Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 27 120
The Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-27-120) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant aimed at strengthening the U.S. research infrastructure for nutrition and obesity. The program is intended for institutions and organizations that already have an integrated, active program of nutrition and/or obesity research and are prepared to formalize and expand that work through a shared, center-based model. Rather than primarily funding a single research project, this P30 mechanism supports the creation or continuation of a “core center” that multiple investigators can use, with the overall goal of making nutrition and obesity research more efficient, more productive, more collaborative across disciplines, and ultimately more impactful.
At its heart, a NORC is built around three main research-enabling activities. First, the center provides Research Core services, which typically means shared resources, centralized expertise, and fee-for-service or subsidized services that multiple research teams can access. These cores are meant to reduce duplication, improve methodological rigor and standardization, and give investigators access to specialized tools or personnel that would be difficult to sustain in individual labs. Second, the center runs a Pilot and Feasibility (P and F) program, which is designed to seed new ideas and help investigators generate preliminary data. These small, early-stage awards are commonly used to launch new lines of inquiry, support early-career investigators, enable cross-disciplinary collaborations, and position teams to compete successfully for larger independent grants in the future. Third, the center includes a Scientific Catalyst program, which is intended to stimulate new scientific directions, energize the local research community, and promote innovation through activities such as workshops, seminars, visiting scholars, targeted collaborations, and other structured efforts that “catalyze” research momentum. Taken together, these three components are meant to amplify what the institution already does well by creating a coordinated environment where investigators can share resources, collaborate more easily, and move from concept to competitive research faster.
This opportunity is categorized under Health (CFDA 93.847), uses the grant funding instrument, and has a clinical trial optional designation, meaning clinical trials may be included if appropriate, but they are not required. The NOFO anticipates making about three awards, with an award ceiling of $750,000. The original closing date is October 20, 2026, and the opportunity was posted on June 30, 2026. Because this is a center grant, applicants are generally expected to demonstrate a strong existing base of funded and productive nutrition/obesity research, a clear plan for how the proposed cores and programs will be used by multiple investigators, and governance and evaluation approaches that show the center will genuinely enhance the broader research enterprise rather than functioning as a standalone project.
Eligibility is broad within the United States and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities as described in the NOFO’s Section III. At the same time, the NOFO is explicit about restrictions on foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In practice, that means the center’s supported activities, infrastructure, and formal components must be U.S.-based and structured to comply with NIH rules on foreign components.
Overall, this NORC opportunity is best understood as NIH support for a shared “hub” that upgrades and coordinates nutrition and obesity research capacity at an institution. The funding is meant to create measurable gains in efficiency and scientific output by providing widely used core services, strategically investing in pilots that grow the next generation of projects and investigators, and running catalyst activities that keep the science moving into new, multidisciplinary directions.Apply for RFA DK 27 120
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-20. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- 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.
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Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) - FAQs
1) What is the Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) funding opportunity?
The Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) opportunity (RFA-DK-27-120) is an NIH discretionary grant that supports the creation or continuation of a center-based research infrastructure focused on nutrition and/or obesity. It is designed to strengthen U.S. research capacity by supporting shared resources and coordinated programs that multiple investigators can use.
2) What grant mechanism is being used?
This opportunity uses the NIH P30 mechanism, which is a center grant intended to support a "core center" rather than primarily funding a single, standalone research project.
3) What is the main purpose of a NORC?
A NORC is intended to make nutrition and obesity research more efficient, more productive, and more collaborative across disciplines by centralizing shared services, seeding new projects, and actively stimulating innovation within an institution's research community.
4) Is this funding meant for one specific research project?
No. The NORC program is structured to support center infrastructure and shared activities that benefit multiple investigators. While individual studies may be supported through shared services or pilot funding, the overall award is not primarily intended to fund a single research project.
5) What are the three main required (or core) center activities described for a NORC?
The center is built around three main research-enabling activities:
- Research Core services (shared resources and expertise available to multiple research teams)
- Pilot and Feasibility (P and F) program (small awards to generate preliminary data and seed new ideas)
- Scientific Catalyst program (activities like workshops and seminars to stimulate new scientific directions and collaborations)
6) What are Research Core services in the context of this program?
Research Core services are shared, center-supported resources that multiple investigators can use. They can include centralized expertise, standardized methods, specialized tools, or service models such as fee-for-service or subsidized access. The goal is to reduce duplication, improve rigor, and make advanced capabilities available beyond single labs.
7) What is the Pilot and Feasibility (P and F) program supposed to do?
The Pilot and Feasibility program is intended to fund small, early-stage projects that help investigators generate preliminary data, launch new research directions, support early-career investigators, encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations, and improve competitiveness for later, larger independent grants.
8) What is the Scientific Catalyst program?
The Scientific Catalyst program is meant to "catalyze" research momentum by stimulating innovation and new collaborations. Examples of catalyst activities include workshops, seminars, visiting scholars, targeted collaboration opportunities, and other structured efforts that energize the research community and promote new scientific directions.
9) What research areas does this opportunity focus on?
The focus is on nutrition and obesity research. The center is expected to strengthen infrastructure and coordination in these areas at an institution with an already active and integrated research program.
10) What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for this opportunity?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means clinical trials may be included if they fit the proposed center activities, but they are not required. Applicants can propose center work that includes clinical trials or excludes them, as appropriate to the institution's research plans.
11) How many awards does the NOFO expect to make?
The NOFO anticipates making about three awards.
12) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $750,000.
13) When is the application due?
The original closing date is October 20, 2026.
14) When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 30, 2026.
15) What CFDA assistance listing is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is categorized under Health and references CFDA 93.847.
16) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad within the United States. Eligible entities include:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities as described in the NOFO's Section III
17) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
No. The NOFO explicitly states that non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply.
18) Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component as part of the proposed center?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible under this opportunity.
19) Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy for this award?
No. Foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In practical terms, the center's supported activities and formal components must be U.S.-based and structured to comply with NIH rules regarding foreign involvement.
20) What kind of institutional readiness is expected for applicants?
Applicants are generally expected to already have an integrated, active program of nutrition and/or obesity research and to be prepared to formalize and expand that work through a shared, center-based model.
21) What does NIH expect applicants to demonstrate about their existing research base?
Because this is a center grant, applicants are generally expected to show a strong existing base of funded and productive nutrition and/or obesity research. The proposed center should clearly build upon and amplify ongoing strengths rather than starting from scratch.
22) What should applicants show about how the center will be used?
Applicants are expected to provide a clear plan for how the proposed cores and programs will be used by multiple investigators. The center should serve as a shared hub rather than a resource designed for only one team.
23) What types of management or oversight expectations are mentioned?
The NOFO indicates that applicants should include governance and evaluation approaches showing the center will enhance the broader research enterprise. In other words, there should be a structure for running the center effectively and assessing whether it is improving productivity, collaboration, and impact.
24) What kinds of outcomes is the program aiming for?
The program aims for measurable gains in research efficiency and scientific output by:
- Providing widely used core services
- Strategically investing in pilots that grow future projects and investigators
- Running catalyst activities that push new multidisciplinary directions
25) What is the overall concept of a NORC in plain terms?
A NORC is NIH support for a shared, center-based "hub" that upgrades and coordinates nutrition and obesity research at an institution. The idea is to make it easier for investigators to access specialized support, collaborate across disciplines, and move from early ideas to competitive research faster.
26) Does the opportunity specify additional eligibility details beyond the list provided?
Yes. In addition to the categories listed, eligibility also includes "other eligible entities as described in the NOFO's Section III." Applicants should rely on Section III for any additional or clarifying eligibility rules.
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