Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 19 023
The Contraception Research Centers Program (U54 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number RFA-HD-19-023, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to create and support a multidisciplinary Contraceptive Research Center focused on developing new contraceptive methods and improving existing ones for both men and women. The core idea is to bring together complementary scientific and clinical expertise under a single center structure so that discovery, early development, and readiness for later-stage testing can move faster and more effectively than they typically would in isolated projects. Because this is a U54 cooperative agreement, the award mechanism generally implies substantial NIH program involvement and coordination compared with a standard research grant, with an emphasis on building a coordinated, high-functioning center rather than funding a single independent study.
The scope of work supported by this program includes a wide range of research activities that feed the contraceptive development pipeline. It explicitly encourages projects that are translational in nature, meaning studies that help bridge the gap between preclinical research and clinical application, with the goal of improving the odds that promising candidates will succeed when they reach clinical evaluation. In addition to product-development science, the FOA also allows behavioral and social science research projects aimed at understanding contraceptive use and non-use, whether related to currently marketed methods or to products still in clinical development. This inclusion recognizes that successful contraception is not only a biomedical issue, but also depends on acceptability, access, decision-making, adherence, partner dynamics, and other real-world factors that influence whether a method is actually used consistently and correctly.
A central program expectation is that the funded Center functions as a national resource for training and developing early stage investigators who want to build careers in contraceptive research. In practice, this means the Center is expected to cultivate new talent, provide mentorship and professional development opportunities, and create an environment where junior investigators can contribute meaningfully to high-impact, team-based contraceptive science. The intent is not just to generate research outputs, but also to strengthen the field by expanding the pipeline of researchers equipped to sustain and advance contraceptive innovation over time.
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding within the Health, Income Security and Social Services activity area, under CFDA number 93.865. It lists a broad set of eligible applicants, reflecting the program's interest in engaging many different kinds of institutions and organizational structures. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses are also eligible. The FOA further highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), 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, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), indicating a deliberate openness to diverse institutional participation.
Administratively, the FOA was created on December 14, 2018, and the original closing date listed is February 13, 2019. The title includes "Clinical Trial Optional," which signals that applications may include clinical trials but are not required to do so; applicants can propose appropriate work spanning preclinical, translational, behavioral/social, and potentially clinical components depending on readiness and scientific goals. Overall, the opportunity is structured to build a coordinated center that accelerates contraceptive method innovation, supports the transition of promising candidates toward clinical success, and addresses the human factors that ultimately determine whether contraceptive technologies achieve real-world public health impact.Apply for RFA HD 19 023
- The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Contraception Research Centers Program (U54 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 2018-12-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-13. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Contraception Research Centers Program (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)?
The Contraception Research Centers Program is an NIH cooperative agreement opportunity intended to create and support a multidisciplinary Contraceptive Research Center. The Center is expected to focus on developing new contraceptive methods and improving existing methods for both men and women, using a coordinated "center" structure to move discovery and early development toward later-stage testing more efficiently than isolated projects.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-HD-19-023.
What award mechanism does this opportunity use?
This program uses a U54 cooperative agreement mechanism. As described, this mechanism generally implies substantial NIH program involvement and coordination compared with a standard research grant, and it emphasizes building a coordinated, high-functioning center rather than supporting a single independent study.
What is the main goal of this NIH program?
The main goal is to build a multidisciplinary Contraceptive Research Center that accelerates contraceptive method innovation. The program aims to improve the pace and effectiveness of the contraceptive development pipeline by combining complementary scientific and clinical expertise under one center structure.
Does the program focus on contraception for women, men, or both?
The program is focused on developing new contraceptive methods and improving existing ones for both men and women.
What kinds of research activities are supported under this opportunity?
The scope includes a wide range of research activities that feed the contraceptive development pipeline. It explicitly encourages translational projects that help bridge preclinical research and clinical application, with the goal of improving the likelihood that promising candidates will succeed when they reach clinical evaluation.
Are translational research projects encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages translational research, described as work that bridges the gap between preclinical research and clinical application to improve clinical success odds for promising candidates.
Are behavioral and social science projects allowed under this program?
Yes. In addition to product-development science, the FOA allows behavioral and social science research projects aimed at understanding contraceptive use and non-use. This can relate to currently marketed methods or products still in clinical development.
What kinds of behavioral and social science topics fit within the program?
The description notes real-world factors that influence whether contraception is used consistently and correctly. Examples mentioned include acceptability, access, decision-making, adherence, partner dynamics, and related factors tied to contraceptive use or non-use.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The title includes "Clinical Trial Optional," which indicates applications may include clinical trials but are not required to do so.
If clinical trials are optional, what other types of work can be proposed?
Applicants may propose appropriate work spanning preclinical, translational, and behavioral/social components, and may include clinical components depending on readiness and scientific goals.
What is expected of the funded Center beyond conducting research?
A central expectation is that the funded Center functions as a national resource for training and developing early stage investigators in contraceptive research. The Center is expected to cultivate new talent, provide mentorship and professional development opportunities, and create an environment where junior investigators can contribute meaningfully to team-based contraceptive science.
Who is the program intended to benefit in terms of workforce development?
The program is intended to support early stage investigators who want to build careers in contraceptive research by providing training, mentorship, and professional development within the Center environment.
What is the broader purpose of emphasizing training and early stage investigators?
The intent is not only to generate research outputs, but also to strengthen the field by expanding the pipeline of researchers equipped to sustain and advance contraceptive innovation over time.
What category of funding is this opportunity listed under?
It is categorized as discretionary funding within the Health, Income Security and Social Services activity area.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.865.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA was created on December 14, 2018.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is February 13, 2019.
Who is eligible to apply?
The FOA lists a broad set of eligible applicants, including various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses are listed as eligible applicants.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among the additional eligible groups.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among the eligible applicants listed.
Are federal agencies eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes eligible federal agencies among the listed eligible applicants.
Can foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are eligible, reflecting openness to diverse institutional participation.
What is the program trying to improve in the contraceptive development process?
The program aims to improve how quickly and effectively promising contraceptive candidates move from discovery and early development toward readiness for later-stage testing, including improving the odds of success when candidates reach clinical evaluation.
Why does the program include social and behavioral research along with biomedical research?
The description notes that successful contraception is not only a biomedical issue. Real-world public health impact depends on factors like acceptability, access, decision-making, adherence, and partner dynamics that influence whether a method is used consistently and correctly.
What is the core structural idea behind funding a "Center" rather than separate projects?
The core idea is to bring complementary scientific and clinical expertise together under a single center structure so that discovery, early development, and readiness for later-stage testing can move faster and more effectively than they typically would in isolated projects.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement with substantial NIH involvement?
As described, a U54 cooperative agreement generally implies substantial NIH program involvement and coordination compared with a standard research grant, with emphasis on building and coordinating a high-functioning center.
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