Limited Competition: Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program: Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award

The Limited Competition Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award is administered by the National Institutes of Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. This program operates under the broader Clinical and Translational Science Awards initiative, which is a Congressionally mandated effort to accelerate the process of translating scientific discoveries into practical health applications. The program supports a national network of academic medical centers and affiliated institutions that provide the infrastructure, workforce development, and collaborative environment necessary to move research from laboratory settings into clinical practice and community health improvements. The purpose of this specific funding opportunity is to support collaborative and innovative approaches that enhance translational science across the CTSA network. The award is designed to fund projects that develop new technologies, models, or methodologies that can improve the efficiency, impact, and reach of translational research. By emphasizing collaboration, the program seeks to leverage the collective expertise of participating institutions to accelerate the development of diagnostics, treatments, and health interventions that benefit diverse populations. The funding aims to ensure that discoveries move more rapidly from research phases into real world healthcare settings. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, indicating substantial involvement from the funding agency during the performance period. While specific award amounts and total funding levels are not provided in the forecast, the structure implies support for projects that demonstrate strong collaborative frameworks and innovative potential. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, allowing eligible institutions to focus resources on research and implementation activities rather than securing additional matching funds. Allowable uses of funding are expected to align with translational science objectives, including infrastructure development, collaborative research initiatives, and technology advancement. Eligibility for this opportunity is restricted to a limited pool of applicants. Only institutions that have previously received funding under the Clinical and Translational Science Awards UM1 funding opportunity or its subsequent iterations are eligible to apply. This includes both primary award recipients and partnering institutions within the CTSA network. This limitation ensures that applicants already have the foundational infrastructure and collaborative relationships necessary to effectively execute advanced translational science projects. The application process will follow standard NIH submission procedures once the funding opportunity is officially released. As a forecasted opportunity, detailed submission instructions and required application components are not yet fully specified, but applicants can expect to prepare comprehensive proposals outlining project objectives, methodologies, collaborative structures, and anticipated impacts. Applications will undergo NIH peer review processes, where they will be evaluated based on scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and potential to advance translational science. Only applications deemed meritorious through this rigorous review process will be considered for funding. The timeline for this opportunity is currently projected, with an estimated posting date in early September 2026 and an anticipated application due date in mid February 2027. Awards are expected to be issued in December 2027, with project activities beginning shortly thereafter. As this is a forecasted and limited competition opportunity, eligible institutions should begin preparing early by identifying collaborative partners and refining project concepts in advance of the official notice of funding opportunity release. For additional information or inquiries, applicants are directed to contact the program via the provided email address associated with the Division of Clinical Innovation at NCATS.