Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 22 008
The NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program: FIRST Cohort (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity designed to change the culture of NIH-funded extramural institutions by building a durable, self-reinforcing community of scientists who actively support diversity and inclusive excellence. The central idea is that institutions do not only need to hire talented researchers; they also need to create environments where a wide range of scientists can thrive, contribute, and lead. NIH frames this as a culture-change effort with the potential to produce ripple effects across biomedical research at the participating institutions and beyond.
This opportunity uses the U54 mechanism, which is a cooperative agreement. In practice, that means NIH expects substantial involvement and partnership in the project rather than a hands-off grant. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that applicants may propose research that includes a clinical trial if it fits their goals, but a clinical trial is not required. The program is fundamentally anchored in faculty recruitment and institutional transformation, with research activities positioned to support and strengthen that broader aim.
A defining feature of the FIRST Cohort is its emphasis on recruiting scientists into advertised, research tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty roles at the Assistant Professor level (or equivalent). The individuals recruited through the program are expected to be competitive for these faculty positions, meet NIH's Early Stage Investigator criteria, and show a strong, demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence. The intent is not only to add individual faculty members, but to build a cohort and community that reinforces inclusive norms, mentoring practices, and equitable opportunities over time, helping to sustain change after the initial award period.
Eligibility for the opportunity is broad across the U.S. research and higher education ecosystem. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including those with 501(c)(3) status and those without it). The opportunity also explicitly calls out several institution types as "other eligible applicants," including 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). These categories align with NIH's interest in strengthening inclusive excellence and expanding capacity and representation across the biomedical research workforce.
At the same time, NIH places clear restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. In other words, applicants must be U.S.-based organizations and the funded activities must be carried out without foreign components under NIH policy definitions.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity is listed as discretionary, with the funding instrument being a cooperative agreement, and it falls under the health activity category (CFDA 93.310). The opportunity is issued by NIH and was created on February 17, 2022, with an original closing date of July 12, 2022. The synopsis provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full notice of funding opportunity for budget limits, project period expectations, cohort structure, and detailed review criteria.
Overall, the FIRST Cohort opportunity is best understood as an NIH-backed institutional change initiative that uses cohort-based faculty recruitment at the assistant professor level as the lever for long-term transformation. It aims to seed and sustain inclusive excellence by bringing in early career investigators who are both scientifically competitive and demonstrably committed to improving diversity, equity, inclusion, and the broader culture of biomedical research.Apply for RFA RM 22 008
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program: FIRST Cohort (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-02-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Others.
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NIH FIRST Program: FIRST Cohort (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) - FAQs
1) 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 (NIH) funding opportunity intended to change the culture of NIH-funded extramural institutions. It focuses on building a durable, self-reinforcing community of scientists who actively support diversity and inclusive excellence, using cohort-based faculty recruitment and institutional transformation as the main strategy.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The core goal is institutional culture change. NIH describes the program as a way to help institutions create environments where a wide range of scientists can thrive, contribute, and lead, with potential ripple effects across biomedical research at participating institutions and beyond.
3) How does NIH plan to drive culture change through this program?
The program is anchored in recruiting a cohort of scientists into advertised, research tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty roles at the Assistant Professor level (or equivalent). The intent is to build a community that reinforces inclusive norms, mentoring practices, and equitable opportunities over time, helping sustain change after the award period.
4) What does the U54 mechanism mean for applicants?
This opportunity uses the U54 mechanism, which is a cooperative agreement. That means NIH expects substantial involvement and partnership in the project, rather than operating as a fully hands-off funder.
5) What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means applicants may propose research that includes a clinical trial if it fits their goals, but a clinical trial is not required. Research activities, if proposed, are positioned to support and strengthen the broader aims of faculty recruitment and institutional transformation.
6) Is this opportunity mainly a research grant?
Based on the synopsis provided, the program is fundamentally anchored in faculty recruitment and institutional transformation. Research activities may be included, but they are framed as supporting the broader culture-change and recruitment goals rather than being the sole focus.
7) What kinds of faculty positions are supported through the FIRST Cohort?
The program emphasizes recruitment into advertised, research tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty roles at the Assistant Professor level (or equivalent).
8) Who are the intended faculty recruits?
Individuals recruited through the program are expected to be competitive for Assistant Professor-level (or equivalent) faculty positions, meet NIH Early Stage Investigator (ESI) criteria, and show a strong, demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence.
9) Does NIH require that recruited faculty meet NIH Early Stage Investigator (ESI) criteria?
Yes. The synopsis states that individuals recruited through the program are expected to meet NIH's Early Stage Investigator criteria.
10) Is a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence expected of recruits?
Yes. The synopsis states recruits should show a strong, demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence.
11) Is this program intended to hire individual faculty, or to build a cohort?
The intent is not only to add individual faculty members, but to build a cohort and community that reinforces inclusive norms and helps sustain institutional change over time.
12) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across the U.S. research and higher education ecosystem. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including those with 501(c)(3) status and those without it).
13) Are minority-serving institutions specifically referenced as eligible applicants?
Yes. The synopsis explicitly lists several institution types as "other eligible applicants," including 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
14) Can a foreign institution apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
15) Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component in its application?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this opportunity.
16) Are foreign components allowed if they are part of the project work?
No. The synopsis states that foreign components as defined in NIH policy are not allowed.
17) Who is the issuing agency?
The opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
18) What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement (U54).
19) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The synopsis places the opportunity under the health activity category and identifies CFDA 93.310.
20) Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The synopsis lists the opportunity as discretionary.
21) When was this funding opportunity created?
The synopsis states the opportunity was created on February 17, 2022.
22) What was the original closing date?
The synopsis lists an original closing date of July 12, 2022.
23) Does the synopsis specify an award ceiling or number of awards?
No. The synopsis provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
24) Where would applicants typically find details like budget limits and review criteria?
The synopsis indicates that applicants would typically need to consult the full notice of funding opportunity for budget limits, project period expectations, cohort structure, and detailed review criteria.
25) What is the overarching concept behind the FIRST Cohort approach?
NIH frames the approach as more than hiring talented researchers. The emphasis is on creating environments where scientists from a wide range of backgrounds can thrive and lead, using cohort-based recruitment and institutional transformation to build inclusive excellence that lasts.
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