Limited Competition Renewal for the Continuation of the Liver Cirrhosis Network: Clinical Research Centers (U01 Clinical Trial Required) | RFA DK 26 308

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 26 308

The Limited Competition Renewal for the Continuation of the Liver Cirrhosis Network: Clinical Research Centers (U01 Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) designed to support the continued operation of Liver Cirrhosis Network Clinical Research Centers through a cooperative agreement mechanism (U01). Because it is a limited competition, it is not open to the broader research community; only organizations that are currently funded under the prior Liver Cirrhosis Network award mechanism tied to RFA-DK-20-003 are intended to be eligible to apply. Applications submitted under this renewal will still go through NIH standard peer-review, meaning proposals will be evaluated competitively for scientific and operational merit, and only those judged meritorious will be considered for funding.

This opportunity is categorized as discretionary federal assistance and falls under the health activity area, with CFDA number 93.847. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial NIH program involvement compared with a standard research project grant. The title also specifies "Clinical Trial Required," signaling that the supported centers are expected to conduct clinical trials or clinical trial-related research activities as part of their core mission within the network, rather than only observational or purely mechanistic studies.

Eligibility is broad in the abstract sense (for example, various levels of government, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses are listed). However, the practical eligibility constraint is decisive: the NOFO is specifically intended to fund only those organizations that are existing grant recipients from the earlier competition (RFA-DK-20-003). In other words, even if an entity type is generally eligible under NIH rules, it would not be competitive or potentially not allowable if it is not part of the defined limited-competition pool. The NOFO instructs applicants to consult Section III (Eligibility Information) for the definitive eligibility requirements.

The NOFO makes strict restrictions on foreign participation. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not permitted. Practically, that means the work supported under this renewal must be carried out without foreign components as part of the funded project structure, even if investigators have informal international collaborations outside the scope of the award.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number RFA DK 26 308 and an original application closing date of March 8, 2027. The award ceiling is listed as $330,214, and NIH expects to make approximately 10 awards. The opportunity was created on December 5, 2025. Taken together, the announcement is essentially a continuation funding pathway for existing Liver Cirrhosis Network Clinical Research Centers, keeping the network infrastructure and clinical trial capabilities in place under NIH oversight through the U01 cooperative agreement model, while limiting eligibility to the currently participating, previously funded awardees.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition Renewal for the Continuation of the Liver Cirrhosis Network: Clinical Research Centers (U01 Clinical Trial Required)" 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 2025-12-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-03-08.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $330,214.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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.

Apply for RFA DK 26 308

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