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Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
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Service Source Final Application Due Date Funding Available Match Required
Health Care Federal
HHS
01-07-2026 N/A No Match
Required
  • Service
  • Source
  • Final Application Due Date
  • Funding Available
  • Match Required
Status
  • Past
  • Current
  • Forecasted
  • N/A
  • $400,000
  • Award Floor
  • Award Ceiling
    • Opportunity Type Discretionary
    • CFDA

      93.286 -- Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health

      93.866 -- Aging Research

      93.867 -- Vision Research

    Description

    This Trailblazer Award is an opportunity for NIH-defined New and Early Stage Investigators (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/index.htm) to pursue research programs that integrate engineering and the physical sciences with the life and/or biomedical sciences. A Trailblazer project may be exploratory, developmental, proof of concept, or high risk-high impact, and may be technology design-directed, discovery-driven, or hypothesis-driven. Importantly, applicants must propose research approaches for which there are minimal or no preliminary data. A distinct feature for this FOA is that no preliminary data are required, expected, or encouraged. However, if available, minimal preliminary data are allowed. Preliminary data are defined as material which the applicant has independently produced and not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal. All preliminary data should be clearly marked and limited to one-half page, which may include one figure. Applications including data more than one-half page or more than one figure will be considered noncompliant with the FOA instructions and will not go forward to review.

    Eligibility
    • IHE
    • Local Government
    • Non-Profit
    • Other
    • State Government
    • Tribal Government
    Additional Eligibility Information

    Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) 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 allowed.

    Key Date(s)
    • November 18, 2022: Last Updated Date
    • November 18, 2022: Posted Date
    • January 07, 2026: Current Closing Date for Applications
    • January 07, 2026: Application Due Date
    • February 12, 2026: Application Archive Date
    Contact Information

    NIH Grants Information

    grantsinfo@nih.gov

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