National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NCBIB) (P41 Clinical Trials Optional) | PAR 20 169

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 169

The National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NCBIB) funding opportunity (PAR-20-169) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program that supports the creation and operation of Biomedical Technology Resource Centers (BTRCs) under the P41 mechanism. These centers are meant to function as national resources that push forward biomedical imaging and bioengineering technologies, with the work intentionally shaped by real, on-the-ground needs from basic science, translational research, and clinical research communities. A key expectation is that the center is not just doing internal research; it must actively serve a broader user base by making its tools, methods, and expertise accessible to outside investigators, building capacity through training, and ensuring the technologies are broadly disseminated and adopted.

In practical terms, an NIH-funded BTRC is expected to combine advanced research and development with a service-and-community mission. The center develops new or improved technologies (for example, imaging methods, computational tools, instrumentation, analysis pipelines, or bioengineering platforms), then provides support so other researchers can actually use them. This support commonly includes user access models (such as collaborations, fee-for-service or subsidized access where allowed, and structured user projects), hands-on technical assistance, shared protocols and software, and educational programming. Training is a core part of the mandate, which can include workshops, short courses, webinars, visiting scholar opportunities, and mentoring that helps researchers become proficient in the technology rather than remaining dependent on the center indefinitely. Dissemination is also emphasized, meaning the center should plan for broad distribution of knowledge and tools through publications, open-source releases when appropriate, documentation, standards development, and community outreach.

The announcement states that clinical trials are optional, which signals that applicants may propose clinical trial activities if they are appropriate for the technology development and validation plan, but a clinical trial is not required to be competitive. This flexibility generally fits technology-focused centers, where some projects may stop at preclinical validation while others may extend into clinical evaluation depending on maturity, risk, regulatory readiness, and clinical relevance.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants listed for this opportunity include state governments, county and city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Academic institutions are eligible, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, and the announcement also highlights groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, along with certain other entities such as eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA draws clear boundaries around foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically means a U.S. applicant can include a well-justified foreign collaboration component when it is scientifically necessary and aligns with NIH policy, even though the primary award and applicant organization must be domestic.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a grant (funding instrument type: Grant) in the health-related federal assistance category, with CFDA numbers 93.286 and 93.865 associated with it. The agency is NIH, and the opportunity was created on 2020-04-14, with an original closing date listed as 2023-07-28 in the provided source data. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the information provided here, which usually means applicants need to consult the full FOA text and any linked NIH institute or program guidance for budget expectations, allowable costs, project period norms, and review priorities.

Overall, the program is aimed at supporting high-impact, technology-driven national centers that (1) innovate in biomedical imaging and bioengineering, (2) operate as shared resources for the wider research community, (3) train users to spread expertise beyond the center itself, and (4) actively disseminate tools and methods so they become broadly usable in biomedical research and, where relevant, clinical settings.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NCBIB) (P41 Clinical Trials Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.286, 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-04-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-07-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 PAR 20 169

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