompeting an existing center program rather than launching an entirely new concept. The program uses the Specialized Research Center mechanism (P50), which is designed for multidisciplinary, team-based research organized around a coherent central theme. The announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," indicating applicants may propose clinical trials if they are appropriate to the scientific aims, but a clinical trial is not required.

At the core of this opportunity is translational research in reproduction and infertility, with an explicit emphasis on bidirectional movement between laboratory discovery and clinical application. In practical terms, the centers are expected to both push laboratory findings toward patient-relevant interventions (bench to bedside) and use observations and unmet needs from patient care to shape and refine basic and preclinical research (bedside to bench). NIH describes the NCTRI program as a national network of centers, which implies that awardees are not meant to operate in isolation. Instead, they are expected to function as nodes in a coordinated ecosystem that shares knowledge, methods, and potentially resources, accelerating progress more than any single lab or clinic could achieve alone.

The scientific focus area is broadly framed around reproduction, infertility, and gynecologic health, with the overarching goal of advancing research excellence and innovation that ultimately improves outcomes for patients. While the opportunity text provided does not list specific mandatory topics, the intent of the program strongly suggests projects that bridge mechanistic understanding (for example, reproductive biology, gamete function, embryo implantation, uterine and ovarian physiology, endocrine regulation, reproductive aging, and related gynecologic conditions) with translational endpoints such as diagnostics, prevention strategies, therapeutics, clinical protocols, or evidence that informs clinical decision-making. Because the mechanism is a P50 center, proposals typically align multiple interrelated projects under a unifying theme and often include shared cores or centralized capabilities that enable and integrate the research across projects.

From a funding and scale standpoint, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,200,000 and anticipates approximately three awards. This points to a competitive program with limited slots, favoring applications that demonstrate strong leadership, a clear and compelling scientific theme, a well-integrated translational strategy, and the capacity to coordinate complex, multi-project work. The listing also identifies the funding instrument as a grant and the funding activity category as Health, Income Security and Social Services, with CFDA number 93.865, which is associated with NICHD-related research support in many NIH catalogs.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses in one category but also explicitly including small businesses as eligible), and a wide range of government entities (state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts). The eligibility list also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), as well as public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The presence of "Others (see text field...)" indicates NIH may allow additional applicant types under specific conditions described in the full announcement, but those details are not included in the excerpt you provided.

Key administrative details in the source data show the opportunity was created on January 31, 2018, with an original closing date of June 29, 2018. Even though those dates indicate this specific posting is historical, the structure and aims are representative of how NIH organizes P50 translational center programs: a limited number of well-resourced centers, linked as a network, focused on accelerating translation and generating clinically meaningful advances. For anyone using this summary to understand the program model, the main takeaway is that NCTRI centers are intended to serve as high-functioning hubs that integrate basic science, translational development, and clinical insight to produce tangible improvements in reproductive and gynecologic health, with clinical trials permitted when they are scientifically justified but not mandated.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, 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 Jan 31, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 29, 2018. (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 $1,200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA HD 19 017

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