The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued the NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) to support small-scale research projects that can be completed within two years with limited resources. This program funds pilot studies, feasibility projects, secondary analyses of existing data, development of research methodologies, and the creation of new research technologies. Clinical trials are not permitted under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) to determine alignment with their research priorities.

The program seeks to advance scientific knowledge and support innovative discoveries that enhance the nation’s ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, as well as expand understanding of biological, developmental, and environmental processes. Key goals include fostering creative research strategies, improving scientific resources, and promoting public health. Applications must address a well-defined project with realistic completion expectations within the two-year period.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, non-profits, for-profit organizations, local and state governments, Tribal entities, and foreign organizations. Foreign components of U.S. organizations are also eligible. Applications can request up to $50,000 per year in direct costs for a maximum project period of two years. The number of awards is contingent on NIH appropriations and the merit of submitted applications. NIH grants policies, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, will apply to awarded projects.

Applications are accepted on standard NIH due dates, including February 16, June 16, and October 16, annually. Submissions must be made through Grants.gov or the NIH ASSIST system and comply with NIH’s Research (R) Instructions in the Application Guide. Applicants must complete all required registrations, including SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will not be reviewed.

Proposals will be evaluated based on scientific merit, including the significance, innovation, rigor, and feasibility of the approach, as well as the expertise of the investigator(s) and the suitability of the research environment. The review will focus on whether the project addresses important research gaps, demonstrates scientific soundness, and is achievable within the proposed timeframe. Preliminary data are not required, especially for pilot studies, but a strong conceptual framework and justification for the work must be provided.

The program emphasizes adherence to NIH’s Data Management and Sharing Policy for projects generating scientific data. Specific considerations for human subjects or animal research, including protections and ethical compliance, must be addressed as applicable. Applicants are also responsible for ensuring they meet all federal regulations and reporting requirements.

For assistance, applicants can contact the eRA Service Desk, Grants.gov Support, or the NIH IC-specific scientific and financial contacts listed in the NOFO. Scientific and technical merit will be assessed during peer review, and funding decisions will be based on these evaluations, the relevance of the project to program priorities, and the availability of funds. Final awards will be documented through a Notice of Award (NoA), and recipients must comply with all post-award monitoring and reporting requirements.