NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program: FIRST Cohort (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA RM 20 022

FAQs: NIH FIRST Program - FIRST Cohort (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)

What is the NIH FIRST Program: FIRST Cohort (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)?

The NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program: FIRST Cohort is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity intended to change the culture of NIH-funded extramural research institutions. It aims to build a durable, self-reinforcing community of scientists who actively support diversity and inclusive excellence, using cohort-based recruitment and support of early-career faculty as the primary strategy.

What is the primary goal of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is sustained institutional cultural transformation. The program is designed to help institutions intentionally recruit and support a cohort of early-career faculty who are strong researchers and who also demonstrate a clear, meaningful commitment to advancing diversity and inclusive excellence in the scientific enterprise.

What does “cohort-based” recruitment mean in this program?

Rather than focusing on isolated, one-off faculty hires, the program emphasizes building a cohort (a group recruited and supported together) and fostering community among them. This community approach is positioned as a mechanism for long-term, self-reinforcing institutional change.

Who are the intended faculty participants?

The program is centered on early-career faculty recruited into real, advertised research tenure-track positions (or equivalent). NIH is specifically interested in individuals who are not only competitive researchers but also have demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence through their actions and contributions.

Does the program require faculty to be in tenure-track roles?

The description indicates recruitment into advertised research tenure-track positions or equivalent roles. The key point is that these are genuine, advertised research faculty positions, not informal or temporary roles.

How does NIH expect institutions to create “sustained cultural transformation” under this program?

The program concept is that durable transformation can be achieved by intentionally recruiting and supporting a community of early-career scientists who contribute through scholarship and by engaging in leadership, mentoring, and participation in efforts that broaden participation and improve the research environment over time.

What does “U54” mean for this opportunity?

U54 refers to a cooperative agreement mechanism. In general, a cooperative agreement means NIH expects to have substantial involvement with awardees compared to a standard grant mechanism.

What does “Clinical Trial Optional” mean?

“Clinical Trial Optional” means proposed projects may include clinical trials, but clinical trials are not required. Applicants can propose research and related activities aligned with their institutional goals and the funding opportunity requirements without being forced into a clinical trial framework.

Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under a health activity category.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed for the opportunity is 93.310.

What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?

The funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-20-022.

When was this funding opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?

It was created on December 8, 2020, and the original closing date listed is March 1, 2021.

Does the public listing specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The public listing referenced does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the fields shown. Those details would typically need to be confirmed in the full funding announcement or related NIH materials.

Which types of U.S. government entities are eligible to apply?

Eligible U.S. government applicants listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments. The listing also includes eligible agencies of the federal government.

Are public and private colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education.

Are independent school districts eligible?

Yes. Independent school districts are included among the eligible applicant types.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. The eligible applicant list includes nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (when not institutions of higher education).

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. It also explicitly calls out Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized.

Are tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs) eligible?

Yes. Tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs) are explicitly listed as eligible.

Are HBCUs, HSIs, and other serving institutions eligible?

Yes. The listing explicitly includes historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly included among eligible applicant categories.

Are public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among eligible applicant categories.

Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?

Yes. The eligibility section notably includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).

What does NIH appear to value in the faculty recruited under this program?

Based on the description, NIH is looking for early-career faculty who are strong researchers and competitive for advertised research faculty roles, and who also demonstrate a clear and meaningful commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence. The description also signals value in contributions through leadership, mentoring, and active participation in efforts that broaden participation and improve the research environment.

Is the program focused more on hiring individual star investigators or building institutional community?

The program description emphasizes cohort-building and community as the mechanism for long-term institutional change, rather than isolated, one-off hires.

Where should applicants look for missing details not shown in the public listing?

The listing indicates that information such as the award ceiling and expected number of awards would typically be confirmed in the full funding announcement or related NIH materials.