Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers (P40 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) within the Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, plans to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support the Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers under the P40 grant mechanism. This initiative aims to enhance the availability of specialized animal models and biological materials to the broader biomedical research community. The grant opportunity, identified as TEMP-30965, is currently in a forecasted status, with applications expected to be solicited beginning in December 2025. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that develop and maintain animal models, related biological materials, and new approach methodologies (NAMs). These resources will be made available to qualified investigators across various scientific disciplines and research areas, without restrictions on disease orientation or research field. The initiative emphasizes the importance of advancing scientific rigor, transparency, and reproducibility in biomedical research. Funded projects will focus on optimizing the collection, generation, and distribution of animal models and related services, reducing redundancy, and promoting cost efficiency. The program will also require strong integration with efforts to develop and apply NAMs, such as cell culture, organoids, computational models, and microphysiological systems. These components are expected to complement traditional animal-based research, enhance human disease model predictive power, and improve integration across research methodologies. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities, such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, state and county governments, independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, small businesses, nonprofits, public housing authorities, private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal organizations, and other for-profit organizations. The grant does not require cost-sharing or matching funds. While applications are not yet being accepted, this advance notice allows potential applicants to begin developing collaborative and responsive projects. The NOFO will support nine application cycles, with the first application due in February 2026. Awards are anticipated to be announced in December 2026, with project start dates expected later that month. Interested parties are encouraged to prepare applications that emphasize collaborative expertise in genetics, biology, and research databases, aligning with the initiative’s objectives. For additional information, interested applicants may contact Oleg Mirochnitchenko, PhD, at the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs. He can be reached via email at oleg.mirochnitchenko@nih.gov or by phone at 301-435-0748.