Diabetes Research Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Diabetes Research Centers (DRCs) funding opportunity, issued by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aims to enhance the national research effort surrounding diabetes, its complications, and associated endocrine and metabolic diseases. With a focus on promoting communication, collaboration, and the efficiency of both basic and clinical research, this funding initiative supports the formation or continuation of comprehensive centers that provide centralized research cores, a pilot and feasibility (P&F) program, and enrichment activities. These Centers are structured to create a synergistic environment in which research teams can accomplish more collectively than through isolated grants. Each DRC comprises three major components: an Administrative Core with an enrichment program, two to five Biomedical Research Cores, and a P&F Program. These Centers serve as hubs for investigators with externally funded research related to diabetes, obesity, and metabolic diseases, fostering interdisciplinary work across specialties such as endocrinology, immunology, genetics, bioinformatics, and more. The Biomedical Cores offer shared technical resources, while the P&F Program provides early-stage funding for innovative or exploratory research projects. Enrichment activities are expected to include seminars, guest speakers, and other academic and professional development opportunities. Applicants must demonstrate a robust research base of at least $12 million in annual direct costs from peer-reviewed research projects, including a minimum of $4 million from NIDDK-funded grants. Centers may propose regional or national expansion plans, either for core services or P&F programs, thereby extending their reach to investigators at non-DRC institutions. Proposals for a National Enrichment Program targeting medical students are optional but encouraged to foster future research careers in diabetes. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal governments, non-profits, and certain for-profit entities. Only one application per institution is allowed. The maximum project period is five years, with budgets capped at $1,000,000 in direct costs per year or $1,250,000 for Centers proposing national core expansions. First-year equipment costs and F&A on subawards are excluded from these caps. Applications may include new, renewal, or resubmission types and may or may not involve clinical trials. The first application cycle opens February 10, 2026, with a due date of March 10, 2026. The second cycle opens later in 2026 with a due date of January 27, 2027. Reviews are held in July, followed by advisory council consideration in October, and award notifications in December. The funding notice expires January 28, 2027. Applications must be submitted through NIH ASSIST or other system-to-system platforms and must comply strictly with the NIH “How to Apply” guide and this NOFO’s specific requirements.

Proposals must clearly define DRC theme, justify core elements, and show strong mentoring and integration.