NIH Collaborative International Research Project (Parent PF5 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has forecasted a funding opportunity titled NIH Collaborative International Research Project (Parent PF5 Clinical Trial Optional), under opportunity number PA-26-002. This initiative is designed to strengthen international research collaborations in alignment with the NIH mission to advance health-related scientific knowledge. NIH has authority to issue this forecast under 42 U.S.C. 241 and 284, and it specifically emphasizes supporting projects that link prime domestic awards with independent foreign subprojects to ensure accountability and effective oversight of international funding streams. The program requires that all applications include at least one international subproject. These subprojects must demonstrate special opportunities for research that leverage unique resources, populations, talent, or environmental conditions outside of the United States that are not otherwise available domestically, or that significantly augment existing U.S. resources. In addition, the proposed international subprojects must directly align with the missions and objectives of participating NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices. Applicants will be evaluated not only on their domestic proposals but also on how effectively the international component enhances the overall research design and potential impact on U.S. health sciences. Funding for this program is offered through a discretionary grant mechanism. While NIH has indicated its support for the initiative, it has not yet released detailed figures regarding total program funding, award ceilings, or award floors. Likewise, the expected number of awards has not been specified. However, applicants should expect that NIH will monitor and track the distribution of funds across domestic and foreign awardees closely, in line with its oversight responsibilities outlined in NOT-OD-25-104. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this opportunity. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad, encompassing a wide range of entities. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities, Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal governments (both federally recognized and non-federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and other for-profit organizations. In addition, eligible agencies of the federal government, U.S. territories and possessions, regional organizations, and faith-based or community-based organizations may also apply. This wide eligibility pool reflects NIH’s intent to encourage diverse collaboration and broad participation in international health research. The timeline for this program begins with a forecast release on September 15, 2025. The estimated post date is November 25, 2025, and the application due date is January 25, 2026. Applications are expected to be reviewed and awarded by September 1, 2026, with project start dates aligning with the award date. As this is a recurring parent announcement mechanism, similar opportunities are likely to be reissued in the future, although the specific frequency is not detailed in the forecast notice. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov following NIH’s standard procedures for discretionary grant applications. No pre-application steps, such as letters of intent or concept papers, are mentioned in the forecast. Evaluation will be conducted holistically, considering the scientific merit of the domestic and international components together, with particular attention to whether international subprojects create unique opportunities or leverage resources not otherwise available in the U.S. For further inquiries, applicants are directed to contact the NIH Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA) at OPERAleadership@mail.nih.gov.