The funding opportunity "Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NIDDK K01/K08/K23/K25 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)" by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), aims to provide additional research funding for current recipients of NIDDK-supported K01, K08, K23, and K25 mentored career development awards. The program is designed to enhance the research capabilities of these awardees during the latter years of their K awards, supporting their transition to independent investigator status. Projects funded under this opportunity can include pilot or feasibility studies, secondary analyses of existing data, small, self-contained research projects, or the development of research methodologies and technologies. The R03 mechanism supports research that can be completed in a short time frame with limited resources and may generate preliminary data for future R01 applications.

Applicants must include a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) as part of their submission, outlining actionable strategies to improve inclusivity in their research. The PEDP is a required element of the application and will be evaluated during the peer review process. Applications without a PEDP will be deemed incomplete and will not be reviewed. Examples of strategies may include fostering collaborations with underrepresented institutions, recruiting diverse study participants, and offering mentorship opportunities.

The award budget is limited to $75,000 in direct costs per year, with a maximum project period of two years. Eligible applicants must be current NIDDK K01, K08, K23, or K25 award recipients who have at least one year remaining on their K award or are within a no-cost extension period. Individuals who have already successfully competed for an R01 or equivalent grant are not eligible to apply. Applications proposing projects outside NIDDK's mission will be considered non-responsive and not reviewed.

Applications must include specific documents such as a two-page summary of the K award’s specific aims and their relationship to the proposed R03 project, a letter from the K award mentor addressing the applicant’s potential for an independent research career, and the PEDP. The NIH also requires applicants to follow instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and include plans for data management and sharing where applicable.

Key dates for application submissions align with NIH standard due dates, starting on February 16, 2025, and recurring on June 16, October 16, and subsequent cycles through January 2028. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov, and applicants are encouraged to apply early to address any submission errors. Following submission, applications will undergo NIH’s standard two-level peer review process, with scoring based on scientific merit, rigor, feasibility, innovation, and the PEDP. Awards will be contingent upon NIH appropriations and the availability of meritorious applications.

For questions, applicants are encouraged to contact the program officials listed in the announcement, such as Dr. Lisa Spain for diabetes-related inquiries or Dr. Voula Osganian for clinical trial-related questions. Further details on application instructions, review criteria, and award policies are outlined in the full funding announcement.