PP Series — Programs & Centers

NIH P50 Grants — Specialized Center Grant

Topic-specific multi-component research center (e.g., SPORE)

Funding

Multi-million per year

Duration

5 years

Eligibility

Established research teams

Activity code

P50

What is the NIH P50 grant?

The P50 funds specialized research centers focused on a specific disease, organ system, or research theme. NCI SPOREs are P50s; NIMH Conte Centers are P50s.

Recent P50 awards (last 24 months)

Live data from NIH RePORTER

236

Awards

$458,914,419

Total funding (sample)

$1,944,553

Average award

Sample reflects up to the most recent 500 NIH RePORTER awards with this activity code in the past 24 months. Total project count is the full RePORTER count.

Most recently awarded P50 grants

$154,774

FY 2026

Project: 3P50DC015446-09S2

Cognitive Thalamus

SABINE KASTNER · PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, NJ · NIH

$3,102,305

FY 2026

Project: 5P50MH132642-04

Immunological, epigenetic and developmental determinants of early pregnancy success

Adrian Erlebacher · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA · NIH

$1,650,000

FY 2026

Project: 5P50HD112034-04

$66,941

FY 2026

Project: 3P50DC015446-09S1

Neurobiology and Cognitive Role of Slow Brain Network Fluctuations

CHARLES SCHROEDER · NATHAN S. KLINE INSTITUTE FOR PSYCH RES, NY · NIH

$3,120,567

FY 2026

Project: 5P50MH109429-09

UW ALACRITY Center for Psychosocial Interventions Research

Aaron Lyon · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, WA · NIH

$2,187,556

FY 2026

Project: 5P50MH115837-08

$2,634,779

FY 2026

Project: 5P50DC015446-09

Wake Forest Translational Alcohol Research Center (WF-TARC)

Jeffrey Weiner · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES, NC · NIH

$1,526,194

FY 2026

Project: 5P50AA026117-09

Top NIH institutes funding P50

By total funding in the last 24 months

  1. 1.NIH231 · $452,164,419
  2. 2.FDA5 · $6,750,000

Top funded institutions

Most P50 awards in the last 24 months

  1. 1.JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY9 awards
  2. 2.UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR8 awards
  3. 3.UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH8 awards
  4. 4.WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY8 awards
  5. 5.MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL8 awards
  6. 6.SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH7 awards

Who applies for P50

Research teams building thematic centers around specific diseases or methods.

When to choose P50

Apply for P50 when you have a coherent translational program — the SPORE structure (basic + clinical + developmental projects + cores) is the canonical model.

When NOT to choose P50

For non-translational basic research, P01 may fit better.

Search tips for P50

  • P50 SPOREs anchor NCI cancer translational research at most major academic centers.

Search NIH grants by activity code

Find P50-funded PIs

P50 funding trends

Related NIH grant types