The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a funding opportunity titled "Catalyze: Product Definition for Small Molecules and Biologics - Target Identification and Validation, and Preliminary Product/Lead Series Identification (R61/R33 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)." This initiative aims to support early-stage translational research focused on identifying and characterizing therapeutic candidates for heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases. The program emphasizes a two-phase approach, where the R61 phase involves initial target identification and validation, while the R33 phase focuses on selecting lead candidates for further development, with a requirement for applicants to engage with Accelerator Partners for commercialization expertise. The NIH plans to allocate approximately $6.3 million annually over three years to fund up to 13 new awards, with applications due by December 20, 2024. For further inquiries, interested parties can contact the NIH OER Webmaster at OERWebmaster03@od.nih.gov or visit the additional information link at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-23-011.html.