This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) provides cooperative agreement support for statewide and/or interstate regional networks to achieve the following objectives: (1) to support the development and/or enhancement of infrastructure and human resources required to address clinical and translational research needs in IDeA-eligible states/jurisdictions, (2) to strengthen clinical and translational research that addresses the broad spectrum of health challenges faced by populations in IDeA-eligible states/jurisdictions, and (3) to foster and coordinate collaboration in clinical and translational research within an IDeA-CTR network and with other institutions. It is expected that IDeA-CTR networks will expand the capacity for clinical and translational research in IDeA-eligible states/jurisdictions and enhance the competitiveness of the investigators to obtain extramural funding for clinical and translational research.

NIH established the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program in 1993 to enhance biomedical research activities in states that have had historically low NIH grant funding success rates. The program currently supports competitive research in 23 states and Puerto Rico. Strengthening clinical and translational research in IDeA-eligible states and jurisdictions is a pressing need, since health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, maternal health, and substance overuse disorders are disproportionally prevalent in these mostly rural and often economically disadvantaged states/jurisdictions. NIH is committed to supporting health and health research professionals with first-hand knowledge about these challenges to lead the charge in improving the health of residents in IDeA states/jurisdictions. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the development and/or enhancement of statewide and/or interstate regional networks for clinical and translational research in IDeA-eligible states/jurisdictions.

The objectives of the IDeA-CTR initiative are the following:

• To support the development and/or enhancement of infrastructure and human resources required to address clinical and translational research needs in IDeA-eligible states.
• To strengthen clinical and translational research that addresses the broad spectrum of health challenges faced by populations in IDeA-eligible states/jurisdictions.
• To foster and coordinate collaboration in clinical and translational research within an IDeA-CTR network and with other institutions.

For the purposes of this initiative, the following definitions apply:

• “Clinical research” comprises studies and trials in human subjects as defined by NIH Regulations and Policies.
• “Translational research” includes research that aims to convert basic research advances to practical applications in humans, and research aimed at the adoption of best practices in community healthcare.

This FOA provides funding through the U54 cooperative agreement mechanism. As a cooperative agreement, implementation involves the participation of NIGMS IDeA Program staff in the planning and execution of the proposed activities.