Grants for Researchers

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

An NIH research project grant (R01, clinical trial not allowed) funding development of next-generation neuromodulation and neurostimulation devices for treating mental health disorders. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. Incremental updates to existing devices are out of scope, so this suits research institutions developing novel device technology.

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.

Washington Headquarters Services · $0–$100M

A Department of War (Washington Headquarters Services) non-research cooperative agreement program to help manage and sustain DoW land in the U.S. through natural and cultural resource projects supporting installation resilience and military readiness. Eligibility is very broad: public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals are invited to apply. Awards range widely, up to about $100 million. The broad eligibility, including individuals, is unusual, so confirm specific requirements in the announcement.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH (R38) award supporting in-depth research experiences for resident clinicians early in their careers to build a pipeline of clinician-investigators. Eligible applicants are domestic institutions and organizations such as universities, tribal governments, and faith- or community-based organizations; foreign organizations and foreign components are not eligible. No award amount is stated. This is a structured research-training mechanism aimed at academic and clinical institutions rather than individuals applying directly.

National Institutes of Health · $2M–$8M

An NIH construction grant (C06, clinical trial not allowed) funding the development or modernization of shared-use biomedical research facilities and HIV/AIDS research facilities. Eligibility details are in the NOFO; foreign organizations, foreign components of U.S. organizations, and foreign components are not eligible. Awards range from about $2 million to $8 million. This is a facilities-construction mechanism for research institutions, and exact eligibility should be confirmed in the NOFO.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA · $150K–$975K

Open to universities and researchers, nonprofits, businesses (including small businesses), and individuals with expertise in commercial fishing and maritime safety. Funds research to improve worker safety in commercial fishing — vessel design, survival and emergency equipment, monitoring and communication systems. Awards run roughly $150,000–$975,000, administered by CDC/NIOSH.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government and tribal organizations; foreign organizations are not eligible. This NIH R21 funds exploratory, early-stage projects developing methods or agents to target 'undruggable' molecules in serious diseases. Award size isn't specified and follows standard NIH R21 limits; best suited to researchers pursuing high-risk, innovative therapeutics.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

Open to higher-education institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations, domestic or foreign (security restrictions may limit foreign participants; government labs, FFRDCs, and service academies can't be prime applicants). This Army Research Institute broad agency announcement funds basic, applied, and advanced research in the behavioral and social sciences tied to soldier performance and readiness. Applicants are encouraged to contact the listed technical point of contact first; funding varies by budget cycle.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $500K

Open to U.S. schools and colleges of nursing and other research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations; foreign organizations are not eligible. This NIH P20 funds new research centers that build nursing-led, community-partnered research infrastructure and pilot studies. Awards up to about $500,000.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to domestic institutions — universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations (foreign institutions are not eligible). This NIH T35 funds short-term (often summer) research-training experiences for health-professional and graduate students. It supports the institution's training program rather than an individual.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $1M

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, foreign organizations, and certain government/tribal entities. This NIH R01 funds preclinical mouse-model testing of repurposed or investigational drugs — alone or with non-drug interventions — for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Awards up to about $1,000,000.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, foreign organizations, and certain government/tribal entities. This NIH X01 provides access to TOPMed genomic and multi-omics data resources to study heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders — it offers data generation, not direct funding. Aimed at researchers doing functional-genomics and mechanism studies.

Food and Drug Administration · Up to $1.3M

Open to public and private higher-education institutions, including HBCUs, tribal colleges, and other minority-serving institutions. This FDA U18 forms long-term academic partnerships to research avian influenza and emerging zoonotic threats, intentional genomic alterations in animals, and products for minor and veterinary species. Awards up to about $1,250,000.

Food and Drug Administration · $0–$900K

Open to nearly any organization — universities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3)), for-profits and small businesses, state/local/tribal governments, and foreign organizations. This FDA R01 funds clinical trials of orphan products evaluating safety and efficacy to address unmet needs in rare diseases. Awards up to about $900,000; clinical trials are required.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $2.1M

Open to U.S. research institutions and universities, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations; foreign organizations cannot apply, and (as of May 2025) projects with foreign subawards are ineligible. This NIH U2C-TL1 funds institutional networks that recruit and train researchers in kidney, urologic, and hematologic disease research. Awards up to about $2,100,000.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to eligible NIGMS-funded investigators and new investigators at U.S. institutions; foreign organizations are not eligible, and projects with foreign subawards are excluded. This NIH R35 (MIRA) gives an investigator stable, flexible single-grant support for their lab's research within the NIGMS mission, rather than project-by-project funding. Early-stage investigators should use the separate ESI MIRA notice.

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 R61/R33 funds mechanistic clinical research on how mind-and-body interventions (e.g., meditation, yoga, acupuncture) affect emotional well-being and whole-person health, in two milestone-tied phases. Strong preliminary data are expected.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $500K

Open to U.S. and foreign research institutions, universities, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations. This NIH R01 funds groundbreaking, high-impact Down syndrome research across any relevant topic, with no preliminary data required. Awards up to about $500,000.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to U.S. and foreign research institutions, universities, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations. This NIH R61/R33 funds milestone-driven development of clinical trials to treat co-occurring health conditions in people with Down syndrome — up to two years of planning followed by up to three years of trial support. Clinical trials are required.