Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NHLBI K01/K08/K23/K25 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administers this funding opportunity through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The institute is a leading federal agency supporting research related to cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep disorders. This specific funding opportunity is structured as a limited competition designed to support early-career researchers who have previously received mentored career development awards. By targeting this population, the program aims to strengthen the pipeline of independent investigators contributing to biomedical research in critical health domains. The purpose of this grant program is to provide small-scale research funding to current or recently completed recipients of NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 awards. The intent is to facilitate their transition to research independence by enabling them to expand upon existing research or pursue new studies that emerge from their prior work. The funding mechanism used is the R03 small grant, which is intended for projects that can be completed within a relatively short timeframe and with limited financial resources. These projects are expected to generate preliminary data that will strengthen future applications for larger, more comprehensive funding opportunities such as R01 grants. Funding under this opportunity supports a range of research activities including pilot studies, feasibility assessments, proof-of-concept investigations, secondary data analyses, and the development of new methodologies or technologies. The program allows flexibility in project design as long as the work aligns with the mission areas of the NHLBI. Projects must be structured to be completed within a two-year performance period, and applicants must maintain at least 40 percent protected research effort during the award period. This requirement can be met through a combination of funding sources, ensuring that investigators remain focused on research activities. Eligibility for this opportunity is restricted to specific prior awardees, making it a limited competition. Applicants must be affiliated with eligible U.S.-based organizations such as higher education institutions, nonprofits, government entities, or certain for-profit organizations. However, non-domestic entities and foreign components of U.S. organizations are not permitted to participate. The eligibility criteria emphasize continuity from prior NHLBI-supported career development awards, ensuring that applicants have an established research trajectory aligned with the institute’s priorities. The application process follows standard NIH submission procedures and requires applicants to prepare and submit a full proposal through designated federal systems. Applications undergo peer review according to NIH guidelines, with only those demonstrating strong scientific merit being considered for funding. While specific application components are not exhaustively detailed in the summary, applicants can expect to include research plans, budget justifications, and supporting documentation typical of NIH submissions. The review process evaluates the significance, innovation, approach, investigator qualifications, and overall impact of the proposed research. The funding opportunity was posted on May 12, 2026, and remains open for submissions until November 7, 2028. There is no indication of recurring cycles, suggesting a fixed application window for this opportunity. Approximately 29 awards are expected to be made, with total program funding estimated at $3.9 million. Individual awards are capped at $85,000, with no specified minimum award amount. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this program. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute via the provided program email address. The opportunity represents a strategic investment in developing independent researchers and advancing scientific knowledge in heart, lung, blood, and sleep-related health conditions.