NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Clinical Trial Required) | PA 21 221

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 21 221

The NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number PA 21-221, is a discretionary National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant administered by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It is designed specifically to support small-scale, focused clinical trials that align with the NICHD mission, meaning studies connected to child health and development, reproductive health, maternal health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and related areas within NICHDs scope. Because this particular R03 announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Required," proposals are expected to include a clinical trial component rather than being purely observational or preclinical work, and the intent is generally to enable investigators to test targeted, well-defined interventions or clinical strategies in a limited, efficient format.

The funding mechanism is an NIH R03 small research grant, which typically emphasizes concise, narrowly scoped projects that can be completed within a modest budget and timeframe. For this opportunity, the listed award ceiling is $50,000, signaling that it is meant to help launch or complete a discrete piece of clinical trial work rather than fund a large, multi-site trial. While the source data does not specify the expected number of awards, the program is positioned as a way to support early-stage or pilot clinical trials, feasibility assessments, or other tightly bounded clinical trial activities that produce actionable results and can inform larger follow-on studies.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that commonly participate in NIH funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when categorized that way); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In addition, the announcement highlights a wide range of "other eligible applicants" that NICHD explicitly welcomes, including 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This emphasis suggests an intent to encourage participation from diverse institutional settings, including community-centered and international partners, when their clinical trial work fits NICHD priorities.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under Health, Income Security and Social Services and is associated with CFDA number 93.865. The original closing date listed is January 7, 2025, and the record shows a creation date of April 21, 2021. Overall, this program is best understood as a smaller, targeted NIH grant route for running a clinical trial that fits NICHDs mission, with a modest maximum award amount and unusually broad eligibility that includes academic, governmental, nonprofit, for-profit, tribal, territorial, and international organizations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-04-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-07. (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 $50,000.00 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.

Apply for PA 21 221

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