NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research : Chair's Grant (UG1-Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 21 041

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 041

The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is soliciting applications under the cooperative agreement mechanism UG1 for a program titled "NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research: Chair's Grant (UG1 - Clinical Trial Required)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-041; CFDA 93.867). This opportunity is designed to support investigator-initiated, large-scale and/or complex clinical vision research studies that rise to a level of operational intensity or risk where close coordination with NEI and rigorous oversight are essential. The emphasis is on clinical trials that are multifaceted, carry high public health significance, and require strong organizational structure, clear assignment of responsibilities, and careful monitoring to protect participant safety.

The proposed research must be a clinical trial intended to evaluate an intervention related to vision disorders. In practical terms, that means the study should test approaches to screen for, diagnose, prevent, or treat eye and vision conditions, or it should compare the effectiveness of two or more established interventions (for example, head-to-head comparisons of standard treatments). NEI highlights that UG1 support is particularly suited for trials that are large-scale, high resource, and/or safety-risk, including advanced and sensitive areas such as human gene-transfer trials and stem cell therapy trials, where monitoring, regulatory compliance, and participant safety considerations are especially demanding.

A core feature of this program is that NEI typically expects these UG1-supported efforts to be organized as a set of linked companion awards rather than a single standalone grant. The overall trial infrastructure may include a Chair's Grant (the focus of this announcement), a Coordinating Center, and Resource Centers when appropriate. The Chair's Grant is positioned as the scientific and leadership hub of the effort, emphasizing the scientific rationale, the study aims, and the overall significance of the research project. In trials that are less organizationally complex, NEI indicates that components often handled by companion awards (such as data management, statistical analysis plans, recruitment infrastructure, and resource center activities) may instead be incorporated directly into the Chair's Grant application. This signals flexibility in how applicants propose to structure operations, as long as the design matches the complexity and needs of the trial.

Because this is a cooperative agreement (rather than a standard research project grant), applicants should interpret the mechanism as involving substantial programmatic involvement from NEI. In general, that implies ongoing interaction with the funding agency around key aspects of trial conduct, performance milestones, and safety oversight. The description underscores the need for a well-defined study organization and delineated roles and responsibilities, reflecting an expectation that the application will clearly explain governance, trial management, monitoring, and how participant safety will be protected throughout the study.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can lead or participate in clinical research, such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status. The opportunity also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories including 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), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based and community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility suggests NEI is open to diverse institutional leadership and multi-site collaboration, which is often essential for large clinical trials.

Key administrative details provided include an original closing date of May 7, 2023, and the opportunity category is listed as discretionary. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source text, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA for budget guidance, allowable costs, project period expectations, and review criteria. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as funding for leadership and execution of high-impact clinical vision trials where scientific importance, operational complexity, and participant safety oversight are central, and where the "Chair's Grant" serves as the principal scientific and organizational anchor within a broader, potentially multi-award trial structure.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research : Chair's Grant (UG1-Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-07. (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 21 041

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