NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN): Clinical Centers (UG1 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HD 23 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 23 002

The NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN): Clinical Centers funding opportunity (RFA-HD-23-002) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement (UG1) to support a coordinated, multi-site research infrastructure focused on improving health care and outcomes for newborns. The central goal of the NRN is to generate high-quality evidence that can directly change clinical practice in neonatal care, with particular attention to improving survival without neurodevelopmental impairment. In practical terms, the network is aimed at studying and refining care strategies for infants who are born premature, have low birth weight, or face other serious medical conditions in the neonatal period, where small improvements in care can translate into major lifelong differences in health and functioning.

A key feature of this opportunity is that NICHD intends for the NRN to serve as its primary, first-line platform for running multi-site neonatal clinical trials. That means the funded clinical centers are expected to function not just as individual research sites, but as part of a standing national infrastructure that can reliably design, launch, and execute rigorous clinical studies across multiple hospitals and populations. Because neonatal clinical trials often require large sample sizes, consistent protocols, specialized expertise, and careful long-term follow-up, the NRN model is designed to make that kind of work feasible and dependable over time. The “Clinical Trial Optional” designation indicates that an application may include clinical trial activities, but a clinical trial is not strictly required in every proposed scope; however, the overall network purpose is explicitly tied to supporting and implementing multi-site trials when needed.

The award uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means NIH/NICHD expects substantial programmatic involvement during the life of the award compared with a standard research project grant. In a network like the NRN, that generally aligns with the need for tight coordination, shared protocols, common data standards, and centralized decision-making around study selection and implementation. While the specific operational expectations are laid out in the full announcement, the high-level intent is clear: funded clinical centers should be prepared to participate in collaborative studies, contribute patients and data under harmonized procedures, and support the network’s ability to rapidly and credibly answer important clinical questions in neonatal medicine.

Eligibility for applicants is broad across U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, reflecting the infrastructure-heavy and collaborative nature of the program. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (other than federally recognized governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as stated); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the opportunity places strict limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. These restrictions signal that the clinical and operational footprint of the NRN clinical centers must be fully U.S.-based (including U.S. territories/possessions where applicable), likely to ensure consistent regulatory oversight, standardized clinical environments, and alignment with NICHD program priorities.

From the administrative details provided, the opportunity falls under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 93.865 and is managed by NIH. The original closing date listed is August 11, 2022, with a listed award ceiling of $2,200,000. The notice shows “ExpectedAwards:” without a number filled in, so the exact count of anticipated awards is not specified in the excerpt. The posting was created May 5, 2022. Overall, the grant is structured to keep a set of clinical centers ready and able to carry out complex neonatal studies at scale, with the broader mission of producing evidence that improves survival and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes for the highest-risk newborns.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN): Clinical Centers (UG1 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-05-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-08-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $220,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA HD 23 002

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