Social Services Grants

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21, clinical trial required) supports early-stage research projects with at least one clinical trial, aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. The clinical-trial requirement makes this best suited to research institutions with trial capacity.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Research Project Grant (R01, clinical trial required) supports investigator-initiated research projects, with at least one clinical trial required, aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. The clinical-trial requirement makes this best suited to research institutions with trial capacity.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $375K

The REAP program funds small-scale research at health professional and graduate schools that haven't been major recipients of NIH support, while giving students hands-on research experience. Eligibility is limited to institutions awarding NIH-relevant degrees that received under $6 million per year in NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years — a specific financial threshold worth checking before applying. Awards go up to $375,000.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH R21 funds exploratory research on dissemination and implementation strategies for evidence-based health interventions, including studies on de-implementing low-value practices. Eligible applicants include universities and similar research institutions across NIH's mission areas. No award amount is specified.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH R01 funds research into the natural history of conditions that are or could become part of newborn screening programs, to inform earlier and better-targeted treatment. Eligible applicants include universities, minority- and tribal-serving institutions, and similar research organizations. No award amount is specified.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH R01 funds research identifying and testing strategies to help evidence-based health interventions get adopted, scaled, and sustained — or, conversely, to phase out ineffective practices. Eligible applicants include universities, minority- and tribal-serving institutions, and similar research organizations across NIH's mission areas. No award amount is specified.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $50K

An NIH/NICHD Small Research Grant (R03, clinical trial required) supporting small clinical-trial projects within the NICHD mission. Eligible applicants include a broad range of domestic and foreign institutions such as universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. The award is capped at about $50,000. The small budget and clinical-trial requirement make this best suited to research institutions running limited-scope pilot trials.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH AREA (R15) award funds small-scale research at undergraduate-focused institutions that receive limited NIH funding, emphasizing undergraduate research experiences; a minimal-risk clinical trial is required. Eligible institutions must grant baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than about $6 million per year of NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years; foreign organizations are not eligible. No specific award amount is stated.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21, clinical trial not allowed) supports early-stage, higher-risk research projects that may lead to breakthroughs or novel methods. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is an exploratory research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $375K

An NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA/R15) for undergraduate-focused institutions that do not receive substantial NIH funding, supporting small-scale biomedical research with undergraduate involvement. Eligibility is narrow: institutions must award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than about $6 million per year of NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years; foreign organizations are not eligible. The award is capped at about $375,000. This is restricted to qualifying lower-NIH-funded undergraduate institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Research Project Grant (R01, clinical trial not allowed) supports investigator-initiated research projects aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions, excluding clinical trials. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is a core NIH research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH R03 provides smaller, shorter-term funding for research on dissemination and implementation strategies — helping evidence-based health practices get adopted and sustained, or ineffective ones phased out. Eligible applicants include universities and similar research institutions across NIH's mission areas. No award amount is specified, though R03 awards are typically modest.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH program (Blueprint MedTech Translator) funds translational research and clinical feasibility studies for therapeutic and diagnostic devices targeting nervous- or neuromuscular-system disorders, open to a broad range of institutions including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges, faith- and community-based organizations, and individuals or businesses developing their own devices. It is a milestone-driven cooperative agreement requiring NIH staff involvement in project planning and monitoring. No award amount is specified, and the deadline is not imminent.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH training grant funds domestic institutions of higher education (including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges) to build predoctoral and postdoctoral biomedical research training programs, not individual researchers directly. Eligibility is fairly broad among institution types, but non-domestic entities and their foreign components are excluded, and the program does not support short-term-only training plans. No dollar amount is listed, and the deadline is not near-term.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH fellowship supports predoctoral students pursuing a combined MD/PhD or similar dual-doctoral degree at institutions that lack an NIH-funded dual-degree training program, aiming to prepare them for physician-scientist careers. It applies to individual students, not organizations, and excludes foreign organizations and their non-U.S. components; applicants cannot lead an independent clinical trial. No funding amount is given, and the deadline is not imminent.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH fellowship funds individual postdoctoral researchers who show strong potential to become independent investigators in health-related research fields, supporting mentored research training. It is an individual award (not for organizations), and foreign organizations are listed as an other-eligible applicant category. No specific funding amount is given, and the deadline is not imminent.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH fellowship supports predoctoral students in combined MD/PhD or similar dual-doctoral degree programs at institutions that already have an NIH-funded dual-degree training program, preparing them for physician-scientist careers. It is limited to individual student applicants; foreign organizations and their non-U.S. components are not eligible, and applicants may not lead an independent clinical trial. No award amount is listed, and the deadline is not imminent.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH fellowship funds individual predoctoral students conducting dissertation research in health-related fields under a faculty sponsor, with the goal of developing them into independent researchers. It is limited to individual applicants (not organizations); foreign organizations are named as an other-eligible category, and applicants may not lead an independent clinical trial. No specific award amount is listed, and the deadline is several years out.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations; foreign organizations are not eligible. This NIH R21 funds projects that improve clinical-trial readiness for rare diseases — developing biomarkers and outcome measures, or characterizing a disease's course to enable future trials. Award size follows standard R21 limits.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations; foreign organizations are not eligible. This NIH R01 supports early-stage investigators pursuing a new research direction, and applications must include no preliminary data. Award size follows standard R01 limits; aimed at researchers early in their independent careers.