Limited Competition: Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Transition Award (R00 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 20 315

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 315

The Limited Competition: Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Transition Award (R00 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-315) designed specifically to help early-stage, independent clinical researchers continue and expand their research careers as they move from an NIH intramural setting to an extramural institution. It is part of the broader Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program and is only available to current Lasker awardees in the Si2 phase who are eligible to compete for the transition (R00) phase. In practical terms, this funding announcement is meant to support a structured career progression: scholars who have already been supported under the Lasker program can apply to transition to an outside research environment while maintaining stable NIH support to establish or strengthen their independent research program.

The core purpose of the R00 phase is to provide up to five years of NIH support for research conducted at an extramural research facility. This is the key feature of the opportunity: it is a transition award that backs a scholar as they leave the intramural environment and build a longer-term, independent research trajectory at a university, hospital, research institute, or other qualifying extramural setting. The FOA is labeled “clinical trial optional,” which signals that the proposed research may include a clinical trial, but it does not have to. Applicants can propose clinical research that either does or does not involve a clinical trial, as long as it fits NIH requirements and the goals of the program.

This is a discretionary grant mechanism, and the activity category is listed under “Education, Food and Nutrition, Health,” reflecting NIH’s broad mission areas rather than a narrow single-disease focus. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.233, 93.273, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.855), which generally indicates that multiple NIH Institutes and Centers may participate or that the program aligns with several NIH funding lines. While the specific award ceiling is not stated in the provided source data, the announcement clearly indicates that the R00 phase can support up to five years of research funding, which is substantial for a transition period and is intended to help scholars establish themselves competitively in the extramural research ecosystem.

Eligibility is “limited competition” because only current Lasker awardees (Si2) can apply as scholars; however, the organizational eligibility categories are broad and include many types of U.S.-based entities that could serve as the applicant organization for the extramural phase. Eligible applicant organizations include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when specified in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This emphasis signals NIH’s intent to ensure a wide range of institution types can host and administer the R00 phase, which can be important for scholars seeking the best fit for their research environment and career development.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the R00 extramural phase must be anchored within an eligible U.S.-based organization and cannot be structured in a way that relies on foreign components under NIH’s policy definitions.

Administrative details in the provided record indicate the opportunity was created on 2020-11-05, the sponsoring agency is NIH, and the original closing date listed is 2023-09-30. The expected number of awards is not specified in the source data. Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted bridge for established Lasker Scholars at the Si2 stage to carry momentum into an extramural appointment, with multi-year NIH support that can help stabilize the transition period, support a competitive clinical research agenda, and position the investigator for long-term independence and future funding.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Transition Award (R00 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.233, 93.273, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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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