NIBIB Trailblazer R21 Awards

NIBIB's Trailblazer R21 Award is a National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering route for New Investigators and Early Stage Investigators working at the interface of the life sciences with engineering and the physical sciences. It is meant for exploratory, developmental, proof-of-concept, and high-risk/high-impact projects that sit close to the front edge of biomedical engineering. The current NOFO is PA-25-169, and the award provides up to $400,000 in direct costs over three years. NIH's standard R21 deadlines apply on February 16, June 16, and October 16 each year. Applicants must qualify as New Investigators or Early Stage Investigators under NIH definitions, and NIBIB expects minimal or no preliminary data. The strongest applications are usually the ones that can explain why a risky idea belongs in NIBIB's portfolio now, not later. The program is built for researchers who can frame a technical problem clearly, show why existing approaches are not enough, and make the case that a proof-of-concept result would open a meaningful scientific path. Program staff encourage contact before submission, which is sensible for an award that sits between a standard exploratory grant and a more specialized translational program.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.