U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesHHS National Institutes of HealthNIH National Center for Advancing Translational SciencesNCATS
Home

Facilitate Scientific Collaborations

NIH Programs Supporting Collaboration

Learn about special programs offered by the NIH at early stages of therapy development.

  • NIH ICs: Determine which NIH ICs are involved in researching the rare disease(s) supported by your group.
    • Contact the specific IC to learn about any special programs they have in place for working with patient groups. For example:
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS): NCATS has a number of different programs and funding opportunities focused on the discovery stage of therapy development.
    • General information is available on Patient/Community Engagement & Health Information. 
    • Programs that may be of interest to researchers working with your groups are outlined on Work with NCATS.
  • Rare Disease Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) : The RDCRN is a special program supported by the Office of Rare Disease Research (ORDR), NCATS, and collaborating ICs. The program funds research teams, called Consortia, that work to better understand rare diseases and move potential treatments closer to the clinic.
    • Consortia are a network of scientists, clinicians, patients, families, caregivers, and patient groups.
    • There are 20 funded programs per cycle, and a cycle lasts 5 years.
    • Consortia can reapply for another 5 years of funding, but new networks will also compete. 
    • Most Consortia include a group of related conditions. 
    • Each Consortia includes multiple clinical and research sites.
    • The most recent Consortia funding was announced Fall of 2019. 
    • The opportunity to apply to become an RDCRN Consortia is usually announced late spring or early summer the year prior to when the funding cycle will start. Thus, currently a new announcement will occur late spring, early summer 2024: RDCRN Funding Information.
    • In addition, RDCRN Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases (CCRRD) occurs about every 2 to 4 years and focuses on rare disease research methodology.
      • Topics and slide decks from past conferences are available.

Resources

Organize In-Person Scientific Meetings
List of Registries National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (link)
Contacts and Special Interests for R13 and U13 Applications National Institutes of Health (NIH) (link)
NIH Support for Scientific Conferences (R13 and U13) National Institutes of Health (NIH) (link)
FAQs about R13 grants National Institutes of Health (NIH) (link)
NIH Programs Supporting Collaboration
Office of Advocacy Relations National Cancer Institute (NCI) (link)
Patient/Community Engagement & Health Information National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (link)
Work with NCATS National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (link)
Rare Disease Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (link)
RDCRN Funding Information National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (link)
RDCRN Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases (CCRRD) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (link)
FDA Critical Path Innovation Meeting
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADAs) U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (link)
FDA Critical Path Innovation Meetings U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (link)
Video on the Critical Path Innovation Meeting (CPIM) Program U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (link)
Other FDA Meeting Opportunities
Patients Ask FDA U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (link)
Patient Listening Sessions U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (link)