The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program: Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award (CCIA) (PAR-25-296) is a funding opportunity offered by the **National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)** in partnership with several NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This limited competition is designed to accelerate the pace of translational research by supporting innovative, collaborative, and sustainable solutions that can improve the efficiency of the translational science process and extend these solutions across the CTSA Program Consortium and other stakeholders. The funding opportunity involves investigator-initiated, bi-phasic projects aimed at developing, demonstrating, and implementing innovative solutions that transform research into real-world health advancements more efficiently.

The primary purpose of the CCIA is to catalyze innovative solutions, technologies, models, or resources that can address significant obstacles in clinical and translational research. Projects must advance translational research, have meaningful outcomes, and include clear pathways for dissemination and sustainable implementation. Applicants are required to leverage existing strengths, expertise, and partnerships across multiple institutions, including at least three currently active organizations within or affiliated with the CTSA Program. These projects must propose distinct milestones for the UG3 (initial development and feasibility phase) and UH3 (implementation and dissemination phase) awards, ensuring quantifiable measures of success for transitioning between phases.

NCATS and participating NIH ICOs highlight specific areas of interest, such as artificial intelligence in translational research, data science innovation, community-engaged research to address health disparities, novel technologies for clinical trials, and rapid responses to public health crises. Other priorities include rare disease research, workforce development, regulatory science, and tools for improving recruitment and inclusivity in clinical trials. Individual institutes like the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) provide additional focus areas that align with their respective missions.

Eligibility for this award is limited to CTSA Program hubs (prime recipients of UM1/UL1 awards) and their named partners, as well as eligible non-CTSA organizations such as FDA Centers of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSIs) and NIH-funded networks or centers. Applications must include collaborations involving at least three eligible organizations. The contact PD/PI must be affiliated with an active CTSA hub or partner organization, and proposals must include a sustainability plan, milestone plan, and eligibility statement verifying translational science expertise.

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit, with particular attention to innovation, feasibility, significance, and the potential for widespread impact. Proposals must clearly outline project milestones, sustainability strategies, and methods for dissemination and implementation across the broader translational research community. Both UG3 and UH3 phases require distinct aims, budgets, and timeframes, with the overall award period not exceeding five years. NCATS anticipates committing up to $5 million annually, with a maximum direct cost of $650,000 per year for each phase.

Key dates include the first application deadline on **February 19, 2025**, with subsequent deadlines in June and October of each year until the funding opportunity expires on **October 20, 2027**. Letters of intent are due 30 days prior to the application due date. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NCATS program staff before submission to confirm eligibility and scope alignment. Applications must adhere to the NIH’s Data Management and Sharing Policy and other submission requirements outlined in the funding announcement.