Limited Competition: National Primate Research Centers (P51) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health, has reissued funding opportunity PAR-23-126 titled Limited Competition: National Primate Research Centers (P51) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed). This program is administered by the Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP), with participation from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The program supports the National Primate Research Centers, which are critical resources for enabling biomedical research that requires the use of nonhuman primates. Because nonhuman primates are genetically and physiologically closest to humans, they serve as indispensable models for studying human health and disease. The program provides centralized resources for breeding, housing, and caring for these animals, which require specialized facilities and expertise. The goal of the NPRC program is to make available nonhuman primates, along with associated scientific and technical expertise, to investigators nationwide. These centers maintain breeding colonies, provide veterinary and pathology services, and develop and share new models of human disease. Support under this opportunity is provided through the P51 base grant mechanism, which ensures that NPRCs function as national resources accessible to both intramural and extramural researchers. The base grant funds essential infrastructure, including specialized facilities, staff salaries, animal care, administrative operations, and outreach. The NPRCs also maintain research advisory and oversight committees, including a National Scientific Advisory Board and Research Advisory Committee, which ensure that the resources are used efficiently and scientifically. The funding is restricted to existing NPRCs that have previously received support under earlier solicitations PAR-17-144 or PAR-20-181. The P51 base grant is intended to provide core support rather than covering all center expenses. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity to manage the NPRC, including administrative governance, animal resource management, and scientific leadership. Each NPRC is expected to fund pilot research projects annually that advance the use of nonhuman primates in biomedical research or improve animal care and welfare. These pilot studies may be led by internal or external investigators, and at least half must involve investigators outside the NPRC and its parent institution. Applications under this funding announcement must be submitted through NIH’s electronic systems, including ASSIST or Grants.gov, and must follow SF424 (R&R) Multi-Project instructions, with specific requirements for multi-component applications. Required sections include governance, administrative units, colony management, animal resources, outreach, pilot research, and consortium components. Applications that fail to follow the detailed structure and requirements may be delayed or rejected. No clinical trials are permitted under this funding opportunity. While application budgets are not capped, renewal or resubmission applications may not exceed a 5 percent direct cost increase from the last non-competing year, and the maximum project period is five years. Key dates for submission follow NIH’s standard cycles, with due dates of January 25, May 25, and September 25 each year through September 25, 2026. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. The most immediate upcoming due date is January 25, 2026, with subsequent review and award cycles leading to an earliest start date of December 2026. The funding announcement expires on September 26, 2026. This opportunity does not require a pre-application step such as a Letter of Intent. Cost sharing is not required under this program. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based institutions currently operating NPRCs under previous awards. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components are not eligible. Individual investigators may apply only in coordination with an eligible NPRC, and the Principal Investigator must hold a senior-level institutional position with broad administrative responsibility. Required registrations include SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. The opportunity is open nationwide to qualifying institutions that meet the eligibility criteria. Contacts for scientific and research questions include Bettina Buhring, Ph.D. of ORIP (bettina.buhring@nih.gov, 301-451-2074) and Manuel Moro, DVM, Ph.D. of NIA (manuel.moro@nih.gov, 301-480-1796). Peer review inquiries can be directed to Elaine Sierra-Rivera, Ph.D. (riverase@csr.nih.gov, 301-613-1347). Financial and grants management contacts are Gavin Wilkom, MIM of NHLBI’s ORIP Team (wilkomg@mail.nih.gov, 301-827-7078) and Jeni Smits of NIA (jeni.smits@nih.gov). General application process questions may be directed to the NIH Grants Information team at GrantsInfo@nih.gov or 301-480-7075. Technical assistance for submissions is available through the eRA Service Desk and Grants.gov Customer Support.