Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 16 020

  • The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition Small Grant Program for NHLBI K01/K08/K23 Recipients (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.233 National Center on Sleep Disorders Research 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.838 Lung Diseases Research 93.839 Blood Diseases and Resources Research.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 30, 2015 and posted on Jun 29, 2015.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2018. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments County governments Special district governments Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
  • Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:

The Limited Competition Small Grant Program for NHLBI K01/K08/K23 Recipients (R03) (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HL-16-020) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) funding opportunity designed specifically for investigators who are currently supported by, or have very recently completed, certain NHLBI mentored career development awards. The central goal is to provide a modest, targeted grant that helps these investigators build directly on momentum from their K award research, either by expanding the scope of their existing research objectives or by launching a new, logically connected study that emerged from the K award work. In practical terms, this R03 mechanism is meant to help bridge the gap between mentored career development and full research independence by allowing promising K awardees to generate additional data, test next-step ideas, and strengthen their trajectory toward larger independent research awards.

Eligibility is intentionally limited, reflecting the program's purpose as a transition support tool for a defined cohort. Applicants must be current or recently completed recipients of an NHLBI K01, K08, or K23. For those who have finished their K award, they remain eligible only if the earliest possible start date for the R03 would fall within two years of the end of their NHLBI K award project period. This timing requirement underscores that the R03 is positioned as a near-term follow-on resource, not a long-delayed supplement. While many organizational types can serve as the applicant institution (including public and private institutions of higher education, certain nonprofits, various levels of government entities, small businesses, and other eligible organizations listed in the announcement), the investigator-level eligibility is the key limiting feature because it is a limited competition aimed at that K awardee population. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and foreign components are not allowed, consistent with standard NIH restrictions described in the source text.

The award parameters are small by design. The listed award ceiling is $50,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. This scale aligns with the R03 small grant mechanism, which typically supports discrete, well-defined projects such as pilot studies, feasibility testing, secondary analyses, or other focused efforts that can be accomplished with limited funds and within a relatively short period. For K awardees nearing independence, that kind of support can be especially useful for generating preliminary results, refining methods, collecting key samples or measurements, or establishing proof-of-concept findings that make a subsequent larger application more competitive.

From a scientific mission standpoint, the opportunity falls under the broad NHLBI research domains captured by the listed CFDA numbers, including cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, blood diseases and resources, and sleep disorders research. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument. It was posted in mid-2015 (Posted Date June 29, 2015; Creation Date June 30, 2015) and accepted applications through its closing date of June 15, 2018, with an archive date of July 16, 2018. Even though this particular announcement is now archived, its structure illustrates a common NIH career-transition strategy: provide a small, competitively reviewed award aimed at helping a defined pool of mentored awardees translate K-supported work into independent research outputs.

Administrative details included in the source indicate that applicants seeking the full official announcement could reference the NIH guide link provided in the opportunity, and technical issues accessing the announcement were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact. Overall, the program can be understood as a narrowly targeted, time-limited small grant designed to help NHLBI K01/K08/K23 recipients extend or evolve their mentored research into the next stage of independent investigation, with an emphasis on near-term continuity and measurable research progress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Limited Competition Small Grant Program for NHLBI K01/K08/K23 Recipients (R03)?

It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HL-16-020) that uses the R03 small grant mechanism. It is designed for investigators who are currently supported by, or have very recently completed, specific NHLBI mentored career development awards (K01, K08, or K23). The intent is to provide a modest, targeted grant that helps recipients build directly on momentum from their K award research.

What is the main purpose of this R03 opportunity?

The central goal is to help K award recipients transition from mentored career development toward research independence. The R03 is meant to support near-term follow-on work that expands existing K award research objectives or launches a new, logically connected study that emerged from the K award. In practice, it can help generate additional data, test next-step ideas, and strengthen readiness for larger independent research awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is intentionally limited to a defined investigator cohort. Applicants must be current or recently completed recipients of an NHLBI K01, K08, or K23 award. The limited competition aspect is primarily based on this investigator-level requirement.

If my NHLBI K award has ended, can I still apply?

Yes, but only under a specific timing rule. If you have completed your NHLBI K01/K08/K23, you remain eligible only if the earliest possible start date for the R03 would be within two years of the end of your NHLBI K award project period. This requirement reinforces that the R03 is intended as a near-term follow-on, not a long-delayed supplement.

Is this a limited competition? What does that mean here?

Yes. This opportunity is a limited competition in the sense that it is restricted to investigators who are current or recent NHLBI K01/K08/K23 recipients (with the stated timing requirement for those who have completed the K award). While many organization types may be eligible as applicant institutions, the key limiting feature is the investigator eligibility tied to those K awards.

What types of institutions can apply as the applicant organization?

The announcement indicates that many organizational types can serve as the applicant institution, including public and private institutions of higher education, certain nonprofit organizations, various levels of government entities, small businesses, and other eligible organizations listed in the announcement. The defining constraint is that the investigator must meet the NHLBI K01/K08/K23 eligibility criteria described.

Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?

No. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.

Are foreign components allowed?

No. Foreign components are not allowed, consistent with the restrictions described in the provided information.

How much funding is available per award?

The listed award ceiling is $50,000. The program is small by design, consistent with the R03 small grant mechanism.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What kinds of projects are a good fit for an R03 under this program?

The R03 mechanism typically supports discrete, well-defined projects that can be completed with limited funds and within a relatively short period. Examples described include pilot studies, feasibility testing, secondary analyses, or other focused efforts. For K awardees, the R03 support can be useful for generating preliminary results, refining methods, collecting key samples or measurements, or establishing proof-of-concept findings that strengthen a future larger application.

Do projects need to be connected to the investigator's K award research?

Yes, the intent is to build directly on the momentum from the K award research. The supported work may expand the scope of existing K award objectives or launch a new study that is logically connected and emerged from the K award work.

What research areas does this opportunity cover?

The opportunity aligns with broad NHLBI mission areas reflected in the listed CFDA categories. These include cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, blood diseases and resources, and sleep disorders research.

What funding agency and institute are offering this program?

The program is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

What is the funding instrument used?

The opportunity uses the grant funding instrument.

Is this opportunity still open for applications?

No. The opportunity is archived. It accepted applications through its closing date of June 15, 2018, and has an archive date of July 16, 2018.

When was this funding opportunity originally posted?

It was posted in mid-2015, with a Posted Date of June 29, 2015 and a Creation Date of June 30, 2015.

Where can applicants find the full official announcement?

The source indicates that applicants could reference the NIH guide link provided in the opportunity to access the full official announcement.

Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing the announcement?

Technical issues accessing the announcement were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact, as noted in the provided information.

Why is there a two-year timing rule for former K awardees?

The timing rule underscores the program's purpose as a transition support tool. By limiting eligibility to those whose earliest possible R03 start date falls within two years of the end of the K award project period, the program emphasizes near-term continuity and momentum from mentored research toward independent investigation.

How does this R03 fit into a career development path?

This R03 is described as a bridge between mentored career development and full research independence. It is intended to help promising NHLBI K awardees produce additional data and measurable research progress that can strengthen their trajectory toward larger, independent research awards.

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