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Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NHLBI K01/K08/K23/K25 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)

ID: RFA-HL-27-004 • Type: Posted
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Description

Posted: May 12, 2026, 12:00 a.m. EDT
This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a Limited Competition that invites applications from eligible organizations to apply. Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the applications will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious applications will be considered. The purpose of this NOFO is to solicit current or recently completed NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 awardees for small grant support to expand their current research objectives or to branch out to a new study emerging from their K award research. This NOFO is intended to facilitate the transition to research independence for these NHLBI K awardees. Current NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 awardees may apply for this R03 support starting in the third year of their K award Project Period. Recently completed NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 award recipients are eligible to apply or resubmit A1 applications if the earliest potential R03 award start date is within two years of the end of their K award Project Period.The R03 grant mechanism supports research projects that can be completed within two years and with limited resources. These projects are expected to generate preliminary data to bolster a subsequent R01-equivalent application. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, pilot or feasibility studies; proof of concept studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of new research methodologies or technologies, or creation of novel experimental model systems.Applicants are required to maintain a minimum of 40% protected research effort during the R03 award period. This requirement can be fulfilled through a combination of effort on the proposed R03 project and other research projects, irrespective of funding source.For current and former K23 awardees, the research proposed in the R03 application may or may not include patient-oriented research.
Posted: May 12, 2026, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Posted: July 18, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Posted: July 18, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Posted: July 18, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Posted: July 18, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Background
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and aims to provide global leadership in research, training, and education to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications from current or recently completed NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 awardees for small grant support to expand their research objectives or branch out into new studies. The goal is to facilitate the transition to research independence for these awardees.

Grant Details
The R03 grant mechanism supports research projects that can be completed within two years with limited resources. Eligible projects include pilot or feasibility studies, proof of concept studies, secondary analysis of existing data, small self-contained research projects, development of new methodologies or technologies, or creation of novel experimental model systems.

Applicants must maintain a minimum of 40% protected research effort during the R03 award period. This can be fulfilled through a combination of effort on the proposed R03 project and other research projects.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include current NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 awardees who may apply starting in the third year of their K award Project Period. Recently completed NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 award recipients are also eligible if their earliest potential R03 award start date is within two years of the end of their K award Project Period.

Period of Performance
The maximum project period for the R03 grant is two years.

Grant Value
NHLBI intends to commit total costs up to $3.9 million in FY2027, $7.8 million in FY2028, $7.8 million in FY2029, and $3.9 million in FY2030 for this program. Application budgets are limited to direct costs up to $85,000 per year.

Overview

On 5/12/26 the National Institutes of Health posted grant opportunity RFA-HL-27-004 for Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NHLBI K01/K08/K23/K25 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) with funding of $3.9 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 93.233 National Center on Sleep Disorders Research. It is expected that 29 total grants will be made.

Timing

Posted Date
May 12, 2026, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
Nov. 7, 2028, 12:00 a.m. EST Due in 903 Days
Last Updated
May 13, 2026, 12:42 p.m. EDT
Version
2
Archive Date
Jan. 6, 2029

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
State governments
Small businesses
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
For profit organizations other than small businesses
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
County governments
Independent school districts
Private institutions of higher education
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
City or township governments
Special district governments
Additional Info
Only the following NHLBI K01, K08, K23, and K25 awardees are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity.Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) 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.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$85,000
Floor
Not Listed
Estimated Program Funding
$3,900,000
Estimated Number of Grants
29

Contacts

Contact
National Institutes of Health
Contact Email
Contact Phone
(301) 402-2541

Documents

Posted documents for RFA-HL-27-004

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