A COBRE Phase 1 award supports the establishment of a multi-component center of excellence in an area of biomedical research that aligns with the applicant institution’s strategic priorities for growing its research capacity. The COBRE Phase 1 program aims to develop a critical mass of investigators who can compete effectively for independent, external research funding. To achieve this goal, the COBRE award supports a Center that provides research support and mentoring to faculty investigators and funding for their recruitment. Enhancements to the institution’s research infrastructure that facilitate the proposed research are also supported. The Center’s scientific goals must be aligned with the applicant institution’s strategic priorities and cover a sufficiently broad scientific area to warrant the institution’s sustained support. Applicant institutions should demonstrate their commitment to the COBRE program goals by investing in the recruitment and long-term support of the Center’s investigators and the infrastructure required to carry out the scientific research. 

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 UD: Discovery of Chemical Probes and Therapeutic Leads, COBRE in Cardiovascular Health, and Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research. 

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).   An Advisory Committee (AC) comprised of institutional leadership and external experts in the scientific area should provide advice and oversight on critical scientific activities and administrative decisions.

The UD Research Office is sponsoring a limited submission internal competition to identify the university’s next team that will be prepared to submit a proposal to the new COBRE Phase 1 submission opportunity expected to be released later this year.  The internal competition and selection process involves two stages: (1) a pre-proposal application and (2) an INVITED white paper stage.

Internal Pre-Proposal Deadline: 05/05/2025 
Invited Internal White Paper Deadline: TBD
Anticipated NSF Full Proposal Deadline: 01/30/2026
Link to FOA Here

PI Eligibility:  The PD(s)/PI(s) is expected to be an established biomedical research scientist with the mentoring and administrative experience necessary to lead the Center. The PD/PI must also hold, as PD/PI, at least one active, peer-reviewed and externally funded research grant in the scientific area of the COBRE that is awarded to the applicant institution. A PD/PI may not simultaneously lead more than one IDeA (INBRE, IDeA-CTR, or other COBRE) program award. Previous COBRE PD(s)/PI(s) of different COBRE Centers, except those who served in that capacity on an interim basis, are not eligible to lead a COBRE Phase 1 application.  

Institutional Limit: One application per eligible institution is allowed for each submission due date. 

Pre-Proposal Application Information:  All UD limited submission pre-proposal applications must include the following (Applications not adhering to this requirement will be returned without review.):

1. Lead PI's NIH-style Biographical Sketch; 
2. Lead PI's full CV
3. A summary describing the proposed COBRE's goals (<300 words)
4. A one-page description of hiring plans in support of the project AND proposed new core facility(s) or upgrades to existing core(s) needed for project success.
5. Excel spreadsheet that lists UD departments with current researchers in the area of the proposed COBRE, identifies faculty working in the proposed COBRE area (including tenure status), identifies the funding sources of senior faculty in this area, and lists existing UD core facilities that support research in this area and the nature of that support. (Click the "Download Solicitation" button above to access the spreadsheet)

Merit Review Criteria: Pre-proposals will be reviewed based on the criteria detailed in the solicitation.