Notice of Intent To Issue FOA:
Competing Renewal of NIH Botanical Research Centers Program

June 2008

NCCAM and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements intend to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Botanical Research Centers (BRC) Program by December 2008. It is anticipated that grant applications from both new applicants and current BRC grantees seeking renewal will be due in July 2009.

NCCAM and ODS will support research centers that (1) promote interdisciplinary collaborative study of botanicals, particularly those that are found as ingredients in dietary supplements, and (2) conduct research of high potential for being translated into practical benefits for human health.

The BRC Program is intended to advance the spectrum of botanical research activities, ranging from plant authentication and characterization to early phase clinical studies. However, preclinical research will be the primary focus of research conducted under the renewed BRC Program.

For more information on the BRC Program, see http://ods.od.nih.gov/Research/Dietary_Supplement_Research_Centers.aspx.