NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research Project: Coordinating Center Grant (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 23 204

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 204

The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is offering support through a UG1 cooperative agreement for a Coordinating Center that will help run major, investigator-initiated clinical vision research studies. This opportunity is designed for large-scale and complex clinical trials that may involve substantial operational demands or higher safety considerations, including human gene-transfer trials, stem cell therapy trials, and other studies that require significant resources and careful oversight. Because these projects tend to be complicated, NEI emphasizes the need for a clearly defined study structure, well-specified roles and responsibilities across participating components, and strong performance monitoring to ensure the trial is conducted safely, consistently, and according to plan.

The proposed research supported under this NOFO must focus on interventions related to vision disorders. In practical terms, that means the clinical trial should be intended to evaluate an intervention for screening, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of eye and vision conditions, or to compare the effectiveness of two or more established approaches. The funding mechanism explicitly requires a clinical trial, and the expectation is that the work will have clear public health significance and be large or complicated enough that it benefits from a formal Coordinating Center model rather than being managed solely by an individual site or small team.

A key feature of this program is that NEI typically funds these large studies as a linked set of companion awards rather than a single all-in-one grant. The overall effort often includes a Chairs Grant (leadership and scientific direction), a Coordinating Center grant (the focus of this NOFO), and, when needed, additional Resource Centers. This specific announcement encourages applications for the Coordinating Center component, meaning applicants should concentrate on the operational and coordinating responsibilities that make multi-site or otherwise complex trials function smoothly. While the notice excerpt does not list every duty in detail, the intent is that the Coordinating Center will serve as the operational backbone of the study, supporting consistent implementation across sites, centralized coordination, and the kind of oversight and monitoring expected for higher-risk or high-profile clinical trials.

The opportunity is identified as PAR 23 204 and falls under the discretionary funding category, using a cooperative agreement instrument. A cooperative agreement differs from a typical research project grant in that NIH staff generally have substantial involvement during the project period, which aligns with NEI's emphasis on active oversight, coordination, and performance monitoring for complex trials. The activity area is health, and the associated CFDA number is 93.867.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can credibly carry out coordinating center functions for clinical research. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city or 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, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Both nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status) and for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses) may apply. The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities and regional organizations, indicating NEI is open to a wide range of capable coordinating organizations depending on the trial needs.

The original closing date listed for this opportunity is May 25, 2026. The excerpt does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, suggesting applicants should refer to the full NOFO for budget guidance, anticipated funding levels, and any limits or expectations tied to the scope of the proposed Coordinating Center. Overall, the program is aimed at ensuring that demanding, high-impact vision clinical trials have a dedicated, expert hub responsible for coordination, operational rigor, and monitoring so the study can be executed reliably across all participating components.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research Project: Coordinating Center Grant (UG1 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-05-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 PAR 23 204

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: