NICHD Global Network for Womens and Childrens Health Research: Research Units (UG1 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HD 23 008

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 23 008

The NICHD Global Network for Womens and Childrens Health Research: Research Units (UG1 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity (RFA-HD-23-008) is a National Institutes of Health cooperative agreement funding announcement that supports U.S.-led research teams working in formal partnership with research centers in low-income countries. The core aim is to strengthen and sustain a coordinated, multi-site Global Network that can carry out high-quality observational studies and randomized clinical trials in resource-poor settings, focused on the major causes of maternal, neonatal, infant, and early childhood illness and death. Through this network structure, NICHD is seeking teams that can help generate practical evidence about disease processes, health and wellness outcomes, and the effectiveness of interventions that are relevant to real-world conditions in low-resource environments.

Applications are for Research Units (RUs), meaning U.S.-based research centers that will operate as part of a broader NIH-supported collaborative network, rather than as stand-alone projects. Because this is a cooperative agreement (UG1), awardees are expected to work in close scientific partnership with NIH staff, typically involving substantial programmatic involvement in study planning, protocol development, implementation, and cross-site coordination. The “clinical trial optional” label indicates that an RU may propose work that includes clinical trials, but it is not strictly required; the network is intended to support both observational research and randomized studies depending on the scientific questions and readiness of sites.

A key feature of the program is the emphasis on multicenter research conducted across participating sites, allowing the network to evaluate interventions and outcomes at scale and across diverse settings. The studies supported are meant to address high-burden problems affecting women and children, with a strong focus on generating evidence that can improve maternal and child health outcomes in places where resources, staffing, and infrastructure may be limited. This typically implies a need for demonstrated capacity in ethical and regulatory oversight, community engagement, data quality and harmonization, participant safety, and practical implementation in challenging environments.

Eligibility is broad on the U.S. side and includes many types of domestic organizations, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various levels of government (state, county, city/township), as well as special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations. The announcement also explicitly notes categories of institutions and organizations that may apply, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, along with faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies.

While the program is built around partnerships with research centers in low-income countries, non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components (as defined under NIH Grants Policy) are allowed, which is how the on-the-ground international partnerships and activities are incorporated into the RU structure. In practical terms, the U.S. applicant leads the award and formalizes collaboration with partner sites in low-income countries to execute the network’s research agenda.

This FOA is specifically for Research Units, and it is paired with a separate funding opportunity that solicits applications for the Global Network Data Coordinating Center. That separation underscores that the RUs are expected to generate and contribute data and participate in coordinated studies, while a dedicated coordinating center handles broader network-level data management, statistical coordination, and related infrastructure functions.

Key administrative details from the listing include the agency (NIH, via NICHD), assistance listing/CFDA number 93.865, and an award ceiling of $365,000 (as presented in the source data). The original closing date listed is November 29, 2022, and the opportunity was created on August 3, 2022.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NICHD Global Network for Womens and Childrens Health Research: Research Units (UG1 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 2022-08-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-11-29. (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 $365,000.00 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 23 008

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