RFA-HL-26-016
Catalyze: Enabling Technologies and Transformative Platforms for HLBS Research (R33 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
Summary
RFA-HL-26-016: Catalyze – Enabling Technologies and Transformative Platforms for HLBS Research
Research Focus
This R33 award supports development and rigorous validation of enabling technologies and transformative platforms that can accelerate next-generation predictive, diagnostic, and therapeutic products for heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) disorders. The program targets projects where major feasibility gaps have been overcome with preliminary data but require further development and validation to establish repeatable, reliable performance in HLBS-relevant contexts. Suitable applications address early detection and screening, model development, clinical diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or epidemiology. Responsive technologies include novel or hybrid materials, chemical reagents, instrumentation, devices, and associated methods applicable to molecular, cellular, and organ-level analyses in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Projects must demonstrate novel analysis or targeting capabilities with clear transformative potential—not incremental improvements—and must focus on platform/technology development rather than single-disease applications or specific biomarker discovery.
The NHLBI Catalyze program aims to transition basic science discoveries into treatments through milestone-driven project management and development guidance. Supported research areas span asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, sleep-disordered breathing, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, hemophilia, thrombosis, and pulmonary vascular disease, among others.
At a Glance
- Who can apply: Not stated (see full Application Guide for institutional eligibility)
- Funding & project length: Not stated
- Award mechanism: R33 (Phase II Exploratory/Developmental Grant); clinical trials not allowed
- Key dates: Applications due February 11, June 18, October 21, 2025 (and continuing quarterly through 2027); earliest start July 2025
- Best fit for: Biomedical engineers, materials scientists, device developers, and translational researchers advancing platform technologies (not single-disease applications) for cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, or sleep research
Key Facts
Deadline
Thu, December 23, 2027
Posted
Fri, November 22, 2024
Award / Year (direct costs)
$275,000
Max Total
$550,000
Max Duration
2 years
Keywords
Research Areas
Gotchas (3)
R33 mechanism requires major feasibility gaps to be already overcome with supportive preliminary data, but applications must focus on platform/technology development, not single-disease efficacy or ap
95%
Source Text
“Projects where the novelty resides in the application of the technology to a single biological issue or clinical need, or involves an efficacy demonstration for a specific disease or condition, are not appropriate for this NOFO. Applications considered nonresponsive to this NOFO will not be reviewed.”
Applications lacking defined performance measures will not be reviewed - this is a mandatory requirement that could disqualify otherwise strong applications if not explicitly addressed
95%
Source Text
“Rigorous study design with a verifiable approach, based on well-defined, performance measures (see below for description of performance measures). An application lacking performance measures will not be reviewed.”
Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed in this R33 mechanism
99%
Source Text
“Catalyze: Enabling Technologies and Transformative Platforms for HLBS Research (R33 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)”