The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a funding opportunity titled "Clinical Trial Readiness for Rare Diseases, Disorders, and Syndromes" under the R21 Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant initiative. This grant aims to support projects that address critical barriers to clinical trial readiness for rare diseases, which are defined as conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 individuals in the U.S., by developing and validating biomarkers, clinical outcome measures, and understanding disease natural history. The initiative is crucial for enhancing the progression of therapeutics toward clinical trials, addressing significant public health concerns related to the limited treatment options available for rare diseases. Eligible applicants can receive up to $275,000 for a two-year project, with applications due by October 17, 2024. For further inquiries, interested parties can contact NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov or visit the opportunity's webpage at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-159.html.