Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NHLBI K01/K08/K23/K25 Recipients
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Maximum funding amount: $75,000
Project duration: Up to 2 years
To support current or recently completed NHLBI K awardees in expanding their research objectives or branching out to new studies.
To enhance the capability of NHLBI K awardees to conduct research as they transition to fully independent investigator status.
Current and recently completed NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 awardees.
The broader biomedical research community.
Eligible organization types include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, local and state governments, and tribal governments.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
Only U.S.-based organizations are eligible.
Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Projects must be completed within two years.
Research types include pilot studies, proof of concept studies, secondary analysis of existing data, and development of new methodologies.
Direct costs are limited to $75,000 per year.
No cost-sharing is required.
Application due date: January 7, 2026.
Earliest submission date: January 13, 2025.
Applicants who have previously received substantial NIH independent research awards are ineligible.
Applications must include a summary of the applicant's funded K award.
Letters of support from mentors and institutional commitment are required.
Applications will be evaluated based on significance, innovation, rigor, and feasibility.
Applications will undergo peer review and receive a written critique.
Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project will be the primary selection criterion.
A minimum of 40% protected research effort is required from applicants.
Non-domestic entities are not eligible, which may limit collaboration opportunities.
Projects should align with NHLBI's mission to support cardiovascular, lung, and blood diseases research.
The program supports early-stage investigators transitioning to independent research, which may enhance competitiveness for future funding.
Demonstrating a clear plan for how the R03 project builds on the K award.
Submitting applications that do not comply with the detailed instructions in the application guide.
Engage mentors and institutional support early in the application process.
Highlight previous K award successes and how the R03 will enhance future research independence.