Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | PAR 21 090

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 090

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, is offering a limited-competition small grant opportunity designed specifically for researchers who already hold an ORIP-supported Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 and have completed at least the first two years (24 months) of that K01. The main purpose of this program is to strengthen SERCA K01 awardees as they move from mentored career development into fully independent investigator roles, providing a modest, targeted infusion of support to help them complete a discrete research effort and build momentum toward independence.

This opportunity uses the NIH R03 Small Grant mechanism, which is structured for focused projects that can realistically be finished within two years using limited funds. ORIP highlights several project types that fit well under an R03, including pilot and feasibility studies, secondary analyses of existing datasets, small self-contained research projects, development or refinement of research methods, and early development of new research technologies. In other words, the program is aimed at compact, well-scoped research activities that generate publishable results, preliminary data, proof-of-concept findings, or methodological advances that can position the investigator to compete for larger independent awards later.

A key restriction is that clinical trials are not allowed under this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Applications proposing clinical trial(s) will not be accepted, so proposed aims need to be clearly non-clinical-trial in nature (for example, data analysis, method development, technology development, or other non-trial research activities). The overall activity category is health-related research, and the opportunity is listed under CFDA number 93.351. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity category is discretionary.

Eligibility is limited in the sense that it is intended for ORIP SERCA K01 recipients who have reached the 24-month point in their K01, but applications may be submitted by a broad range of domestic applicant organizations where the eligible investigator is based. Eligible applicant organizations include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and certain tribal entities and housing authorities, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other eligible tribal organizations. The announcement explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign participation is not permitted in this program. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. Applicants therefore need to ensure that both the applicant organization and the proposed work are strictly domestic in the way NIH defines these terms for eligibility and performance sites.

From an administrative standpoint, the Funding Opportunity Announcement is titled "Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and carries the opportunity number PAR-21-090. The announcement was created on 2020-11-30. The listed award ceiling is $75,000, reflecting the small-grant nature of the R03 mechanism. The original closing date shown is 2023-05-07.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.351.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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