Microplastics Research and Resource Coordination Center (U24 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health, through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, is preparing to award a U24 grant to establish a Micro/Nanoplastics Research and Resource Coordination Center aimed at advancing multidisciplinary research on the health impacts of micro and nanoplastics. The center will serve as a central hub to coordinate efforts among biomedical and material science researchers, fostering collaboration and promoting standardized methodologies in sampling, analytical techniques, data harmonization, and distribution of experimental standards across the field. Its primary mission is to improve the reliability and validity of research findings by establishing best practices and ensuring consistent application of protocols among investigators. The coordination center will provide leadership and strategic guidance to unify the growing M/NPs research community, accelerating the translation of scientific findings into actionable knowledge. It will not support clinical trials but will focus on resource development, infrastructure enhancement, and community-wide standardization to address critical gaps in current research practices. The award will be granted to an eligible institution that can demonstrate the capacity to lead these interdisciplinary initiatives, with funding provided by NIEHS under the U24 mechanism. All proposals must be submitted in response to the upcoming opportunity, and inquiries should be directed to the designated point of contact at nofo.information@niehs.nih.gov.