NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research: Chair's Grant (UG1-Clinical Trial Required)

The National Eye Institute (NEI), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is offering the NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research: Chair's Grant (UG1-Clinical Trial Required) through Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number PAR-23-209. The NEI’s mission is to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through vision research. The NEI UG1 cooperative agreement supports investigator-initiated large-scale clinical trials, human gene-transfer, stem cell therapy trials, and other complex or high resource- or safety-risk clinical trials aimed at advancing vision health. This grant opportunity is specifically designed to fund the Chair’s Grant, which provides clinical, scientific, and technical leadership for complex multicenter or high-risk clinical trials evaluating interventions aimed at screening, diagnosing, preventing, or treating vision disorders, or comparing the effectiveness of two or more established interventions. The Chair’s Grant application must include detailed information regarding the scientific rationale, study aims, protocol, research design, patient population, and methods proposed to accomplish the study goals. The funding supports projects with a maximum period of five years. Budgets are not limited but must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, small businesses, and various levels of government including state, local, tribal, and foreign entities. Individual applicants must have the skills, knowledge, and resources to carry out the proposed research. Required registrations include SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Applicants must ensure compliance with NIH policies regarding human subjects, clinical trials, data management and sharing, and other regulatory requirements. Applications must include several critical attachments: a full Clinical Protocol, a Milestone Plan detailing performance and timeline objectives, an Overall Study Organization, a Manual of Procedures, documentation of Intervention Agent or Device availability (if applicable), a Statistical Analysis Plan (if not submitting a companion Coordinating Center UG1), and a Clinical Center Table (if applicable). Applications that lack the required attachments will not be reviewed. Key dates include multiple NIH standard submission cycles through May 26, 2026, with specific application deadlines outlined in the NOFO. The opportunity is currently active and accepting applications. Reviewers will evaluate applications based on scientific significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, study approach, environment, and alignment with NEI’s strategic goals. Detailed review criteria include assessment of study design, data management, statistical analysis, and ethical considerations. Contact information for scientific and research queries includes Sangeeta Bhargava (bhargavas@mail.nih.gov, 301-435-8175), Donald Everett (everettd@mail.nih.gov, 301-435-8181), and Jimmy Le (jimmy.le@nih.gov, 301-435-8160). For peer review inquiries, contact Brian Hoshaw (brian.hoshaw@nih.gov, 301-402-0566). For financial and grants management questions, contact Karen Robinson Smith (Karen.Robinson.Smith@nei.nih.gov, 301-435-8178). Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact program staff at least 12 weeks prior to submission to discuss their plans and ensure alignment with NEI priorities.