Collaborative Program Grant for Interdisciplinary Teams (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional)

Complex and challenging research questions benefit from the integrated effort of multiple Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) employing complementary approaches with different areas of expertise. These efforts can converge on high-impact discoveries, such as creating new disciplines, resolving longstanding questions, unraveling intractable problems, or defining new areas that challenge existing paradigms.

This NOFO invites Collaborative Program Grant (Team Science) applications from organizations that propose projects addressing complex and challenging scientific problems within the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs). The Team Science Grant is designed to support interdisciplinary research that offers significant advantages over supporting individual research grants or Program Project/Center grants, which often have separate aims or components. Interdisciplinary research teams must have a highly integrated approach to tackle a single, focused scientific problem and achieve anticipated outcomes. Team Science applications should demonstrate interdependent collaboration and synergy among all PD/PIs and show that the team's combined knowledge and expertise are essential to achieving program objectives and addressing unanticipated challenges.

Research involving human subjects is permitted. NIH-defined clinical trials are optional. Applicants are encouraged to identify a participating IC that supports their area of research. Applications that bridge the research interests of more than one area of science are also encouraged but must remain within the missions of participating ICs. 

Features of successful applications include:

• Each PD/PI is committed to team science and willing to devote a major part of their research effort to the team project.
• Research questions are challenging and address a single, focused scientific goal.
• The cohesive team develops an integrative structure specifically designed to achieve that scientific goal.

In addition, the following considerations may be useful in crafting an application combining multiple perspectives, experiences, and career stages:

• Encouraging regional and national participation from varied geographic areas. 

• Engaging a wide range of types of institutions or organizations to broaden participation and impact. 

  Prior Consultation with IC staff

  A limited number of Team Science applications will be funded. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with relevant ICs' staff as early as possible prior to submission. Staff can advise on:

  • Alignment with participating ICs' missions, priorities, and program goals.
  • Suitability for a collaborative team science program.
  • Participation of ICs in clinical research and clinical trials.
  • PD/PI's research effort requirement, including R35 awardee participation.
  • ICs' specific budget limitations.
  • Possible submission of renewal application.

Investigators proposing NIH-defined clinical trials may refer to the Research Methods Resources website for information about developing statistical methods and study designs.