Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 Recipients (R03) | PAR 17 301

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 301

This NIH opportunity (PAR-17-301) is a limited-competition small grant program run by the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) within the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives. It is designed specifically for researchers who already hold an ORIP-supported Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 and have completed the first two years (24 months) of that career development award. The overall purpose is to give these K01 awardees an extra, targeted boost of research support at a key point in their career trajectory, helping them strengthen their research program and move more confidently toward fully independent investigator status.

The funding mechanism used is the NIH R03 small grant. R03 awards are meant for short, focused projects that can be completed relatively quickly and with limited resources, while still producing meaningful results. ORIP highlights that acceptable R03 project types can include pilot and feasibility studies, secondary analyses of existing datasets, small and self-contained research projects, the development or refinement of research methods, and the creation of new research technologies. In practical terms, the R03 is meant to help a SERCA K01 recipient generate preliminary findings, proof-of-concept results, or methodological advances that strengthen a future application for an R01 or an equivalent large, independent research grant. The emphasis is less on building a large, multi-year research enterprise and more on producing a tight package of outcomes that clearly positions the investigator for the next step in funding and independence.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding area (CFDA 93.351) and is administered by the National Institutes of Health. The posted award ceiling is $75,000, reflecting the small, targeted nature of the R03 mechanism and reinforcing the expectation that proposed work should be achievable without extensive infrastructure or large-scale staffing. While the listing notes an original closing date of May 7, 2020, the key program concept is the bridge support it provides to eligible ORIP SERCA K01 awardees after they reach the two-year mark of their K01.

Eligibility in the source information is broad in the sense that many institution types can apply as applicant organizations, including state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible organizational categories such as 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, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. Put simply, applications must be grounded entirely within eligible U.S.-based organizational structures without foreign components.

In summary, this is a narrowly targeted ORIP program intended to help a specific pool of investigators (ORIP SERCA K01 awardees past 24 months) conduct a small, high-value research project that builds momentum toward research independence. The R03 mechanism is used to support compact studies or development work that can be completed with modest funds and that ideally results in preliminary data, validated methods, or enabling technology that makes a subsequent R01-level application stronger and more competitive.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 Recipients (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.351.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-06-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-07. (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 $75,000.00 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 PAR 17 301

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