PAR-25-176
Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 Recipients (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Summary
PAR-25-176: Small Grant Program for ORIP SERCA K01 Recipients
Research Focus
This R03 funding opportunity supports veterinary scientists who are ORIP Special Emphasis Research Career Award (SERCA) K01 recipients transitioning toward independent investigator status. The program targets early-stage researchers in biomedical research who face barriers to establishing independent research programs and generating preliminary data. Supported projects include pilot and feasibility studies, secondary analysis of existing data, small self-contained research projects, development of research methodology, and development of new research technology. The goal is to enhance fiscal independence, generate publications and data for subsequent R01 applications, and demonstrate success in peer review during the K01 award period. Clinical trials are not allowed.
At a Glance
- Who can apply: ORIP SERCA K01 recipients (veterinary scientists) who have completed the first 24 months of their K01 award; K01 must be active (not in no-cost extension) at submission.
- Funding & project length: Up to $75,000 in direct costs per year; 2-year maximum project period.
- Award mechanism: R03 Small Grant Program (research grant).
- Key dates: Open January 16, 2025; multiple due dates through February 2026; earliest start December 2025.
- Best fit for: Veterinary scientists in biomedical research seeking to expand current research or initiate pilot studies while completing K01 career development support.
Key Facts
Deadline
Thu, May 7, 2026
Posted
Mon, November 18, 2024
Award / Year (direct costs)
$75,000
Max Total
$150,000
Max Duration
2 years
Keywords
Research Areas
Gotchas (5)
Eligibility explicitly limited to ORIP SERCA K01 recipients under Parent K01 mechanism only; applicants with other K01 variants or from other NIH institutes may be ineligible despite holding a K01
90%
Source Text
“PD(s)/PI(s) are limited to ORIP SERCA K01 recipients supported under the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01).”
R03 mechanism explicitly does not allow clinical trials; applicants proposing any clinical trial component will be rejected
95%
Source Text
“This Funding Opportunity Announcement does not accept applications proposing clinical trial(s).”
K01 award must be active (not in no-cost extension) at time of R03 submission, but second year of R03 does not require concurrent K01 support—creating potential timing ambiguity about when K01 must en
85%
Source Text
“The K01 award must be active (not in a no-cost extension) at the time of submission. Resubmission applications may be submitted at any time prior to the K01 award expiration date without prior approval, provided the K01 award is still active (not in a no-cost extension) at the time of submission. The second year of the R03 award does not require concurrent K01 support.”
SERCA K01 awardees who have received an R01 or equivalent grant are ineligible, but the FOA references NOT-OD-08-065 for the definition of 'R01 equivalent' without reproducing it, creating potential f
85%
Source Text
“However, any K01 recipient who has received an R01, or equivalent, grant is not eligible under this R03 funding opportunity. The definition of R01 equivalent grant used will be that found in NOT-OD-08-065.”
ORIP SERCA K01 awardees may receive funding for only one R03 grant under this funding opportunity—a strict one-award-per-PI limit that differs from typical R03 rules
90%
Source Text
“ORIP SERCA K01 awardees may receive funding for only one R03 grant under this funding opportunity.”