Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 27 004
The Limited Competition: Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health opportunity administered by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to continue funding Superfund Research Program (SRP) Centers. These awards are intended to support problem-based, solution-oriented research centers that tackle real-world issues related to hazardous substances. The core idea is to fund centers that can connect environmental science and engineering with biomedical research so that discoveries about hazardous contaminants translate into practical strategies for detection, assessment, cleanup, treatment, and public health protection.
Funded SRP Centers are expected to be built as integrated, multi-project centers rather than single, stand-alone research projects. Each center should include multiple coordinated research projects spanning both biomedical disciplines (for example, toxicology, exposure biology, mechanistic health effects) and environmental science and engineering disciplines (for example, fate and transport, remediation technologies, monitoring approaches). In addition to research projects, centers must include several “cores” that provide key shared functions. These cores include administrative capabilities (center leadership and management, data management, and training functions), translational research and engagement activities (to move findings toward real-world use and to connect with affected communities and decision-makers), and research support functions that strengthen and unify the overall center.
Competition is explicitly limited by statute. The program scope and eligibility requirements are grounded in the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, and eligibility is restricted under 42 USC 9660(a)(3). As a result, only accredited institutes of higher education may apply. In practical terms, that includes public and state-controlled universities as well as private institutions of higher education, which are the two eligible applicant categories listed. While eligibility to apply is limited to accredited higher education institutions, NIEHS notes that awardees are permitted and encouraged to use subcontracts when needed to carry out parts of the work. Subcontracting partners may include a wide range of entities involved with hazardous substances, such as hazardous waste generators, organizations involved in detection and evaluation of hazardous substances, parties involved in treatment efforts, owners and operators of contaminated facilities, and state or local government organizations. This structure is meant to allow academic centers to bring in specialized operational, technical, regulatory, or community-facing partners where that improves the quality and impact of the center’s work.
Foreign participation is restricted. Non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In addition, foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed, which effectively means the work supported under this funding must be conducted without foreign components and within allowable domestic organizational structures.
Applications will follow standard NIH peer-review processes. Proposals will be competitively reviewed, and only those judged meritorious through peer review will be considered for funding. The listing describes the instrument as a grant under a discretionary funding opportunity, with the activity mechanism P42 (a center grant mechanism) and with clinical trials listed as optional, meaning clinical trial elements may be proposed when appropriate but are not required.
Key opportunity details include the funding opportunity number RFA ES 27 004 and CFDA number 93.143. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,750,000 and anticipates making about 10 awards. The original closing date is September 25, 2028, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of May 19, 2026. Overall, the program is designed for universities to organize interdisciplinary teams and infrastructure into a cohesive center that can generate actionable science and engineering solutions for hazardous substance problems while also supporting training, data coordination, and translation of findings to stakeholders and communities.Apply for RFA ES 27 004
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.143.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-09-25.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the “Limited Competition: Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42 Clinical Trial Optional)” opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity administered by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to continue funding Superfund Research Program (SRP) Centers. The goal is to support problem-based, solution-oriented research centers focused on real-world hazardous substance issues and to connect environmental science and engineering with biomedical research to produce practical strategies for detection, assessment, cleanup, treatment, and public health protection.
Which agency and institute administer this grant?
The opportunity is administered by NIH through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
What is the activity mechanism for this opportunity?
The activity mechanism is P42, which is a center grant mechanism. The opportunity is structured to support integrated, multi-project research centers rather than single, stand-alone projects.
Are clinical trials required?
No. Clinical trials are listed as optional. This means a clinical trial component may be proposed when appropriate, but it is not required.
What is the main purpose of funding SRP Centers under this opportunity?
The intent is to fund centers that integrate environmental science and engineering with biomedical research so that discoveries about hazardous contaminants can translate into practical strategies and actions, including detection, assessment, remediation/cleanup, treatment approaches, and public health protection.
What kind of overall structure is expected for an SRP Center application?
Funded SRP Centers are expected to be integrated, multi-project centers. Applications should include multiple coordinated research projects and several cores that provide shared functions across the center.
What types of research projects should be included in an SRP Center?
Centers are expected to span both biomedical disciplines (such as toxicology, exposure biology, and mechanistic health effects) and environmental science and engineering disciplines (such as fate and transport, remediation technologies, and monitoring approaches), with coordination across projects.
What “cores” are required or expected as part of the center?
Centers must include several cores that provide key shared functions. The description highlights:
- Administrative capabilities (including center leadership and management, data management, and training functions)
- Translational research and engagement activities (to move findings toward real-world use and connect with affected communities and decision-makers)
- Research support functions that strengthen and unify the overall center
What does it mean that the competition is “limited”?
Competition is explicitly limited by statute. The scope and eligibility requirements are grounded in the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, and eligibility is restricted under 42 USC 9660(a)(3).
Who is eligible to apply?
Only accredited institutes of higher education may apply. The eligible applicant categories listed are public and state-controlled universities and private institutions of higher education.
Can non-university organizations apply as the lead applicant?
No. Based on the stated statutory restriction and the eligible applicant categories provided, only accredited institutes of higher education may apply as the applicant organization.
Are subcontracts allowed, and who can be a subcontracting partner?
Yes. Awardees are permitted and encouraged to use subcontracts when needed to carry out parts of the work. Subcontracting partners may include entities involved with hazardous substances, including hazardous waste generators, organizations involved in detection and evaluation of hazardous substances, parties involved in treatment efforts, owners and operators of contaminated facilities, and state or local government organizations.
Does the opportunity allow foreign participation or foreign components?
Foreign participation is restricted. Non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In addition, foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.
Does that mean the funded work must be domestic?
Yes. The description indicates that foreign components are not allowed and non-U.S. entities/components are not eligible, meaning the work supported under this funding must be conducted without foreign components and within allowable domestic organizational structures.
How will applications be reviewed?
Applications will follow standard NIH peer-review processes. Proposals will be competitively reviewed, and only those judged meritorious through peer review will be considered for funding.
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The funding opportunity number is RFA ES 27 004.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.143.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,750,000.
How many awards does NIEHS anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates making about 10 awards.
What is the closing date for the opportunity?
The original closing date listed is September 25, 2028.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record indicates a creation date of May 19, 2026.
What kinds of outcomes is this program designed to support?
The program is designed to support cohesive, interdisciplinary centers that generate actionable science and engineering solutions for hazardous substance problems, while also supporting training, data coordination/management, and translation of findings to stakeholders and communities.
Is this funding intended for a single research project or a coordinated center?
It is intended for coordinated centers. The program expects integrated, multi-project centers with multiple projects and shared cores, not a single stand-alone research project.
What is meant by “translational research and engagement” in the center structure?
In this opportunity description, translational research and engagement refers to activities that move research findings toward real-world use and connect the center with affected communities and decision-makers.
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