Dan Moser, February 3, 2025
Feb. 28 is deadline to submit NOIs for COBRE Phase 1 internal competition
The Office of Research and Innovation is sponsoring an internal competition to identify the university’s next team that will submit a proposal to the National Institutes of Health’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence program.
The goal of the internal competition is to select a team prepared for a new COBRE Phase 1 submission opportunity expected in early 2026.
The internal competition and selection process involves two stages: submission of a notice of intent to submit a proposal, followed by submission of an internal proposal. Submission of an NOI by Feb. 28 is required to submit an internal proposal by April 30.
Additional information about the limited competition process and requirements is available.
The COBRE program is designed to strengthen an institution’s biomedical research infrastructure by establishing an interdisciplinary, and sometimes multi-institutional, center and enhancing the ability of early career investigators to secure independent external research funding. This program currently funds three centers at UNL: the Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules, the Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication and the Rural Drug Addiction Research Center.
COBREs must have a thematic scientific focus supported by basic, clinical and/or translational research approaches. Proposed centers must be led by an established biomedical or behavioral investigator who has: 1) an active research laboratory, 2) a record of peer-reviewed funding, including active external peer-reviewed funding related to the center’s scientific focus and 3) a history of leadership and mentoring. Additional information is available from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and in the most –recent Phase 1 program announcement (PAR-22-250).
Following the NOI submission deadline, R&I will notify participating PIs about the internal proposal review and selection process. This process will focus on fit with the COBRE funding mechanism and the readiness of the PI and their team to prepare a competitive application.
For more information regarding the limited submission competition, contact Nathan Meier, associate vice chancellor for research, capacity and competitiveness.
