Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 20 167

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.

• 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).

Apply for PAR 20 167

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