The NIH's Research Opportunities for New and "At-Risk" Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) program supports R01 grant applications for independent research projects within NIH's scientific mission. This initiative encourages applications from new and at-risk investigators from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from groups underrepresented in health-related sciences. Applicants from historically underrepresented groups (as defined in NIH's Notice of Interest in Diversity, NOT-OD-20-031) are encouraged to apply and work with their institutions for institutional support.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based private and public institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, government entities, small businesses, and tribal governments, as well as various minority-serving institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, though foreign components are allowed within projects.

Applications must be submitted by January 7, 2025, with an archive date of February 6, 2025. There is no specified ceiling or floor on award amounts, and the program’s total funding amount is not stated. For more information, applicants can review the full details on the NIH website or contact the NIH Office of Extramural Research Webmaster at OERWebmaster03@od.nih.gov.