NIAID Research Opportunities for New and "At-Risk" Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 22 241

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 241

The funding opportunity PAR 22-241, titled "NIAID Research Opportunities for New and 'At-Risk' Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)," is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program that invites applications for R01 awards supporting independent research projects aligned with the scientific missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers, including NIAID. The central purpose is to strengthen and diversify the biomedical research workforce by providing research support to investigators who are early in their independent careers ("New Investigators") as well as investigators considered "At-Risk," meaning individuals who may be in jeopardy of losing research independence or continuity and could particularly benefit from sustained R01-level support. Clinical trials are permitted but not required, which allows applicants to propose either mechanistic/basic studies, translational work, population-level research, or clinical research depending on what best fits their aims and the participating Institute or Center missions.

A major emphasis of this FOA is broadening participation in health-related research by encouraging applications from investigators from diverse backgrounds, especially those from groups underrepresented in the health-related sciences. The announcement explicitly references the NIH-wide diversity interest notice (NOT-OD-20-031) as a guiding context for the kinds of underrepresentation NIH aims to address. In practical terms, the program is structured to encourage eligible investigators, working with their institutions, to submit R01 applications that help them establish or maintain a productive, independent research trajectory. The FOA also notes that investigators in certain priority categories (referred to as categories A and B within the program framework) are particularly encouraged to apply, signaling NIH interest in focusing support on specific diversity and career-stage circumstances described in the full FOA.

The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also highlights eligible institution types often associated with serving historically underrepresented communities and building research capacity, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). Faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and tribal governments or tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribes) are also included among those that may apply, as appropriate.

On the international eligibility side, the FOA draws an important distinction. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components are allowed under NIH policy as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means a U.S.-based applicant institution can include foreign collaborators, foreign performance sites, or other foreign components when scientifically justified and consistent with NIH rules, but the applicant organization itself must be domestic.

Administrative details in the source information show that the opportunity is an NIH grant under the health funding activity category, associated with CFDA number 93.855. The FOA was created on September 21, 2022, and the original closing date listed is September 19, 2023. The provided excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which typically means applicants should consult the full FOA and NIH standard R01 budget guidance (including any Institute-specific constraints) to understand budget expectations, project period limits, and any special review or award considerations tied to new/at-risk investigator status and workforce diversity goals.

Overall, this FOA can be read as an R01 pathway designed not only to fund high-quality, mission-relevant science, but also to reduce structural barriers to sustained research independence for investigators from underrepresented backgrounds and for investigators at vulnerable career transition points. The program encourages these investigators to partner closely with their institutions to submit competitive, independent research applications that can support long-term career stability and broaden representation in NIH-funded research.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIAID Research Opportunities for New and "At-Risk" Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-09-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 22 241

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