Critical research grant program

(a) Critical research grants The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary), acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to promote research in critical areas, including— (1) food biotechnology; (2) nutrition initiatives to promote greater access to healthier foods and information about foods; (3) infant and maternal nutrition; (4) health impacts of ultra-processed foods; (5) safety and reliability of specialty foods such as infant formula; (6) health impacts of dietary supplements; and (7) public understanding of the risks and benefits of ultra-processed foods, dietary supplements, and other nutrition sources. (b) Collaboration In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize projects that foster collaboration among a broad range of partners. (c) Applications To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may determine appropriate. (d) Eligible entity defined In this section, the term eligible entity means a public or private nonprofit organization with recognized capacity and expertise in one or more of the areas described in subsection (a).