Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 119
The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number PAR-24-119, is a National Institutes of Health discretionary grant designed to help early-stage investigators launch or strengthen an independent research program. The award supports both basic and clinical research, including projects that may or may not involve a clinical trial. A key limitation is that the award cannot be used for thesis or dissertation research, meaning the work must be positioned as an independent project rather than a student degree requirement.
Projects must fall squarely within the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) mission areas. That includes biomedical and behavioral research related to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. The mechanism is intentionally flexible about the kind of study you propose, as long as it is well scoped for an R21 and helps move a research program forward. Examples of supported project types include secondary analyses of existing datasets, small and self-contained studies, development or refinement of research methods, translational research, outcomes research, and the creation or early testing of new research technologies.
Regardless of the specific approach, the central purpose of this ECR R21 is to generate enough preliminary data and proof-of-concept evidence to position the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) for a strong subsequent R01 application. In other words, it is meant to bridge the gap between an initial idea and the larger, more definitive studies typically funded under an R01, helping early career researchers establish feasibility, sharpen hypotheses, and demonstrate early productivity in an independent direction.
Eligibility to apply is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants listed for this opportunity include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also highlights inclusion of organizations such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Foreign eligibility is restricted in a way that is typical for many NIH opportunities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means specific parts of the project may be conducted outside the U.S. when well justified and appropriately structured.
From a funding detail standpoint, the opportunity is tied to CFDA number 93.173, and the posted award ceiling is $375,000. The original closing date is February 17, 2027, indicating a multi-year window in which applications may be submitted according to the opportunitys specified receipt dates and NIH submission schedules. Overall, PAR-24-119 is best understood as a targeted R21 pathway for early career investigators in NIDCD-relevant fields who need a focused, credible project to establish independence and build the preliminary foundation for an eventual R01.Apply for PAR 24 119
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCD Early Career Research(ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-02-17.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $375,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) - PAR-24-119
1) What is the NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)?
The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity designed to help early-stage investigators launch or strengthen an independent research program. It uses the R21 mechanism and supports projects that may be basic or clinical in nature, with clinical trials being optional.
2) What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The funding opportunity number is PAR-24-119.
3) What is the main purpose of this ECR R21 award?
The central purpose is to help early career investigators generate preliminary data and proof-of-concept evidence that positions the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) for a strong subsequent R01 application. It is meant to bridge the gap between an initial idea and the more definitive studies typically supported by an R01.
4) Is this opportunity intended for basic research, clinical research, or both?
Both. The award supports basic and clinical research, provided the proposed work fits within the NIDCD mission areas and is well-scoped for an R21.
5) Are clinical trials allowed under PAR-24-119?
Yes. Clinical trials are optional, meaning projects may or may not include a clinical trial component.
6) What kinds of projects are appropriate for this R21 mechanism?
The announcement describes the mechanism as flexible, as long as the project is well-scoped for an R21 and helps move an independent research program forward. Example project types include:
- Secondary analyses of existing datasets
- Small and self-contained studies
- Development or refinement of research methods
- Translational research
- Outcomes research
- Creation or early testing of new research technologies
7) What does it mean that the project should be "well scoped for an R21"?
Based on the opportunity description, it means proposing a focused project that is feasible and self-contained, and that can produce preliminary or proof-of-concept evidence strong enough to support a later R01 application.
8) What research areas does NIDCD consider within its mission for this award?
Projects must fall squarely within NIDCD mission areas. Those include biomedical and behavioral research related to:
- Hearing
- Balance
- Smell
- Taste
- Voice
- Speech
- Language
9) Can this award be used for thesis or dissertation research?
No. A key limitation is that the award cannot be used for thesis or dissertation research. The proposed work must be positioned as an independent project rather than something that fulfills a student degree requirement.
10) How does this award help early-stage investigators establish independence?
It is designed to support a credible, focused project that helps early-stage investigators demonstrate feasibility, refine hypotheses, produce early productivity, and build the preliminary foundation needed for a competitive R01.
11) Who is the intended applicant (in terms of career stage)?
Based on the opportunity description, the program is intended for early-stage investigators who are working to launch or strengthen an independent research program.
12) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including:
- State, county, city or township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Tribal organizations that are not federally recognized
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities
13) Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in the eligible applicant types?
Yes. The announcement highlights inclusion of organizations such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.
14) Are U.S. territories or possessions included as eligible entities?
Yes. The announcement explicitly references U.S. territories or possessions among the included organizations/entities.
15) Can an organization outside the United States apply as the applicant organization?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization for this opportunity.
16) Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
17) Are foreign components allowed in a project under PAR-24-119?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This generally means specific parts of the project may be conducted outside the U.S. when well justified and appropriately structured.
18) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 93.173.
19) What is the posted award ceiling for PAR-24-119?
The posted award ceiling is $375,000.
20) What is the closing date listed for this funding opportunity?
The original closing date listed is February 17, 2027, indicating a multi-year window in which applications may be submitted according to the opportunity's specified receipt dates and NIH submission schedules.
21) Is this opportunity best viewed as a pathway to an R01?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a targeted R21 pathway for early career investigators who need a focused project to establish independence and build preliminary support for an eventual R01.
22) What kinds of outcomes should a proposed project aim to deliver?
Based on the stated purpose, a strong project should aim to produce preliminary data, feasibility evidence, and proof-of-concept results that clarify hypotheses and demonstrate early progress in an independent research direction relevant to NIDCD mission areas.
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