Limited Competition: Physician Scientist Transition to Independence in Blood Science Research (R00 - Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HL 26 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 26 001

The Limited Competition: Physician Scientist Transition to Independence in Blood Science Research (R00 - Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity (RFA-HL-26-001) is an NIH/NHLBI grant designed to help physician scientists in blood science move from a mentored research role into a fully independent faculty position. Its core goal is workforce development: building and sustaining a strong pipeline of new, talented, NHLBI-supported investigators who can establish independent research programs in blood science. The award specifically supports the transition point where a clinician-researcher is ready to step into a tenure-track (or equivalent) role and needs stable funding to launch and grow an independent lab or research team.

This is a limited competition funding announcement, meaning it is not open to all applicants. It is aimed at a defined pool of individuals: current K99 awardees funded under RFA-HL-20-001 or RFA-HL-20-002 who are now eligible to apply for the independent R00 phase. In practice, it functions as the continuation step for those already in the NHLBI physician-scientist blood science K99/R00 pathway, with the R00 representing the independent stage after mentored training. Applications to this R00 phase undergo a review that is limited to this eligible group and requires an updated research plan that reflects the applicant's move into an independent position, including refreshed aims and an approach that fits the resources, environment, and expectations of an independent faculty appointment.

The R00 phase provides up to three years of support to continue and expand the scholar's research activities as an independent investigator. The funding is intended to help the awardee establish scientific independence, publish, generate preliminary data, and compete successfully for subsequent major NIH awards. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which signals that applicants may propose research that includes a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the project, but a clinical trial is not required. The activity category is health, and the program is associated with CFDA number 93.838, reflecting NHLBI's research support portfolio.

From an organizational eligibility standpoint, the announcement lists a wide range of potential applicant institutions and organizations, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government entities (state, county, city/township, special district, and certain school districts). It also highlights a number of institution types often emphasized in federal eligibility language, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. Even though many organization types are listed, the practical eligibility constraint remains that the applicant must be in the defined limited-competition pool of qualifying K99 awardees seeking transition to the R00 independent phase.

The notice is strict about foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the work and the applicant organization must be U.S.-based without foreign components under NIH definitions.

Key administrative details include an original closing date of March 28, 2025, and an award ceiling listed as $250,000. The funding instrument is a grant under the NIH discretionary program structure. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a structured bridge for a specific group of NHLBI K99 physician-scientist awardees in blood science, giving them time-limited R00 support to solidify independence, update and execute an independent research plan, and establish themselves in a tenure-track or equivalent faculty role.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Physician Scientist Transition to Independence in Blood Science Research (R00 - Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.838.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-28. (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 $250,000.00 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 RFA HL 26 001

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