FDA Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, within the Department of Health and Human Services, offers the “Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)” program to fund high-quality scientific conferences and symposia that advance topics aligned with the FDA’s mission to protect and promote public health. Administered across multiple centers—including the Centers for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Drug Evaluation and Research, Devices and Radiological Health, Tobacco Products, Veterinary Medicine, and others—the program provides financial assistance for meetings, workshops, and seminars that disseminate scientific knowledge, foster collaboration, and stimulate new developments in fields regulated by the agency. The grant supports conferences designed to explore technical issues, emerging science, regulatory standards, and public health implications within FDA’s scope. Eligible meetings may be conducted in-person or virtually and must include plans for inclusivity, accessibility, and safety for all participants. The FDA emphasizes diversity in conference planning and participation, expecting applicants to outline strategies for engaging individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and ensuring a harassment-free environment consistent with federal civil-rights and anti-discrimination laws. Projects should clearly demonstrate alignment with the priorities of one or more participating FDA Centers. Applications must include an advance “permission-to-submit” letter from the relevant FDA Center or Office, requested no later than eight weeks before the chosen application due date. A complete proposal includes standard SF-424 (R&R) components, a Conference Plan (serving as the research strategy), and attachments such as a one-page Diversity Plan. All applications must conform to the specific page limits and procedural requirements set out in this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Letters of support from key participants are also required. Applications are submitted electronically through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an approved institutional S2S system. Funding amounts vary by FDA Center: up to $25,000 per year from CVM, $30,000 from NCTR, $50,000 from OC, CTP, or ORA, and up to $250,000 from CBER; CDER, CDRH, and CFSAN may consider higher amounts. Awards may cover a single conference for up to one year or multi-year projects of up to five years for recurring meetings. Allowable costs include consultant fees, speaker travel, equipment rental, publication expenses, and salaries for staff engaged in conference organization. Indirect costs, food and beverages, registration fees, and equipment purchases are unallowable. Cost sharing is not required. Funding is contingent on appropriations and the merit of applications received. The application cycle recurs twice yearly, with deadlines on April 11 and October 10 (2025 cycle). Letters of intent are due eight weeks before each deadline. The scientific merit review occurs approximately two to three months after submission, followed by award notices around July for the April cycle and January for the October cycle. Applications are judged on significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment, with additional consideration given to diversity and conference inclusivity plans. Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, small businesses, state and local governments, special districts, tribal governments and organizations, and public housing authorities. Foreign institutions and foreign components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. Applicants must complete required registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons before submission. Program oversight is provided by the FDA Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services, with Kimberly Pendleton (Director, DGAAS) serving as the primary contact for program and financial questions at Kimberly.Pendleton@FDA.HHS.Gov. The FOA remains active through October 11, 2025. Awards are authorized under Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act and subject to 45 CFR 75 and 2 CFR 200. Conferences must be planned so that federal award dates precede the event start date, and recipients must comply with all reporting and civil rights requirements set forth by HHS and FDA.