In addition to the Pilot Programs, the CTSC regularly solicits proposals for other funding opportunities from NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) throughout the year. Some current opportunities are described below. These lists are regularly reviewed and updated.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
NCATS Current Strategic Plan (temporarily unavailable)
PAR-25-450: Clinical Trial Readiness for Rare Diseases, Disorders, and Syndromes (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: February 18, 2026
PAR-25-442 Expanding the Target Landscape by Drugging the Undruggable (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Next due date: May 15, 2026
RFA-TR-25-002 Preclinical Proof of Concept Studies for Rare Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Next due date: June 02, 2026
See a full list of NCATS funding opportunities
Special Interest
NOT-OD-25-141: Nutrition for OUR Immune System Health (NOURISH): Autoimmunity Challenge Prize Competition, Submission Start/End: October 30, 2025 /December 4, 2025
See a full list of NIH Medical Research Initiatives
With particular interest to Northern Ohio:
PAR-25-446 Development of Interventions to Prevent and Treat Substance Use Disorders and Overdose (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional). Next due dates: October 20, 2025 and February 20, 2026
PAR-25-439 Community-Partnered Nursing Research Centers (P20 Clinical Trial Optional). Next deadline: January 25, 2026
PAR-25-298 Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Next due date: February 25, 2026
PAR-25-437 Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort Data and Biospecimen Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Due date November 04, 2025
With particular interest to Early Stage Investigators
PA-25-301: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: February 05, 2026
PAR-25-322: Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: January 27, 2026
PAR-25-323: Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Human Required). Next due date: January 27, 2026
Addiction / Pain Management
RFA-AT-25-003: HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date: October 27, 2026
PAR-25-100: Pilot Health Services and Economic Research on the Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use Disorders (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) Next due date: February 16, 2026
RFA-DA-26-056 Accelerating the Pace of Substance Use Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: July 17, 2025 and December 03, 2025
Aging
RFA-AT-25-003: HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date: October 27, 2026
PAR-25-100: Pilot Health Services and Economic Research on the Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use Disorders (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) Next due date: February 16, 2026
RFA-DA-26-056 Accelerating the Pace of Substance Use Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: July 17, 2025 and December 03, 2025
Artificial Intelligence
PAR-25-358 NEI Clinical Research Study Planning Grant Program (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: February 16, 2026
PAR-25-338 Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: February 05, 2026
PA-25-169 Trailblazer Award for New and Early-Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date: February 16, 2026
PAR-25-284 Innovative Pilot Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Next due date: February 16, 2026
Cancer
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Funding Page
NIH National Cancer Institute Grants and Funding Page
PA-25-253 Exploratory Grants in Cancer Control (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Next due date: June 16, 2026
Chronic Conditions
PAR-24-280 Clinical Observational (CO) Studies in Musculoskeletal, Rheumatic, and Skin Diseases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date November 04, 2025
Dissemination and Implementation Research
PAR-25-143 Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional). Next Due date: February 16, 2026
PAR-25-233 Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: February 16, 2026
PAR-25-144 Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional), Next due date February 05, 2026
Integrative Medicine: NCCIH
PAR-25-449: Mind and Body Interventions to Restore Whole Person Health via Emotional Well-Being Mechanisms (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required). Next Dues Dates: November 07, 2025, then February 09, 2026
PAR-25-210: Enhancing Mechanistic Research on Precision Probiotic Therapies (R33 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date: February 02, 2026
PAR-25-211: Enhancing Mechanistic Research on Precision Probiotic Therapies (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date: February 2, 2026
RFA-AT-25-003: HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date: October 27, 2026
RFA-FD-25-007: Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM). Next due date: January 12, 2026
PAR-25-267: NCCIH Multi-Site Feasibility Clinical Trials of Mind and Body Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Required). Next due date: February 20, 2026
PAR-25-210: Enhancing Mechanistic Research on Precision Probiotic Therapies (R33 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date October 01, 2026
PAR-25-211: Enhancing Mechanistic Research on Precision Probiotic Therapies (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date October 01, 2026
See a full list of NCCIH funding opportunities
Mental Health
RFA-MH-25-205: Bidirectional Influences Between Adolescent Social Media Use and Mental Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date: February 25, 2026
PAR-25-206: Pilot Effectiveness Trials for Post-Acute Interventions and Services to Optimize Longer-term Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Required). Next due date: February 05, 2026
PAR-25-352: National Cooperative Drug/Device Discovery/Development Groups (NCDDG) for the Treatment of Mental Disorders (U01 Clinical Trial Optional). Next due date: February 25, 2026
Rare Diseases
PAR-25-450: Clinical Trial Readiness for Rare Diseases, Disorders, and Syndromes (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: February 18, 2026
RFA-TR-25-002: Preclinical Proof of Concept Studies for Rare Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). June 02, 2026
PAR-25-122 Pilot Projects Investigating Understudied Proteins Associated with Rare Diseases (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due: February 16, 2026
Research Education
RFA-DK-26-009: New Investigator Gateway Awards for Collaborative T1D Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Next due date: March 06, 2026
Additional Opportunities
Please see The Office of Research and Technology Management Funding Page for additional resources
Fogarty International Center: Non-NIH Funding Opportunities - Grants and Fellowships
PCORI: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Hope Foundation for Cancer Research
Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Membership required.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
*Are the last date in the notice for funding.
Search for Funding
Pilot Program funding should lead to funding from government agencies and private foundations. Explore the links below to find the right funding opportunities to take your Pilot Project to the next stage.
| NIH | NIH is the world’s largest funder of biomedical research. Search NIH’s funding list and learn about grants and other resources. |
| National Science Foundation | Browse the NSF’s current funding opportunities. |
| Department of Defense | The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program has a variety of funding opportunities focused on transforming healthcare through innovative and impactful research. |
| Grants.gov |
Grants.gov is a centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for funding opportunities from all departments of the federal government. |
| Foundations | CWRU subscribes to Pivot, a service available to all faculty, staff researchers, and graduate students that helps you quickly discover the right funding opportunities. Follow the link above for the Office of Research & Grant Development’s quick start guide. |