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

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administers the Scientific Conference Grant Program (R13), designated under funding opportunity number PAR-23-072. This grant initiative is structured to provide financial assistance to support high-quality conferences and scientific meetings that align with the FDA’s mission of protecting and promoting public health. The objective is to facilitate the exchange of scientific and regulatory information, foster collaborations among stakeholders, and promote understanding of FDA-related public health concerns through formal gatherings such as symposia, seminars, and workshops. These gatherings can be held in person or virtually and must focus on topics directly relevant to the FDA’s regulatory scope, including food safety, medical product safety, tobacco regulation, and other health-related concerns. The FDA emphasizes that the submission of a grant application does not guarantee funding, nor does it ensure funding at the requested level. It is critical for applicants to understand that a grant award will only be issued if it can be finalized before the proposed conference start date. This constraint is rooted in the FDA’s operational guidelines, ensuring fiscal and logistical alignment with the agency’s internal review and approval processes. The grant mechanism explicitly does not allow clinical trials, maintaining a focus on scientific discourse and information exchange rather than direct clinical interventions. Eligible applicants for this opportunity are broad and inclusive. They encompass a range of public and private sector entities, including city and county governments, Native American tribal organizations (both federally and non-federally recognized), independent school districts, for-profit organizations excluding small businesses, and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status. However, foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. This wide eligibility reflects the FDA’s commitment to incorporating diverse perspectives from across the U.S. public health and research ecosystem, while maintaining a domestic funding scope. The program is funded through the Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 93.103, which is associated with FDA research initiatives. For this particular opportunity, the estimated total program funding is $1,000,000, with an expected number of 20 awards. Specific award ceilings and floors are not published in the opportunity synopsis, indicating variability depending on the scope and scale of the proposed conferences. Importantly, there is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity, which lowers the financial barrier for applicants and increases accessibility, especially for smaller or resource-limited organizations. The application process includes multiple fixed due dates, recurring semiannually in April and October. The upcoming deadline for the next cycle is January 30, 2026, although this date appears to be a supplemental or adjusted close date. The regular recurring due dates follow the pattern of April 12 and October 11/12 for each calendar year. All submissions are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the specified dates. Given the recurring nature of this program, future cycles can be expected to follow the same semiannual pattern. Applications must be submitted through the Grants.gov portal. The announcement does not indicate any pre-application requirements such as Letters of Intent, making the process relatively straightforward. Program-related inquiries can be directed to Danielle Head ([email protected]), the listed Grants Management Specialist, or Janelle Fundersburg ([email protected]; 301-798-2533), who is identified as a grantor contact. While no PDF of the full NOFO is provided in the listing, applicants are advised to consult the full announcement through the Grants.gov interface for detailed instructions. The FDA expects applicants to adhere to all requirements and deadlines carefully, ensuring all submissions are complete and submitted before the respective cutoff dates to be considered for funding.