Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 21 032
The Fostering Research With Additional Resources and Development (FORWARD) Urology Centers program is an NIH initiative (through NIDDK) built to grow and strengthen the research community focused on benign urologic conditions. The central idea is to create a supportive center-style environment where newer voices in the field can develop strong, fundable research programs. Rather than simply funding an isolated study, this opportunity is structured to help investigators build momentum, generate publishable results, and assemble the kind of preliminary data needed to compete for larger independent awards later on, such as an R01.
At the core of each FORWARD Urology Center is a single, clearly defined Research Project carried out by a collaborative and multidisciplinary team. The program explicitly emphasizes participation by junior investigators and/or researchers who are new to benign urologic research, which signals that the grant is meant to serve as an entry ramp into the field. The expectation is that the funded project will do more than answer one narrow question; it should produce credible, well-organized evidence that naturally leads into subsequent independent grant applications. Importantly, this specific funding announcement is labeled "P20 Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the proposed work must not include clinical trials as defined by NIH. Applicants need to design studies that fit within non-clinical-trial boundaries (for example, mechanistic studies, observational research that does not meet the NIH clinical trial definition, methods development, preclinical work, secondary analyses, or other eligible approaches depending on the final NIH determination).
A major structural feature of the program is the Administrative (Project Support) Core, led by the Center Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)). This core is not just administrative paperwork support; it is intended to provide active guidance and oversight to keep the Research Project on track and to help the research team meet its scientific aims. Just as importantly, it is designed to help the investigators become integrated into the broader benign urologic research community, which can include mentorship, scientific advising, coordination of collaborations, access to shared resources, and strategic planning around next-step funding and career development. The Center is expected to leverage both internal (within the applicant institution) and external (cross-institutional) resources, facilities, and collaborations to maximize the project’s chance of success.
FORWARD Urology Centers are also expected to engage as members of NIDDK’s CAIRIBU program (Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology). In practical terms, this requirement underscores that awardees are not operating in isolation; they are expected to connect with a broader network aimed at interdisciplinary progress in benign urology. That networked model is meant to accelerate learning, reduce duplication, and help newer investigators gain visibility and relationships that support future independent funding.
From an eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is broad and includes many common applicant types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, and various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories that NIH often seeks to encourage, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. While foreign components are allowed under NIH policy (meaning parts of the work can be performed outside the U.S. when justified and permitted), non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions themselves are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and NIH-defined foreign components can be included when appropriate.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant mechanism with a P20 activity code, associated with CFDA number 93.847, and it was posted under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DK-21-032. The source information lists an award ceiling of $250,000, indicating an upper limit on the amount that can be awarded (applicants would still need to confirm the exact budget structure and whether that ceiling refers to direct costs, total costs, and/or annual versus project period amounts in the full announcement). The original closing date provided is March 24, 2022, which suggests this particular competition window has passed; however, the description remains useful as a template for understanding what NIDDK sought in this program and what to watch for if a reissue or related opportunity becomes available.
Overall, the FORWARD Urology Centers program is best understood as a capacity-building award for benign urologic research: it funds a focused research project led by a multidisciplinary team anchored by junior or field-new investigators, wraps that project in an organized support and mentorship structure through an administrative core, and ties the center into the larger CAIRIBU collaborative network. The intended endpoint is not just a completed study, but a stronger pipeline of investigators and a set of results robust enough to support competitive follow-on NIH applications.Apply for RFA DK 21 032
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fostering Research With Additional Resources and Development (FORWARD) Urology Centers (P20 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2021-11-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-24. (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 $250,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FORWARD Urology Centers program?
The Fostering Research With Additional Resources and Development (FORWARD) Urology Centers program is an NIH initiative, run through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), intended to expand and strengthen the research community focused on benign urologic conditions. The program is designed to create a supportive, center-style environment that helps investigators build momentum and develop strong, fundable research programs.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is capacity-building in benign urologic research. Instead of only supporting a single stand-alone study, the program aims to help research teams generate publishable results, produce credible preliminary data, and position investigators to compete for later independent NIH awards (such as an R01).
Is this funding meant for a single study or a broader center?
