Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NIDDK K01/K08/K23/K25 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 25 091

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.

• 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.

Apply for PAR 25 091

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