Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 167
The Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (PAR-20-167) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity designed to support early-stage, independent clinical researchers as they launch and solidify their careers. It is structured as a two-phase pathway that intentionally connects the NIH Intramural Research Program with the broader extramural research community, giving scholars a rare chance to build an independent clinical research program inside NIH first, and then transition that program to an outside institution with continued NIH support if they choose. The announcement is listed as a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NIH, and it is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose clinical trials if appropriate, but a trial is not required.
The centerpiece of the program is its bridge model. In the first phase, selected Lasker Scholars receive a tenure-track-style appointment as an independent investigator within the NIH Intramural Research Program for up to 5 to 7 years. During this period, scholars are expected to operate as independent principal investigators and are provided independent research budgets, allowing them to establish a research vision, generate evidence, publish, and build a clinical research portfolio within the NIH environment. This phase is meant to provide unusually strong institutional stability and access to intramural resources while the scholar develops as an independent clinical scientist.
The second phase is designed for scholars who successfully complete the intramural period and are ready either to transition to an extramural institution or, alternatively, to be considered to remain within NIH. If the scholar moves to an extramural research facility, NIH can provide up to 3 additional years of support to help sustain the lab and research momentum during the transition. This continuation funding is intended to reduce the common career risk that comes with relocating a research program, hiring staff, reestablishing collaborations, and initiating or continuing clinical research activities in a new setting. If the scholar remains in the intramural program, the program description indicates the individual can be considered to continue as an intramural investigator rather than transitioning out.
Eligibility is broadly defined at the organizational level and spans many common applicant types in the U.S. research ecosystem. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses, along with additional entities as clarified in the full FOA text. While the list of eligible institutions is expansive, the program itself is targeted at individual early-career clinical researchers aiming to become independent investigators, so the practical focus is on the candidate, their clinical research trajectory, and the ability of the proposed environment to support that trajectory across the two phases.
From an administrative standpoint, the FOA was created on April 15, 2020, with an original closing date of August 28, 2020, and it anticipated about 5 awards. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that the precise funding levels are not expressed as a simple single-number cap in the summary field and that applicants should rely on the FOA details for budget structure and limits. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now often referenced as Assistance Listing numbers), reflecting participation or relevance across a range of NIH institutes and centers and health-related research areas.
In practical terms, this program is best understood as a career-defining launch mechanism for clinician-scientists and other clinical researchers who are ready to run an independent research program but would benefit from an extended runway, strong mentoring and infrastructure, and a structured option to move from NIH intramural research to an extramural institution without losing momentum. It is not simply a standard project grant; it is a staged career and research support model aimed at producing durable, independent clinical research leaders.Apply for PAR 20 167
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.233, 93.242, 93.307, 93.361, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 15, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 28, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (PAR-20-167)
What is the Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (PAR-20-167)?
The Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program is an NIH funding opportunity designed to support early-stage, independent clinical researchers as they launch and solidify their careers. It uses a two-phase pathway that starts with an independent investigator role inside the NIH Intramural Research Program and can continue with NIH support after a transition to an extramural institution.
Which federal agency sponsors this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What does the program mean by a “two-phase pathway”?
The program is structured in two connected phases: (1) an intramural phase where the scholar builds an independent clinical research program within NIH, and (2) a potential extramural transition phase that can provide continued NIH support if the scholar moves their program to an outside institution, or consideration to remain at NIH intramurally.
What happens in Phase 1 (the NIH intramural phase)?
In Phase 1, selected scholars receive a tenure-track-style appointment as an independent investigator in the NIH Intramural Research Program for up to 5 to 7 years. Scholars are expected to function as independent principal investigators, supported by independent research budgets and intramural resources to establish a research vision, generate evidence, publish, and build a clinical research portfolio.
How long can the intramural appointment last?
The intramural phase can last up to 5 to 7 years.
Are scholars treated like independent principal investigators during the intramural phase?
Yes. The program description states that scholars are expected to operate as independent principal investigators and are provided independent research budgets to support building an independent program.
What is the “bridge model” and why is it important?
The bridge model is the centerpiece of the program: it intentionally connects NIH intramural research with the broader extramural community. The goal is to give scholars an extended runway to develop an independent clinical research program at NIH and then, if they choose, transition that program to an outside institution with continued NIH support to reduce disruption and career risk.
What happens in Phase 2 (the extramural transition or continuation option)?
Phase 2 is designed for scholars who successfully complete the intramural period and are ready to transition. If a scholar moves to an extramural research facility, NIH can provide up to 3 additional years of support to help sustain the lab and research momentum during the move. Alternatively, the program description indicates the scholar can be considered to remain within NIH as an intramural investigator rather than transitioning out.
How long can NIH provide support after a scholar transitions to an extramural institution?
NIH can provide up to 3 additional years of support after the scholar transitions to an extramural institution, based on the program description provided.
What is the purpose of the Phase 2 continuation support?
The continuation support is intended to reduce the common career and programmatic risk of relocating a research program. It is described as helping maintain momentum while the scholar hires staff, reestablishes collaborations, and initiates or continues clinical research activities in a new setting.
Is this opportunity a standard research project grant?
No. The program is described as a staged career and research support model focused on developing durable, independent clinical research leaders. It is positioned as a career-defining launch mechanism rather than a typical single-phase project grant.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The opportunity is labeled “Clinical Trial Optional,” meaning applicants may propose clinical trials if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
Can an applicant include a clinical trial in the proposed research?
Yes. Because the FOA is “Clinical Trial Optional,” proposing a clinical trial is allowed if it fits the research plan, but it is not mandatory.
Who is the program intended to support?
The program is intended to support early-stage, independent clinical researchers (including clinician-scientists) who are ready to run an independent research program but would benefit from strong institutional stability, intramural resources, and a structured pathway to transition to an extramural institution with continued NIH support.
What kinds of organizations are eligible applicants?
Eligibility at the organizational level is broad and includes: state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses, along with additional entities as clarified in the full FOA text.
If many organization types are eligible, who is the “real” target of the program?
Although many institution types are eligible at an administrative level, the program is practically targeted to individual early-career clinical researchers aiming to become independent investigators. The focus is on the candidate’s clinical research trajectory and whether the environment can support the two-phase model.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated about 5 awards.
When was the FOA created and what was the original closing date?
The FOA was created on April 15, 2020, and the original closing date was August 28, 2020.
What does it mean that the award ceiling is listed as 0?
An award ceiling of 0 in the summary typically indicates that the funding levels are not captured as a simple single-number cap in that summary field. Applicants are expected to rely on the FOA details for the specific budget structure and any limits.
What are the CFDA numbers mentioned, and why are there multiple?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now often referenced as Assistance Listing numbers). This reflects participation or relevance across multiple NIH institutes and centers and health-related research areas, as described in the opportunity summary.
Does the program require scholars to transition to an extramural institution?
No. The description indicates that scholars may transition to an extramural institution with continued NIH support if they choose, and it also notes an option where the individual can be considered to remain as an intramural investigator rather than transitioning out.
What makes this program “career-defining” compared with typical funding?
The program is designed as a launch mechanism that combines an extended NIH intramural runway (with independence and resources) and a structured option to move into the extramural world with continued NIH support. The intent is to help scholars build a durable independent clinical research program and reduce disruption at a critical career stage.
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