Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) funding opportunity, administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and led by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), is a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening health-related research, research career development, and research infrastructure within federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Originally established in 2000, NARCH supports tribally-driven research efforts by providing multi-component grant funding to Tribes, Tribal colleges and universities, Tribal health programs, or Tribal organizations. It empowers these entities to pursue projects that align with their own health priorities while building internal research capacity. The program structure mandates the inclusion of an Administrative Core and allows applicants to propose up to three Research Projects (RPs), one Pilot Project Program (PPP), up to two Career Enhancement Projects (CEPs), and up to two Research Infrastructure Enhancement Projects (RIEPs). The Administrative Core is responsible for managing the grant’s administration, finances, and coordination of all project components, including compliance with federal regulations and reporting obligations. Each component—whether RP, PPP, CEP, or RIEP—must address a specific aspect of the applicant’s strategic health and research goals and be led by individuals with relevant qualifications and cultural competency. Each proposed project must directly address health issues affecting Tribal communities, such as disease prevalence, strengths and resiliency, and culturally grounded interventions. Research Projects are larger in scope and may involve human subjects or clinical trials, while Pilot Projects serve as exploratory studies for early-career researchers and can be converted into full-scale Research Projects later. Career Enhancement Projects are designed to cultivate a new generation of health researchers from Tribal communities through internships, workshops, and mentorships, while Infrastructure Enhancement Projects aim to build capacity through technological, administrative, or research facility investments. Application budgets may not exceed $1.3 million in annual direct costs and must allocate at least 60% of requested funds to eligible Tribal Entities when partnering with non-Tribal institutions. Award periods are capped at five years. Applications must be submitted electronically via NIH's ASSIST system or an institutional S2S system. Compliance with federal and Tribal regulations is required, especially when projects involve human subjects or vertebrate animals. Eligible applicants include federally-recognized Tribes, Tribal colleges and universities, Tribal health programs, or Tribal organizations, either individually or as consortia. Each applicant must demonstrate sufficient research administrative infrastructure and may submit up to two non-overlapping applications if they are not already NARCH award recipients. Entities with active NARCH grants may submit only one additional application. Organizations currently holding two active awards are not eligible for new awards. Applications are accepted annually, with deadlines on July 8 of each year through 2026. Letters of Intent are due by June 8, preceding each annual deadline. The program does not accept rolling submissions but is recurring, with the next expected cycle in July 2026. Applications are reviewed through the NIH peer review process, with additional consideration given to cultural appropriateness, community engagement, and the applicant's ability to address Tribal health needs effectively. For more information or to submit a letter of intent, applicants should contact Dr. Crystal Richards at crystal.richards@nih.gov. Financial inquiries should be directed to Christy Leake at Christy.leake@nih.gov. The FOA number is PAR-23-166 and is valid through August 8, 2026.

Ensure tribal resolutions are included and align proposed activities with community-identified health needs.