Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 16 162
Apply for PA 16 162
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.172, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 31, 2016 and posted on Mar 31, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2019. (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: 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03), funding opportunity number PA 16-162, is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH). It is designed to fund small, targeted research efforts that can be completed relatively quickly and with limited resources. In practice, the R03 mechanism is often used to help investigators generate early evidence, test new ideas on a modest scale, or produce preliminary results that can later support larger, more comprehensive NIH applications.
This opportunity focuses on compact projects that are narrow in scope but still capable of producing meaningful scientific contributions. NIH highlights several common project types that fit well under this program: pilot and feasibility studies (for example, early tests of an intervention, recruitment strategy, measurement approach, or experimental paradigm), secondary analyses of existing datasets (such as analyzing previously collected clinical, population health, administrative, or cohort data to answer new questions), small self-contained research projects (limited aims that stand alone without requiring a large infrastructure), and work aimed at developing or improving research methods or technologies (including new tools, assays, software, analytic pipelines, measurement instruments, or other enabling approaches). The underlying theme is that the work should be realistic and well-bounded for a short duration and modest budget, while still advancing knowledge in a way NIH program areas value.
The maximum award amount listed for this opportunity is $50,000 (award ceiling). The funding activity category is broad and spans education, environment, health, and social services-related domains, reflecting NIH's wide biomedical and behavioral research mission and the cross-cutting nature of many research questions. The listing references multiple CFDA numbers (93.113, 93.172, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856, 93.865, 93.866), which indicates that a range of NIH institutes, centers, or related programs may participate under this parent announcement depending on scientific topic and fit.
Eligibility is expansive and includes many types of applicant organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional unspecified categories noted as "Others" (with further clarification typically provided in the full announcement). This wide eligibility reflects NIH's interest in supporting meritorious research wherever the appropriate expertise and capacity reside, including academic, governmental, nonprofit, and industry settings.
Key administrative details in the source data indicate the opportunity was posted and created on March 31, 2016, with a listed closing date of May 7, 2019 (both original and current closing date shown as the same). The opportunity is categorized as a grant funding instrument. While the number of expected awards is not provided in the supplied data, the structure and purpose of the parent R03 mechanism generally signal a competitive program where awards depend on scientific merit, programmatic priority, and available funds across NIH components.
Overall, this NIH Parent R03 opportunity is best understood as a way to support smaller-scale, time-limited research efforts that can quickly produce publishable findings, validate a concept, refine a method, or generate the critical preliminary data needed to pursue larger NIH funding later.
NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03) - PA 16-162: FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03) under funding opportunity number PA 16-162. It is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH).
What is the purpose of the NIH Parent R03 mechanism?
The Parent R03 mechanism is designed to fund small, targeted research efforts that can be completed relatively quickly and with limited resources. It is commonly used to generate early evidence, test new ideas on a modest scale, or produce preliminary results that may support later applications for larger NIH grants.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this R03 program?
NIH emphasizes compact projects that are narrow in scope but capable of producing meaningful scientific contributions. The opportunity highlights several common project types:
- Pilot and feasibility studies (such as early tests of an intervention, recruitment strategy, measurement approach, or experimental paradigm)
- Secondary analyses of existing datasets (including clinical, population health, administrative, or cohort datasets collected previously)
- Small, self-contained research projects with limited aims that do not require large infrastructure
- Development or improvement of research methods or technologies (for example, tools, assays, software, analytic pipelines, measurement instruments, or other enabling approaches)
What is the overall theme or expectation for the scope of work?
The central expectation is that the work should be realistic, well-bounded, and achievable within a short duration and modest budget, while still advancing knowledge in ways NIH program areas value.
How much funding is available per award?
The maximum award amount listed for this opportunity is $50,000 (award ceiling).
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is categorized as a grant funding instrument.
Which agency runs this program?
The program is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What research areas or domains does this opportunity cover?
The funding activity category is broad and spans education, environment, health, and social services-related domains, reflecting NIH's wide biomedical and behavioral research mission and the cross-cutting nature of many research questions.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The listing references multiple CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.172, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856, 93.865, and 93.866. This suggests that multiple NIH institutes, centers, or related programs may participate under the parent announcement depending on the scientific topic and fit.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicant organizations. The provided information lists the following eligible applicants:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township 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
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories)
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (additional categories may be clarified in the full announcement)
Does this opportunity support applicants outside academia?
Yes. Based on the listed eligibility categories, the opportunity is open not only to colleges and universities, but also to governmental entities, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and for-profit organizations (including small businesses).
Is this program intended for early-stage or preliminary work?
Yes. The R03 mechanism is often used to generate early evidence, test a new idea on a modest scale, or produce preliminary results that can later strengthen a larger NIH application.
Can this grant be used for secondary analysis of existing data?
Yes. Secondary analyses of existing datasets are explicitly listed as a common project type under this program, including analyses of previously collected clinical, population health, administrative, or cohort data.
Can method or technology development be supported under this opportunity?
Yes. Projects aimed at developing or improving research methods or technologies are included, such as new tools, assays, software, analytic pipelines, measurement instruments, or other enabling approaches.
Is the number of expected awards known from the provided information?
No. The supplied data does not provide the number of expected awards.
What factors generally influence whether an award is made?
While the number of expected awards is not provided, the information indicates the Parent R03 is competitive and that awards typically depend on scientific merit, programmatic priority, and available funds across NIH components.
When was this opportunity posted?
The source data indicates the opportunity was posted and created on March 31, 2016.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The listed closing date is May 7, 2019. The information provided shows both the original and current closing date as May 7, 2019.
How should applicants think about project size and timeline for an R03?
Based on the description provided, applicants should plan projects that are short in duration, modest in budget, and narrow in scope, yet still designed to yield meaningful scientific contributions such as publishable findings, concept validation, method refinement, or preliminary data for future larger NIH applications.
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