PAR-27-024-Full-Announcement.html

Department of Health and Human Services

Part 1. Overview Information

Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Note: Not all NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) participate in Announcements. Applicants should carefully note which ICOs participate in this announcement and view their respective areas of research interest at the ICO-Specific Scientific Interests website. ICOs that do not participate in this announcement will not consider applications for funding.

Funding Opportunity Title

Biomedical Technology Optimization and Dissemination Center (BTOD) (RM1 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Activity Code

RM1 Research Project with Complex Structure

Announcement Type

Reissue of

PAR-23-110

Related Notices

Check for any recent Notices of NIH Policy Changes that may impact application requirements.

Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

PAR-27-024

Companion Funding Opportunity

None

Number of Applications

See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Assistance Listing Number(s)

93.859

Funding Opportunity Purpose

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages applications for NIGMS Biomedical Technology Optimization and Dissemination (BTOD) Centers to support late-stage technology optimization and sustainable dissemination of the technologies to the wider biomedical research community. A BTOD Center should be at the leading edge of its field with respect to both technology optimization and engagement with relevant research communities.

BTOD projects must address biomedical research areas within the NIGMS mission. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with NIGMS staff about adherence of their proposed research strategy to the Institute's goals and mission and its responsiveness to this NOFO.

Funding Opportunity Goal(s)

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) supports basic research that increases our understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. NIGMS also supports research in specific clinical areas that affect multiple organ systems: anesthesiology and peri-operative pain; clinical pharmacology common to multiple drugs and treatments; and injury, critical illness, sepsis, and wound healing. NIGMS-funded scientists investigate how living systems work at a range of levels–from molecules and cells to tissues and organs–in research organisms, humans, and populations. Additionally, to ensure the vitality and continued productivity of the research enterprise, NIGMS provides leadership in supporting the training of future scientists and developing research capacity throughout the country.

Key Dates

Posted Date

June 08, 2026

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

August 29, 2026

September 29, 2026

September 29, 2026

Not Applicable

July 2027

January 28, 2027

January 28, 2027

Not Applicable

December 2027

May 28, 2027

May 28, 2027

Not Applicable

April 2028

January 28, 2028

January 28, 2028

Not Applicable

December 2028

May 26, 2028

May 26, 2028

Not Applicable

April 2029

January 29, 2029

January 29, 2029

Not Applicable

December 2029

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date

January 30, 2029

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the How to Apply - Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Overview Information Key Dates Part 2. Full Text of Announcement Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III. Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Information Section V. Application Review Information Section VI. Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description

This Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) encourages applications for support of Biomedical Technology Optimization and Dissemination (BTOD) Centers in any of the basic or clinical research areas within the NIGMS mission. This program supports optimization of late-stage technologies that have demonstrated laboratory feasibility and dissemination of the optimized technologies to the broad biomedical research community. A BTOD Center may focus on a specific technology, or it may integrate multiple technologies to create a transformative approach to solving a class of research problems.

Background and Overview The NIGMS technology research and development pipeline supports technology development from its earliest stages to broad dissemination of products to the research community. The Technology Development R21/R01 Program supports early-stage proof of concept and prototype development. The BTOD Center program supports the optimization of late-stage technologies, defined as functional technologies that, while readily employed by investigators with specialized expertise, require further optimization and dissemination for use by the general research community.

Technologies of interest include, but are not limited to: analytical biochemistry and chemical biology tools, high throughput biochemical methods, chemistry, advanced spatial omics, structural biology and imaging methods, molecular biology, cell manipulation, computational methods, and modeling of molecular and biological systems.

BTOD Center Structure BTOD Centers are comprised of three integrated components: Technology Optimization Projects (TOPs), Driving Biomedical Projects (DBPs), and Community Engagement (CE). The Center optimizes technologies through synergistic collaborations between TOPs and DBPs and disseminates them through CE activities. The latter promote and distribute the technologies to the wider research community using multiple strategies including training, commercialization, and public outreach.

Technology Optimization Projects (TOPs): TOPs are the central focus of the BTOD Center and serve as the foundation for all other Center activities.

TOPs Characteristics:

Technology Partnership Projects (TPPs) : BTOD centers have the option to collaborate with industrial partners to accelerate technology optimization over a short time window (1-2 yrs), however, no funds from this project can support the activity.

If applicable, applicants should describe TPPs in the application. TPPs may also be initiated at any time during the grant period at the discretion of the PD(s)/PI(s).

