NIH Small Research Grant Program

The NIH Small Research Grant Program (R03) is the National Institutes of Health's small, investigator-initiated route for discrete research projects. Under parent announcement PA-25-302, it supports short, focused studies and excludes clinical trials. The mechanism is designed for up to two years, with standard due dates in February, June, and October for new applications. It is active through January 8, 2028. The program is open to universities, nonprofits, research organizations, and for-profit applicants in the United States, but not to individuals. Award size is not fixed in the parent notice because institute-specific caps vary. R03 is a good fit for pilot data collection, secondary analyses, or a narrow methodological study where the question is well defined and the scope is modest. Applicants usually do best when the proposal is tightly bounded, the aims are realistic for a short project, and the work stands on its own rather than acting as a feeder for a larger grant.

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