Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Planning Grants (R34 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health and its National Institute of General Medical Sciences, has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Native American Research Centers for Health Planning Grants, identified as PAR-25-441. This program, a reissue of PAR-24-041, is designed to provide planning support to federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, Tribal colleges and universities, Tribal health programs, and Tribal organizations. These planning grants are intended to help eligible applicants prepare competitive proposals for future NARCH S06 applications, thereby expanding the reach and impact of the NARCH program, which was originally launched in 2000 to advance Tribal health research. The program specifically supports preparatory activities for organizations that do not currently hold a NARCH award. Applicants may use the grant to assess administrative capacity needs, determine future research priorities, define potential project components, and build collaborative partnerships. Activities may also include community engagement, development of research questions, identification of consultants, and planning for required infrastructure such as data management or Institutional Review Boards, if applicable. Importantly, if non-Tribal organizations are included as partners, no more than 25 percent of the overall direct cost budget may be allocated to these entities, ensuring the majority of funding supports Tribal applicants. The award budget allows for up to $225,000 in annual direct costs, excluding consortium facilities and administrative costs, and project periods are limited to two years. Awards are nonrenewable, and recipients are expected to submit a full NARCH S06 application within one year after the end of the planning grant. The number of awards is contingent upon available NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications received. Matching funds are not required under this program. NIH grant policies, as detailed in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, apply to these awards. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to federally recognized Tribes and Tribal entities that are not currently supported by a NARCH S06 award or an active NARCH Planning Grant, including those in no-cost extensions. Applicant organizations may apply as individual entities or in consortia. The Program Director or Principal Investigator must hold a primary appointment with the applicant organization, and multiple-PI applications are allowed provided that at least one contact PI is primarily employed by the applicant entity. Non-domestic organizations are not eligible to apply, though foreign collaborations may be permitted in very limited circumstances, such as where federally recognized Tribes with ancestral lands crossing the U.S. border are involved. Applications must be submitted electronically through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system platforms. A key required document is a Letter of Vision and Commitment from a senior Tribal leader or organizational official demonstrating long-term commitment to developing and sustaining research infrastructure. Additional required materials include a modular budget, Tribal resolutions or letters of support, and a research strategy outlining goals, administrative needs, proposed activities, and community engagement processes. Applications missing these required attachments will not be reviewed. All proposals must adhere strictly to NIH submission guidelines. Applications will be reviewed using NIH’s peer review process, with scoring based on three primary factors: the importance of the proposed planning activities, the rigor and feasibility of the approach, and the expertise and resources of the applicant organization and personnel. Applications must demonstrate plans for culturally appropriate and community-centered research planning. Additional review considerations include protections for human subjects, animal welfare, budget reasonableness, and compliance with federal research policies. Following initial review, applications will undergo Advisory Council review before funding decisions are made. The program was posted on August 26, 2025, with the first open submission date on September 16, 2025. Applications are due October 16, 2025, with subsequent annual deadlines through July 7, 2028, when the program expires. Applications are due at 5:00 p.m. local time of the applicant organization. The earliest anticipated award start date for the first cycle is July 2026. Questions about program content should be directed to Crina Frincu, Ph.D., of NIGMS at cfrincu@mail.nih.gov. Financial questions may be directed to Jill Bradshaw at jill.bradshaw@nih.gov. General NIH submission support is available through the eRA Service Desk and Grants.gov support services.

Apply early to allow time for corrections; ensure compliance with NIH instructions; missing attachments disqualify application