Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 091
This funding opportunity (PAR-25-091) is a limited-competition NIH small grant program run by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It is designed specifically for investigators who already hold an NIDDK-supported career development award in the K01, K08, K23, or K25 series and who are in the later years of that K award. The basic idea is to give these K award recipients a modest, targeted pot of research support through an R03 so they can strengthen their research trajectory while finishing the shift from mentored career development to fully independent investigator status.
The mechanism being offered is the NIH R03 Small Grant, with clinical trials listed as optional. In practical terms, NIDDK is using the R03 to help promising early-career investigators generate focused outputs that can be completed relatively quickly and with limited resources. The program emphasizes projects that are well-bounded and achievable on a small budget, but still meaningful enough to produce publishable results, generate preliminary data, or resolve key uncertainties that commonly block the next step up in funding. The intended long-term payoff is to position the applicant for a stronger subsequent application for an R01 or an equivalent independent research grant.
The types of projects that fit this R03 program are the classic small-grant categories: pilot and feasibility work to test an idea before scaling it; secondary analysis of existing datasets to answer a new question without launching a full new study; small, self-contained research projects that have a clear scope and short timeline; development or refinement of research methodology; and development of new research technology. These categories all share the expectation that the work can be completed efficiently and that it will produce information that de-risks or strengthens a future, larger research plan.
Eligibility is broadly described in two layers. First, this is a limited competition tied to the investigator being an NIDDK-supported K01/K08/K23/K25 recipient, meaning the program is not a general open R03 for any applicant. Second, the applicant organization can come from a wide range of institution types typically allowed under NIH rules, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various government entities such as state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and eligible tribal entities (including federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments). The opportunity also explicitly notes inclusion of several institution categories often highlighted in federal programs, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, among others.
There are important geographic and foreign involvement rules. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. At the same time, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. In effect, this means the applicant institution must be U.S.-based and eligible, but certain types of justified international collaboration or involvement may be permitted if it meets NIH definitions and requirements.
Key administrative details from the posting include that it is a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH, categorized under health and food/nutrition activity areas, with CFDA number 93.847. The listed award ceiling is $75,000. The opportunity was created on 2025-01-10, and the original closing date shown is 2028-01-07, indicating a multi-year window in which applications may be accepted according to NIH receipt dates and this program announcement’s schedule. Overall, the program is best read as a bridge: it is meant to help NIDDK K awardees take a concrete research step late in their mentored phase that strengthens their evidence base and independence narrative before they compete for larger, fully independent NIH research awards.Apply for PAR 25 091
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NIDDK K01/K08/K23/K25 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-01-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-01-07.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - PAR-25-091 (NIDDK R03 Small Grant for Late-Stage NIDDK K Awardees)
What is PAR-25-091?
PAR-25-091 is a limited-competition NIH funding opportunity from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It uses the NIH R03 Small Grant mechanism to provide modest, targeted research support to eligible investigators who are already supported by certain NIDDK career development (K) awards and are in the later years of those awards.
What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to help eligible NIDDK K award recipients strengthen their research trajectory as they transition from mentored career development to fully independent investigator status. The R03 support is intended to generate focused outputs (for example, publishable results or preliminary data) that can position the investigator to submit a stronger future application for an R01 or an equivalent independent research grant.
What NIH grant mechanism is used in this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH R03 Small Grant mechanism.
Are clinical trials allowed under this R03?
Clinical trials are listed as optional for this R03 opportunity.
Who is the program designed for?
This program is designed specifically for investigators who already hold an NIDDK-supported career development award in the K01, K08, K23, or K25 series and who are in the later years of that K award.
Is this an open R03 opportunity for any investigator?
No. This is a limited-competition opportunity tied to the applicant investigator being an NIDDK-supported K01/K08/K23/K25 recipient. It is not a general R03 open to any applicant.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this R03 program?
The opportunity emphasizes classic small-grant project categories that are well-bounded and achievable with limited resources and a short timeline. Examples described include:
- Pilot and feasibility studies to test ideas before scaling up
- Secondary analysis of existing datasets to answer new questions without launching a full new study
- Small, self-contained research projects with clear scope and short timeline
- Development or refinement of research methodology
- Development of new research technology
What outcomes is NIDDK expecting from projects supported by this R03?
Projects are expected to produce focused outputs that can be completed relatively quickly and with limited resources, such as publishable results, preliminary data, or information that resolves key uncertainties. The intent is to reduce risk and strengthen the foundation for a future larger research plan and subsequent independent funding (for example, an R01 or equivalent).
How does this R03 relate to a future R01 (or equivalent) application?
The program is described as a bridge intended to strengthen the applicant's evidence base and independence narrative late in the mentored K award period, with the long-term payoff of positioning the applicant for a stronger subsequent application for an R01 or an equivalent independent research grant.
Which career development awards qualify an investigator for this limited competition?
Eligibility is tied to holding an NIDDK-supported career development award in the K01, K08, K23, or K25 series and being in the later years of that K award.
What types of organizations can apply?
The opportunity describes a broad range of eligible applicant organization types typically allowed under NIH rules, including:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Government entities (for example, state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts)
- Eligible tribal entities (including federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments)
Are specific institution types explicitly encouraged or included?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly notes inclusion of several institution categories often highlighted in federal programs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, among others.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply as the applicant institution?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.
Are any types of foreign involvement allowed?
Yes. The opportunity states that foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. In practical terms, this indicates the applicant organization must be U.S.-based and eligible, while certain justified international collaboration or involvement may be permitted if it meets NIH definitions and requirements.
Which NIH Institute runs this program?
The program is run by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $75,000.
What activity areas does the opportunity fall under?
The posting categorizes the opportunity under health and food/nutrition activity areas.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.847.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2025-01-10.
What is the original closing date shown for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown is 2028-01-07, indicating a multi-year window in which applications may be accepted according to NIH receipt dates and the program announcement schedule.
Does the multi-year window mean applications can be submitted at any time until the closing date?
The posting indicates a multi-year window and notes that applications may be accepted according to NIH receipt dates and this program announcement's schedule. That implies submissions are tied to NIH receipt dates rather than being truly "any time" submissions.
How is this opportunity best described in terms of career stage and strategy?
It is best read as a bridge opportunity: it supports late-stage NIDDK K awardees in taking a concrete, well-scoped research step during the transition from mentored career development to independence, strengthening the research story and evidence needed to compete for larger, fully independent NIH research awards.
Is this considered a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The posting describes it as a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Food and Nutrition, Health
Next opportunity: Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2025
Previous opportunity: Small R01s for Clinical Trials Targeting Diseases within the Mission of NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Required)
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 25 091) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NIDDK High Risk Multi-Center Clinical Study Implementation Planning Cooperative Agreements (U34 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 25 090 Funding Number: PAR 25 090 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Collaborative Research Using Biosamples and/or Data from Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Studies (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DK 26 007 Funding Number: RFA DK 26 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| New Investigator Gateway Awards for Collaborative T1D Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DK 26 009 Funding Number: RFA DK 26 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Advancing Research on the Application of Digital Health Technology to the Management of Type 2 Diabetes (R01- Clinical Trail Required) Apply for RFA DK 26 315 Funding Number: RFA DK 26 315 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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