Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AT 24 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AT 24 006

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting applications for a cooperative agreement to create and operate a Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research under a U24 mechanism, with clinical trials not allowed under this specific opportunity. The core goal is to build a centralized, sustained support hub that helps the broader research community overcome practical and scientific hurdles that commonly slow cannabis and cannabinoid studies. In plain terms, NIH is looking to fund a center that makes cannabis research easier to launch, more consistent across labs and institutions, and more rigorous in how evidence is produced, spanning both basic science and clinical research domains (without the Resource Center itself running a clinical trial as part of this award).

A central theme of the opportunity is reducing barriers that are unique to cannabis research. That includes obstacles tied to sourcing and standardizing cannabis materials, navigating complex regulatory and compliance environments, and addressing methodological issues that make results hard to compare across studies (for example, differences in product composition, dose reporting, routes of administration, outcome measures, and data standards). The Resource Center is expected to function as a focal point for investigators entering the field, meaning it should act like an on-ramp for new researchers and a problem-solving partner for experienced teams. The intent is that the center will help the community generate stronger, more reproducible evidence by promoting better tools, clearer guidance, and shared approaches that can be adopted widely.

Because this is a U24 cooperative agreement, NIH anticipates substantial involvement from the agency in shaping and overseeing the work, rather than a fully investigator-directed model. The award is meant to support development and ongoing maintenance of the Center, implying both initial build-out (infrastructure, staffing, resources, and processes) and sustained operations (updates, user support, dissemination, and continuous improvement). The Center is also expected to drive progress through coordinated, synergistic interactions among experts across commercial, basic science, clinical, and regulatory spheres. In practice, that signals a strong preference for multidisciplinary leadership and active collaboration with the extramural community, not a closed or purely internal operation.

The NOFO emphasizes enabling more rigorous scientific evidence across a variety of research areas. While it does not list every deliverable in the excerpt provided, the framing strongly suggests activities such as developing and sharing research tools, recommending best practices, creating templates or guidance that improve study design and reporting, supporting study start-up workflows, and helping harmonize measures so findings can be compared or pooled. The Center is positioned not just as a help desk, but as an entity that can materially improve the overall research landscape by raising standards, smoothing access to reliable resources, and fostering coordination among stakeholders who influence how cannabis research is conducted.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The opportunity is also open to nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The NOFO explicitly notes additional eligible applicant categories such as 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 or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is restricted in a way that is typical for many NIH opportunities with a U.S. infrastructure focus. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization may include certain foreign elements in the project when justified and permitted under NIH policy, even though a foreign organization cannot be the direct applicant.

Key administrative details from the posting include the title "Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," funding opportunity number RFA-AT-24-006, and the sponsoring agency as NIH. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument. The activity category is listed under education and health, and the CFDA numbers associated with the announcement are 93.213, 93.279, 93.393, and 93.866. The original closing date was April 16, 2024, and the award ceiling is listed as $850,000. The notice was created on October 26, 2023.

Taken together, this NOFO is essentially NIH investing in shared infrastructure for the cannabis and cannabinoid research community: a standing resource that helps investigators navigate the unique scientific, operational, and regulatory complexities of the field, promotes stronger and more comparable research practices, and accelerates progress by connecting expertise across academia, clinical research, industry-relevant knowledge areas, and regulatory know-how, all under close coordination with NIH through the cooperative agreement model.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.279, 93.393, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $850,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

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