To launch Phase III of the program, Advance RI-CTR is pleased to announce the 2026–2027 Health Research Core award RFA, featuring three award mechanisms:

• Pilot Project Awards
• Developmental Project Award
• Mentored Scholar Achievement Awards.

This funding program accelerates innovative clinical and translational research (CTR) designed to address health needs in Rhode Island and beyond. Trans-institutional collaborations among faculty at Brown University, the University of Rhode Island (URI), and affiliated healthcare institutions are strongly encouraged.

See the Full RFA Apply Now

• Informational Webinar: Friday, September 18, 2026, at 11:30 AM ET (Recording will be available on the Advance RI-CTR YouTube Channel post-session) Register Now
• Non-Brown Email Access Request Deadline: September 25, 2026
• Optional Leadership Call Deadline: September 25, 2026
• Preliminary Applications Due: October 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
• Full Proposal Invitations Issued: October 19, 2026
• Full Proposals Due: December 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
• Funding Notification: February 1, 2027
• Just-In-Time (JIT) Materials Due: February 19, 2027
• Earliest Project Start Date: March 1, 2027

All Principal Investigators (Contact PIs and Multi-PIs) must:

1. Have earned a PhD or MD in a health-professional or research discipline.
2. Hold a faculty appointment at Brown University or the University of Rhode Island as award commences (except for clinical fellows).
3. Be affiliated with an Advance RI-CTR partner health care system (Brown University Health, Care New England, VA Providence), Brown University, or URI.
4. Have no concurrent funding from a COBRE project or another IDeA mechanism at project start.
5. Have no significant scientific or budgetary overlap with other funded projects.

• Mandatory Consultations: All prospective applicants must schedule consultations with the Research Design, Compliance, and Data Management (RDCD) Core. Projects involving community engagement must also consult with the Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) Core prior to submission.
• Free Consultation Hours & Vouchers: Awardees receive 20 free hours per year of consultation services with RDCD/CEO cores, as well as vouchers up to $5,000 to utilize COBRE infrastructure, technologies, or services.
• Community Engagement PBRN: The Community Engaged Practice Based Research Network (CEPBRN) is available for pilot project support. Contact CEO Project Manager Tammy Thorson for details.

Special funding consideration is given to projects featuring interdisciplinary/inter-institutional collaboration, clinician-scientists, robust use of Advance RI-CTR service cores, and alignment with the Rhode Island Department of Health Strategic Framework, including:

• Healthcare access for underserved populations
• Adult and youth mental health
• Food access, nutrition, and obesity
• Substance use disorder
• Maternal and child health
• Chronic illnesses (diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer)

1. Access the Portal: Submit preliminary applications via the UFunds Portal. Applicants without a Brown email address must request access by emailing advanceri@brown.edu no later than September 25, 2026.
2. Preliminary Application (Due Oct 9, 5:00 PM ET): Requires academic details, category selection, a structured 1-page overview of research aims, significance, approach, references, and NIH biosketches for all key personnel/mentors.
3. Full Proposal (By Invitation, Due Dec 14, 5:00 PM ET): Requires an abbreviated NIH PHS 398 format, including a 6-page Research Plan (1-page Specific Aims + 5-page Significance/Innovation/Approach/Timeline), budget justifications, mentor/chair support letters, a 250-word Lay Summary for community reviewers, and applicable IRB/IACUC regulatory documentation.