Each FORWARD Urology Center is anchored by one clearly defined Research Project carried out by a collaborative, multidisciplinary team. The award is structured like a center in the sense that it includes an Administrative (Project Support) Core meant to provide active guidance, oversight, and integration into the broader benign urologic research community.
What is required at the core of each FORWARD Urology Center?
A single, clearly defined Research Project is required. This project should be designed to generate organized, credible evidence that naturally supports follow-on independent grant applications.
Who is this opportunity designed to support?
The program explicitly emphasizes participation by junior investigators and/or researchers who are new to benign urologic research. It is positioned as an entry ramp into benign urology research and is meant to help newer voices in the field develop a sustainable and competitive research trajectory.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding announcement?
No. This funding announcement is labeled "P20 Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the proposed work must not include clinical trials as defined by NIH. Applicants need to design studies that remain within non-clinical-trial boundaries, subject to NIH determination.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what kinds of studies might fit?
The description indicates that eligible approaches may include mechanistic studies, observational research that does not meet the NIH clinical trial definition, methods development, preclinical work, secondary analyses, or other non-clinical-trial activities depending on NIH's final determination for the proposed work.
What is the Administrative (Project Support) Core and why does it matter?
The Administrative Core is a major structural feature of the program and is led by the Center Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)). It is intended to provide active guidance and oversight to keep the Research Project on track and help the team meet scientific aims. It is also meant to support investigator development and integration into the broader benign urologic research community.
What kinds of support can the Administrative Core provide?
Based on the description, the Administrative Core may include mentorship, scientific advising, coordination of collaborations, access to shared resources, and strategic planning around next-step funding and career development, in addition to general project oversight and coordination.
Does the program encourage collaboration across institutions?
Yes. The Center is expected to leverage internal (within the applicant institution) and external (cross-institutional) resources, facilities, and collaborations to maximize the Research Project's chance of success.
What is CAIRIBU and how does it relate to this program?
FORWARD Urology Centers are expected to engage as members of NIDDK's CAIRIBU program (Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology). This highlights that awardees are expected to connect to a broader interdisciplinary network, rather than operating in isolation.
What is the purpose of being connected to the CAIRIBU network?
The networked model is described as a way to accelerate learning, reduce duplication, and help newer investigators gain visibility and relationships that can support future independent funding in benign urologic research.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special districts). Federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations are also included.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The announcement highlights additional eligible categories often encouraged by NIH, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) institution apply as the main applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization under this opportunity.
Are foreign components allowed if the applicant is a U.S. organization?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed under NIH policy when justified and permitted. The description notes that parts of the work can be performed outside the U.S. when appropriate, even though a foreign institution cannot be the primary applicant.
What is the activity code and grant mechanism for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant mechanism using the P20 activity code. The opportunity is identified as a "P20 Clinical Trial Not Allowed" announcement.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is RFA-DK-21-032.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.847.
What is the stated award ceiling?
The source information lists an award ceiling of $250,000. The description notes that applicants would need to confirm details in the full announcement, including whether the ceiling refers to direct costs versus total costs, and whether it applies annually or across the entire project period.
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is March 24, 2022, which suggests the specific competition window has passed.
Is the program description still useful if the closing date has passed?
Yes. Even if that specific submission window is closed, the description is still useful as a template for understanding what NIDDK sought in this program and what to watch for if a reissue or related opportunity becomes available.
What outcomes does the program expect from funded centers?
The expected endpoint is not only a completed project, but also a stronger pipeline of investigators and a set of results robust enough to support competitive follow-on NIH applications. The program is designed to help teams generate publishable results and preliminary data that lead naturally into later independent awards.
What research area is the program focused on?
The program is focused on benign urologic conditions and is intended to strengthen interdisciplinary research in benign urology.
What role do the PD(s)/PI(s) play in this program?
The Center Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) lead the Administrative (Project Support) Core and are responsible for providing guidance and oversight that keep the Research Project on track, while also helping the team connect with resources, mentorship, and the broader benign urologic research community.
How is this opportunity different from funding an isolated project?
The structure is intentionally designed to build research capacity. It funds a focused Research Project, but wraps it in a support and mentorship structure (through the Administrative Core) and ties awardees into the CAIRIBU collaborative network, with an emphasis on helping investigators progress toward independent funding.
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