Driving Biomedical Projects (DBPs): DBPs are biomedical research projects that the Center pursues in collaboration with outside investigators to serve as test beds for refinement of its technologies. This collection of projects and their collaboration with TOPs are core components of a BTOD Center and should represent a significant investment of its time and effort.

DBPs Characteristics:

DBP/TOP Interactions: Although each TOP must have a relationship with at least one DBP, it is preferred that each DBP drives more than one TOP and that each TOP interacts with multiple DBPs.

Community Engagement (CE): A BTOD Center should develop a plan to engage with a variety of biomedical research community segments to facilitate adoption of its technologies.

CE Characteristics:

Acknowledgment of NIGMS grant support and citation of NIGMS grant number are required (see Communicating and Acknowledging Federal Funding).

Academic courses, research, and training activities that are not available to the biomedical research community external to the Center's institution are not considered community engagement.

External Advisory Committee: Each BTOD Center must have an External Advisory Committee (EAC) that meets at least annually and prepares a written report of its recommendations.

Center Expectations

Prior Consultation with Institute Staff

Non-Responsiveness Criteria The following types of BTOD Center applications are non-responsive to this NOFO and will not be reviewed:

Applications that propose technologies of limited utility to the biomedical research community will be low priority for funding.

See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information

Funding Instrument

Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

New

Renewal

Revision

The OER Glossary and the How to Apply - Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.

Clinical Trial?

Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trials. Note: Applications may propose activities involving human subjects that are not deemed clinical trials.

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget

The maximum budget that may be requested is $850,000 in direct costs per year, excluding equipment and consortium F&A costs. Applications requesting more than this amount will not be reviewed. Because of the technology-intensive nature of these Centers, there may be a need to acquire specialized equipment. Equipment requests are expected to vary with the nature of the technology optimization projects proposed. Funds for such specialized equipment may be requested in excess of the $850,000 operating limit but should be well justified.

Award Project Period

The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 5 years. NIGMS will not support a BTOD Center for more than 15 total years (2 renewals), including support for previous P41 BTRR and RM1 BTDD Centers.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

For-Profit Organizations

Local Governments

Federal Governments

Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government

U.S. Territory or Possession

Other

Independent School Districts

Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities

Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

Faith-based or Community-based Organizations

Regional Organizations

Foreign Organizations/Foreign Collaborations

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

NIH will no longer issue awards (i.e., new, renewal, or non-competing continuation) to domestic or foreign entities that involve foreign subawards/subcontracts. All NIH-funded research involving foreign subawards/subcontracts must be submitted in response to a NOFO that is specifically designated for funded international collaborations. See NIH Grants Policy Statement 16.8 Collaborative International Research Awards.

Applications involving foreign subawards/subcontracts submitted in response to this NOFO will be deemed noncompliant and will not be considered for funding. This policy applies to all monetary international collaborations resulting in foreign subawards/subcontracts, however, it does not preclude unfunded international collaborations or foreign components, funding for foreign consultants, or procurement of unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors.

Required Registrations

Applicant Organizations Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply - Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information System for Award Management (SAM) – Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code. Foreign organizations must obtain a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)- A UEI is issued as part of the SAM.gov registration process. The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

All PD(s)/PI(s) must be registered with ORCID. The personal profile associated with the PD(s)/PI(s) eRA Commons account must be linked to a valid ORCID ID. For more information on linking an ORCID ID to an eRA Commons personal profile see the ORCID topic in our eRA Commons online help.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the How to Apply - Application Guide.

PD(s)/PI(s) must each provide a minimum of 3 person months effort to the Center project.

PDs/PIs with a Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA, Early Stage or Established Investigator) are eligible to apply, but must maintain the minimum required research effort toward their MIRA, and 3 person months effort toward the BTOD Center. While a MIRA can support a PD/PI's laboratory for early-stage technology development, a BTOD Center can only support late-stage technology optimization and dissemination efforts.

2. Cost Sharing This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 1.2 Definition of Terms.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility Number of Applications

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time, per NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application. This means that the NIH will not accept:

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace are available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise (in this NOFO, in a policy notice, or other notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to the requirements in the How to Apply - Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Page Limitations All page limitations described in the How to Apply – Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

Instructions for Application Submission

The following section supplements the instructions found in the How to Apply – Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this NOFO.

SF424(R&R) Cover All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations

SF424(R&R) Other Project Information

Facilities & Other Resources: For projects with more than one performance site, provide any plans to mitigate adverse effects of geographic separation of Center activities.

Other Attachments: For renewal applications, applications from existing Centers, or applications transitioning from a BTRR to a BTOD Center, the following attachments are required.

