Limited Competition: Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program Centers grant is administered by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences within the National Institutes of Health, which operates under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program continues a long-standing federal investment authorized by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 to address environmental and human health risks associated with hazardous substances. The initiative is designed to support university-based, multidisciplinary research centers that combine biomedical research with environmental science and engineering in order to generate actionable knowledge that protects public health. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support integrated, problem-based research centers that investigate the detection, assessment, and mitigation of hazardous substances. The program emphasizes solution-oriented approaches that connect fundamental science with real-world applications. Funded centers are expected to address key mandates including evaluating health effects, assessing risk, improving detection technologies, and developing methods to reduce toxicity and environmental contamination. Each center must include multiple coordinated research projects as well as required administrative and translational cores that facilitate data integration, stakeholder engagement, and workforce training. Funding supports a wide range of research activities, including laboratory-based mechanistic studies, epidemiological research, environmental monitoring technologies, and remediation strategies. Funds may be used for personnel, research infrastructure, data management systems, training activities, and community engagement efforts. Each center may request up to 1.75 million dollars in direct costs annually for a project period of up to five years. The program does not require cost sharing. Awardees are expected to maintain strong integration across projects and demonstrate how their work contributes to reducing exposure risks and improving public health outcomes. Eligibility is limited to accredited institutions of higher education within the United States. Both public and private universities are eligible, but foreign organizations and foreign components are not permitted. Institutions may collaborate with other organizations, including government agencies, community groups, and private sector partners, through subawards or partnerships. Each application must represent a distinct scientific approach, and only one application per institution is permitted under this limited competition structure. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov using either the NIH ASSIST system or an institutional system-to-system solution. Applications must follow NIH multi-project grant instructions and include several required components such as an overall center description, multiple research projects, administrative and translational cores, and optional research support cores. Applications are subject to strict formatting and compliance requirements, and incomplete or noncompliant submissions may be rejected without review. Applications are evaluated through the NIH peer review process based on scientific merit, significance, innovation, approach, investigator qualifications, and environment. Additional emphasis is placed on the integration of projects, relevance to Superfund priorities, and the ability to translate findings into practical solutions. Reviewers also assess stakeholder engagement, training plans, and data management strategies. Only applications deemed meritorious through this rigorous review process are considered for funding. The application timeline includes an opening date of June 1, 2026, with recurring annual deadlines on September 25 for multiple years through 2028. Awards are expected to be issued following review cycles, with the earliest start date projected for July of the following year after submission. The program is recurring annually, and institutions are encouraged to begin preparation early due to the complexity of the application and required coordination across multiple disciplines and stakeholders.

Prioritize strong integration between biomedical and environmental science projects; demonstrate clear relevance to Superfund mandates; include stakeholder engagement and translational pathways; ensure strict compliance with NIH multi-project formatting requirements