The Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NIAMS K01, K08, K23, and K25 Recipients (R03) offers a funding opportunity through the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). This program specifically targets recipients of NIAMS-supported K01, K08, K23, and K25 awards who are in their second to fourth year of funding. It provides up to $100,000 in direct costs over a two-year period to help these early-career investigators advance their research goals and transition to independent investigator status. Projects supported under this funding opportunity include pilot and feasibility studies, small self-contained projects, secondary data analyses, and the development of research methodologies or technologies.

The program's purpose is to foster independence by allowing awardees to generate additional publications, acquire critical data for an R01 or equivalent application, and demonstrate further success in the peer review process. Importantly, applications proposing clinical trials are not eligible for this program. Instead, eligible projects should focus on non-clinical trial research efforts, including pilot studies or feasibility projects that require limited resources.

The funding scope allows multi-year disbursement with a total award limit of $100,000 in direct costs, ensuring projects are small and can be completed within a maximum of two years. NIAMS encourages applicants to use these funds primarily for research support. Preliminary data are not required, which aligns with the program's goal of enabling exploratory and pilot studies.

Eligibility is restricted to current NIAMS-supported K01, K08, K23, or K25 awardees who have not already received an R03 through this mechanism or successfully obtained an R01-equivalent grant. Individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate continued access to their mentors, maintain a research focus aligned with their career development, and dedicate at least 75% full-time professional effort toward research.

Applications must adhere to NIH submission requirements through Grants.gov or NIH ASSIST. Applicants must submit a research strategy that outlines the project feasibility over the two-year period and its potential to support future funding competitiveness. A timeline for R01 submission is mandatory, and up to three letters of support, including one from a department chair affirming the applicant’s continued mentorship access and protected research time, are required.

The review process will evaluate three main factors: (1) the importance of the research, including its significance and potential for innovation; (2) the rigor and feasibility of the approach, with attention to sound experimental design and achievable outcomes; and (3) the expertise of the investigator and the resources available in their research environment. Reviewers will assess how well the proposed project positions the applicant for future independent research funding.

Applications are due by February 19, 2025, with subsequent scientific merit review in July 2025, Advisory Council review in October 2025, and awards anticipated by December 2025. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant's institution. Applicants are encouraged to start early to ensure successful submission and to address any errors before the deadline.

For further guidance, applicants may contact designated NIAMS program officials, including Scientific/Research, Peer Review, and Financial/Grants Management Contacts, who are listed in the funding opportunity announcement. The program operates under the authority of the Public Health Service Act and follows NIH grants policies and federal regulations.