Contraceptive Development Research Center (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HD 23 029

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 23 029

The Contraceptive Development Research Center (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA HD 23 029) is a National Institutes of Health discretionary grant designed to build a coordinated, multidisciplinary research center focused on creating new and/or improved contraceptive methods for both women and men. The central idea is to support a hub-and-spoke style program where multiple scientific disciplines can work together under one organized Center structure to move contraceptive concepts forward in a more integrated way than would typically happen through individual standalone projects. While the overall emphasis is on contraceptive development, the FOA explicitly recognizes that improving the odds of real-world impact often requires bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and human use, so it allows translational studies aimed at moving promising candidates from preclinical stages toward clinical readiness. As indicated by the "clinical trial optional" designation, applicants may propose research that includes clinical trials, but they are not required to do so; the funding mechanism can support work ranging from advanced preclinical development through early clinical evaluation when appropriate.

A distinctive feature of this Center program is its national workforce-development role. Beyond producing data and advancing product candidates, the Center is expected to function as a national resource that helps train, mentor, and support early stage investigators who want to build careers in contraceptive research. In practice, this typically means creating structured opportunities for junior researchers to gain access to expertise, shared resources, and collaborative projects, with the Center acting as an environment where early career scientists can develop skills in contraceptive biology, product development, translational science, and potentially clinical research. The goal is not only to generate near-term advances in contraceptive options, but also to strengthen the longer-term pipeline of investigators in a field where sustained innovation depends heavily on specialized knowledge and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The award is categorized under Health, Income Security and Social Services and is tied to CFDA number 93.865. The opportunity uses the NIH P50 Center grant mechanism, which typically supports a coordinated set of research activities under a unified leadership and administrative framework. The posted award ceiling is $1,300,000, and the original closing date listed for applications was 2022-12-01. The agency is NIH, and the funding instrument type is a grant.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic institutions and organizations, reflecting the FOA's interest in building robust, diverse, and collaborative Center environments. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and 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; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (when not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility signals an intent to encourage participation from a wide range of research and community settings, including institutions that serve populations historically underrepresented in biomedical research, and to promote partnerships that can strengthen both scientific development and training capacity.

Overall, this FOA supports the creation of a centralized Contraceptive Development Research Center that can coordinate multidisciplinary contraceptive R&D, incorporate translational work to improve the preclinical-to-clinical handoff, optionally conduct clinical trials when justified, and provide a structured platform for developing early stage investigators as part of a national resource for the field.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Contraceptive Development Research Center (P50 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 2022-08-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-12-01. (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 $1,300,000.00 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 23 029

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