Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 26 003
Apply for RFA HL 26 003
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-04-28.
- 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional), announced as RFA-HL-26-003, is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity designed to give long-term, flexible support to established, high-performing NHLBI investigators who are positioned to make major advances in heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) research. Unlike traditional project-based awards that lock funding to a tightly defined set of aims, this R35 mechanism is meant to support an investigator's overall research program. The idea is to reduce administrative churn, provide stability, and let investigators adapt their scientific direction as new findings emerge, including pursuing longer-horizon questions and higher-risk, potentially higher-reward work, as long as the work stays within the NHLBI mission.
A defining feature of this opportunity is who it targets: it is aimed at experienced Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) who already hold significant NHLBI support. Specifically, applicants must currently be PDs/PIs on at least two NHLBI R01-equivalent awards and must have an outstanding track record that demonstrates they can drive meaningful contributions in HLBS science. In practical terms, the program is built for investigators who have already shown sustained productivity and leadership, and who can use a more flexible funding structure to accelerate innovation rather than simply continue incremental work.
The award is intended to become the primary, and most likely the sole, source of NHLBI funding tied to the individual investigator's grants during the award period, reinforcing its role as a consolidated, program-level mechanism rather than an add-on to multiple separate project grants. The support period can extend up to seven years, which is longer than a standard R01 cycle and is meant to enable deeper investments in challenging scientific problems, building new directions from prior discoveries, and maintaining momentum through periods where breakthroughs require time to mature.
Clinical trials are optional under this announcement, meaning applicants may propose a program that includes a clinical trial if it fits their research trajectory and meets NIH requirements, but they are not required to do so. Regardless of whether a clinical trial is involved, the research program must clearly align with the NHLBI mission areas across cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep-related science and health outcomes.
Eligibility is broad at the organizational level, spanning many types of U.S.-based entities that commonly apply for NIH funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding those that are institutions of higher education, which are listed separately); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible organizations. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian 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, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Foreign eligibility is restricted in a way that is typical for many NIH opportunities: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which means a U.S. applicant may include certain internationally based elements of the work when justified and compliant with NIH policy.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the health funding category, offered by NIH, with CFDA/assistance listings that include 93.233 and 93.837 through 93.840. The original closing date listed for this opportunity is April 28, 2027. The posted summary does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants typically need to consult the full funding opportunity announcement for budget guidance, constraints, and any institute-specific expectations about scope, effort, and the transition from existing R01-equivalent support into an R35-supported program.
FAQs: NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) - RFA-HL-26-003
What is the NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional)?
The NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (RFA-HL-26-003) that provides long-term, flexible support for an eligible investigator's overall heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) research program. It is designed to reduce administrative burden and allow scientific direction to evolve as new findings emerge, rather than restricting funding to a narrow, pre-set list of project aims.
Which NIH institute is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a component of NIH.
What is the main purpose of this R35 mechanism compared with project-based awards?
Unlike traditional project-based awards (such as awards centered on tightly defined aims), this R35 mechanism is intended to support an investigator's broader research program. The goal is to provide stability, reduce administrative churn, and enable longer-horizon work, including higher-risk, potentially higher-reward research, as long as the work stays aligned with the NHLBI mission.
Who is this award intended for?
The program is aimed at established, high-performing NHLBI investigators who are positioned to make major advances in HLBS research and who have demonstrated sustained productivity and leadership.
What are the stated investigator eligibility requirements related to current NHLBI support?
Applicants must currently be Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) on at least two NHLBI R01-equivalent awards and must have an outstanding track record demonstrating meaningful contributions to HLBS science.
Does the opportunity require the applicant to propose a clinical trial?
No. Clinical trials are optional under this announcement. An applicant may include a clinical trial if it fits their research trajectory and meets NIH requirements, but a clinical trial is not required.
What research areas are considered within scope?
The proposed research program must align with NHLBI mission areas across cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep-related science and health outcomes.
How long can the project period last?
The support period can extend up to seven years, which is longer than a standard R01 cycle and is intended to allow deeper investments in challenging scientific problems and the development of new directions from prior discoveries.
How is this award expected to relate to an investigator's other NHLBI funding during the award period?
The award is intended to become the primary, and most likely the sole, source of NHLBI funding tied to the individual investigator's grants during the award period. This reflects its role as a consolidated, program-level mechanism rather than an add-on to multiple separate project grants.
Is this a discretionary grant opportunity, and what is the funding category?
Yes. The summary describes this as a discretionary grant opportunity under the health funding category offered by NIH.
What are the CFDA/Assistance Listings associated with this opportunity?
The listed CFDA/assistance listings include 93.233 and 93.837 through 93.840.
Who can apply as the applicant organization (organizational eligibility)?
Eligible applicant organizations include a broad range of U.S.-based entities, including state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding those that are institutions of higher education, which are listed separately); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant types.
Are minority-serving institutions and certain community-based organizations included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The announcement explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, and regional organizations.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed in a proposal submitted by a U.S. applicant?
Yes. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This means a U.S. applicant may include certain internationally based elements of the work when justified and compliant with NIH policy.
What is the opportunity number and title?
The opportunity is announced as RFA-HL-26-003 and is titled the NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional).
What is the closing date listed in the provided summary?
The original closing date listed for this opportunity is April 28, 2027.
Does the provided summary specify an award ceiling or number of expected awards?
No. The posted summary does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
Where should applicants look for budget guidance and details not included in the summary?
Based on the summary, applicants typically need to consult the full funding opportunity announcement for budget guidance, constraints, institute-specific expectations about scope and effort, and how existing R01-equivalent support would transition into an R35-supported program.
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