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

The Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers (P40) funding opportunity, issued by the Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives within the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is designed to provide critical resources to the biomedical research community. The program aims to support special colonies of laboratory animals and other essential biological resources that are not widely available but are vital for advancing scientific knowledge. This initiative reflects ORIP’s NIH-wide mission and aligns with its goals of enhancing scientific rigor, transparency, and reproducibility in biomedical research. The funding opportunity was updated on March 31, 2025, to align with current agency priorities. This program is open to a variety of applicant organizations, including higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and certain federal entities, among others. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, though foreign components of U.S.-based organizations are permitted. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a compelling need for their proposed resources, ensure national accessibility, and promote the use of these resources across multiple NIH Institutes and Centers. Applications must also include evidence of institutional support and plans for long-term sustainability. The program supports both the continuation of existing resources and the development of new ones when appropriate. The application process requires adherence to a structured multi-component format, including an Overall Component and specific components for Resource, Curation and Informatics, and Applied Research. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically via the NIH ASSIST system or an institutional system-to-system solution. Applications are evaluated based on their significance, innovation, approach, and potential impact, with additional review criteria applied to each component. Key dates include multiple submission cycles through January 2026, with the earliest start dates varying by review cycle. The funding for this opportunity is robust, with NIH committing $1.3 million annually for fiscal years 2023 to 2025 to fund at least two awards per year. There is no fixed ceiling or floor for application budgets, but those requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs per year must obtain prior approval. The maximum project period is five years. Notably, the program requires recipients to generate program income to support ongoing operations and reduce reliance on NIH funding over time. Successful applications must include detailed plans for the curation and informatics of biological resources, disaster preparedness, community outreach, and marketing. Centers must also develop mechanisms for evaluating their impact and collecting relevant user data. Additionally, applicants must comply with NIH’s Data Management and Sharing Policy and ensure that their data management practices align with FAIR and TRUST principles. The inclusion of an External Advisory Board is mandatory, providing guidance and oversight to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the resource center. For assistance, potential applicants are encouraged to contact Oleg Mirochnitchenko at oleg.mirochnitchenko@nih.gov or by phone at 301-435-0748 for scientific inquiries. Financial and grants management questions can be directed to Kenneth Holiness at holinessk@nih.gov or by phone at 301-480-6854. Peer review inquiries should be sent to FOAReviewContact@csr.nih.gov. The funding opportunity number for this program is RFA-OD-23-001, and the program remains open for applications through January 8, 2026.