Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
ID: 344574Type: Posted
Overview

Buyer

National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)

Award Range

$0 - $400K

Eligible Applicants

Others

Funding Category

Health

Funding Instrument

Grant

Opportunity Category

Discretionary

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Yes

Original Source

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/344574

Additional Information

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-022.html
Timeline
    Description

    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional), aimed at fostering innovative research that integrates engineering and physical sciences with life and biomedical sciences. This grant opportunity encourages applicants to pursue exploratory, developmental, or high-risk projects without the necessity for preliminary data, thereby promoting creative solutions to unmet biomedical research needs. The award supports a maximum of $400,000 in direct costs over three years, with applications due by January 7, 2026. Interested applicants can find more information and guidelines at the NIH Grants website or contact NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov for further inquiries.

    Point(s) of Contact
    grantsinfo@nih.gov
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    PAR-24-022.html
    The Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators, issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), encourages innovative research integrating engineering and physical sciences with life and biomedical sciences. This funding opportunity (PAR-24-022) allows applicants to pursue exploratory, developmental, or high-risk projects without the necessity for preliminary data, thereby fostering creative approaches to unmet biomedical research needs. The award supports a maximum of $400,000 in direct costs over three years. Eligible applicants include NIH-defined New and Early Stage Investigators. Key points include the emphasis on projects that contribute to innovation, as well as the encouragement of applications from underrepresented groups in research. The funding application process requires strict adherence to guidelines, with critical review criteria focusing on significance, investigator capabilities, innovation, and the overall approach. A distinctive aspect of this opportunity is the encouragement of high-risk projects that may lack extensive preliminary data, promoting novel and non-incremental ideas. Notably, proposals involving clinical trials are limited to early-stage studies (Phase I or feasibility) aligned with technology development goals. The aim is to catalyze transdisciplinary research that significantly advances biomedical knowledge and practices.
    Similar Opportunities
    Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators through the R21 Clinical Trial Optional grant mechanism, aimed at fostering innovative research that integrates engineering and physical sciences with biomedical sciences. This funding opportunity encourages exploratory, proof of concept, or high-risk projects, specifically those that do not require extensive preliminary data, allowing applicants to propose novel research approaches. Eligible applicants include a diverse range of institutions and organizations, with funding of up to $400,000 available over a maximum of three years. Interested parties should submit their applications electronically via Grants.gov by the close date of January 7, 2026, and can direct inquiries to grantsinfo@nih.gov for further information.
    Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Trailblazer Award for New and Early-Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Trailblazer Award aimed at New and Early-Stage Investigators, with a focus on integrating engineering and physical sciences with life and biomedical sciences. This grant opportunity, utilizing the R21 activity code, encourages innovative research projects that may be exploratory, developmental, or high-risk high-impact, and aims to foster collaborations that open new areas of biomedical investigation. Interested applicants, particularly those with expertise in engineering and quantitative sciences, should prepare to submit their applications once the NOFO is officially released, with an estimated synopsis post date of November 21, 2025, and a projected award date of October 1, 2026. For further inquiries, potential applicants can contact Randy King at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering via email at Randy.King@nih.gov or by phone at 301-451-0707.
    NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) to support innovative early-stage research projects that may lead to significant advancements in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical fields. This grant is designed to encourage high-risk, high-reward research, providing funding for projects that are distinct from traditional R01 grants, with a maximum budget of $275,000 over a two-year period, and no more than $200,000 in any single year. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations such as educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments, with applications undergoing a rigorous peer review process to assess their innovation and feasibility. Interested parties should note that the application submission period begins on January 16, 2025, with the opportunity closing on January 7, 2028; for further inquiries, applicants can contact NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov.
    NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required) to support innovative research projects in the early stages that can lead to significant advancements in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. This funding opportunity requires applicants to propose at least one clinical trial and is aimed at addressing critical gaps in knowledge within the scientific missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Eligible applicants include a diverse range of organizations, such as higher education institutions, nonprofits, and foreign entities, with a total project period limited to two years and a budget of up to $275,000. The application period opens on January 16, 2025, and closes on January 8, 2028; interested parties can reach out to NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov for further inquiries.
    NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is set to announce the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards, a federal grant opportunity aimed at supporting innovative and unconventional research projects. This program encourages individual scientists or collaborative teams to propose groundbreaking research that has the potential to redefine scientific paradigms or develop transformative technologies, without the need for preliminary data or detailed experimental plans. With an estimated total funding of $8 million and the expectation of awarding seven grants, interested applicants should prepare their proposals in advance, as applications will be solicited starting June 20, 2025, with a closing date of September 3, 2025. For further inquiries, potential applicants can contact Dr. Patricia Labosky at TransformativeAwards@mail.nih.gov or by phone at 301-594-4863.
    NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional), aimed at supporting early-stage investigators with innovative research proposals that have the potential for significant impact in health-related fields. This grant program encourages applications from individuals demonstrating exceptional creativity, with no preliminary data or detailed experimental plans required, allowing for bold and high-risk research initiatives. The estimated total funding for this program is $37,700,000, with approximately 30 awards expected to be made, and interested applicants should prepare their proposals ahead of the anticipated Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) release on June 19, 2025, with applications due by August 19, 2025. For further inquiries, applicants can contact Patricia Labosky, Ph.D., at NewInnovatorAwards@mail.nih.gov or by phone at 301-594-4863.
    Small Grants for New Investigators to Broaden Participation in Health-Related Research (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a funding opportunity titled "Small Grants for New Investigators to Broaden Participation in Health-Related Research (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)." This initiative aims to support new investigators from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical research, enabling them to conduct small-scale projects that align with the scientific mission areas of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other participating institutes. The grants, with a maximum budget of $125,000 per year for a project period not exceeding three years, are intended to facilitate the transition of these researchers toward independence while addressing health disparities. Interested applicants must demonstrate that they have had less than $125,000 in direct costs from combined active research funding and can submit proposals starting in early 2025. For further inquiries, applicants can contact NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov, and additional details can be found at the provided link: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-25-097.html.
    Technology Development Research for Establishing Feasibility and Proof of Concept (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a funding opportunity for exploratory research grants (R21) aimed at developing innovative technologies in biomedical research. This initiative seeks applications that propose high-risk, high-reward projects focused on technology development without existing proof of concept, specifically excluding clinical trials. The funding amount is capped at $275,000 in direct costs over two years, with a maximum of $200,000 available in any single year. Interested applicants, including higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations, must adhere to submission guidelines and can reach out to NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov for further inquiries. The application deadline is January 7, 2028.
    Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is inviting applications for the Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed), aimed at advancing innovative bioengineering solutions to address cancer and other biomedical challenges. This funding opportunity encourages projects that demonstrate the feasibility and potential utility of novel capabilities to enhance biomedical research, clinical care delivery, and accessibility, while specifically discouraging clinical trial proposals. Eligible applicants include a diverse range of institutions such as higher education entities, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and foreign entities, with a funding cap of $275,000 available over a two-year period. Interested applicants can find more information and submission guidelines on the NIH website, with applications due by January 7, 2028. For inquiries, contact NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov.
    NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) to support innovative research projects that involve basic experimental studies with human participants. This funding opportunity aims to foster groundbreaking research strategies that can lead to significant advancements in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research, particularly in understanding fundamental phenomena without immediate application in mind. Grants may be awarded for a total project period of up to two years, with budgets capped at $275,000, and applications are encouraged from a diverse range of eligible applicants, including historically black colleges and universities, faith-based organizations, and other institutions. Interested parties should note that the application deadline is January 7, 2028, and can reach out to NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov for further inquiries.