Attachment 1. Title "EAC Report": Include the most recent report as an attachment in this section.

Attachment 2: Title: "Indirectly Supported Publications": List the publications indirectly resulting from Center efforts.

SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile

Include TOP and CE lead investigators as key personnel.

Biographical Sketch: PD(s)/PI(s) and other key personnel should describe the following in the Personal Statement of the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement:

Suitability for their roles in leading Center activities including training experience and accomplishments in collaborative basic research, technology development, and its dissemination.

R&R Budget

R&R Subaward Budget

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement

PHS 398 Research Plan All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Specific Aims: Describe the overall aims of the proposed Center.

Research Strategy: The Research Strategy must consist of the following subsections, in the order listed below, and uploaded as a single PDF attachment. See page limits above.

Note: A BTOD Center may not be supported beyond a combined total of 15 years as a BTRR, BTDD, or BTOD if the same technology for optimization and dissemination is proposed. Applicants submitting for the final project period should be aware that BTOD Center funding will not be extended beyond the final project period and should propose a Research Strategy and a sustainable technology dissemination plan that takes this limit into account.

Overview

Annotated Timeline: Include an annotated timeline that indicates the interconnection between TOPs, DBPs (and TPPs if applicable), and target dates that illustrate the proposed project's milestones.

Existing Center or BTRR transition (if applicable):

Administration and Management Under Administration and Management, include the following sections with headings:

Organizational Structure and Staff Responsibilities:

Center Operating Procedures:

External Advisory Committee (EAC):

Technology Dissemination Plan:

Resiliency Plan:

Describe plans for continuing the Center's operations if the PD(s)/PI(s) or other key personnel cannot fulfill their assigned roles.

Technology Optimization Projects (TOPs)

Include the following under the specific subheadings in the TOP subsection:

Driving Biomedical Projects (DBPs) All applications must provide the following (suggested page limits provided as guidance): table of proposed DBPs (1 page), summary of DBPs (1 page), and descriptions of a maximum of 10 DBPs (1 page per DBP including references).

Table of Proposed DBPs: Provide a 1-page table of up to 10 DBPs. Format the table to include the following columns:

Summary of DBPs: Provide a 1-page summary of all DBPs with a succinct description of the overall goals. Provide a description of criteria used for including new DBPs and rotating existing DBPs out of the BTOD Center during the award period.

Descriptions of a maximum of 10 DBPs (1 page per DBP including references). Begin each on a new page with the following information:

Community Engagement (CE)

Technology Training for the Scientific Community:

Technology Dissemination:

Website:

Outline plans to maintain an effective and current website and describe how the Center will monitor its impact.

Websites should include:

Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan: If multiple PD(s)/PI(s) are proposed, describe in general the structural and procedural elements that will ensure their integration and prevent fragmentation of the Center, ensuring that it is not simply a collection of individual projects with a common technological theme. Refer to the Multiple PD/PI (MPI) Leadership Plan for additional details, where details may be fully elaborated.

Letters of Support: Provide a table of contents for Letters of Support. Include the names of signatories and their institutions. Letters expressing institutional support should be presented first. Letters of support from investigators specifically collaborating with Center investigators on any TOP, DBP, or other projects described specifically in the application should be included next. The purpose of collaborative letters of support is to describe the nature of the collaborative relationship, including its scope, and any special circumstances (e.g., materials or technology transfer, or intellectual property agreements). If students or trainees are involved in BTOD Center operations, institutional letters documenting that these activities are integral to their overall training goals must be included. Do not include letters of support from users whose interactions are limited to activities described in the CE component.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

Other Plan(s):

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

A Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) is required for any NIH-funded or conducted research that will generate scientific data. Applicants must submit the DMS Plan at the time of application using the NIH DMS Plan Format Page. The DMS Plan must address the elements in the structured format. Where the DMS Plan Format Page requires a "Yes or No" response, no additional narrative is allowed. The Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan must be provided in the Overall component.

Appendix: Only limited Appendix materials are allowed. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

No publications or other material, with the exception of blank questionnaires or blank surveys, may be included in the Appendix.

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials (and when applicable, clinical trials research experience) follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the How to Apply - Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:

If you answered "Yes" to the question "Are Human Subjects Involved?" on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or Delayed Onset Study record.

Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

Delayed Onset Study

Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

PHS Assignment Request Form

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) See Part 2. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov

4. Submission Dates and Times Part I. contains information about Key Dates and times. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH's electronic system for grants administration.