Open for applications

Federal funding opportunity

Limited Competition: Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Transition Scholar (StARRTS) (K38 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of Health

  • OpportunityRFA-HL-27-010
  • Agency codeHHS-NIH11
  • CategoryDiscretionary (D)
723 days until applications close Fri, October 13, 2028
PostedOct 9, 2026 ClosesOct 13, 2028
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Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.

$10.8M Est. program funding
$6.4M Award ceiling
$2.2M Award floor
10 Expected no. of awards

Program summary

Synopsis

The purpose of the Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Transition Scholar (StARRTS) K38 Career Development program is to retain and support clinician-investigators who have successfully completed the Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) R38 Program (RFA-HL-26-012 and previous NOFOs) as resident-investigators. Individuals who receive K38 grants described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be referred to as Transition Scholars. The intent of this NOFO is to provide Transition Scholars with opportunities for additional research and career development during subsequent clinical fellowships or early career faculty appointments (as defined in Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility). It is anticipated that the StARRTS K38 program will provide a pathway to retain the newly-created pool of clinician-investigators generated through the StARR R38 program. Transition Scholars will receive support for continued research and career development opportunities in basic, clinical, and/or translational research, thereby providing enhanced potential to accelerate the transition to independent research careers.

This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding.

Timeline

Key dates

  • October 9, 2026
    Opportunity posted to grants.gov
  • October 21, 2026
    Today — 723 days of the window remain
  • October 13, 2028
    Applications close
  • December 12, 2028
    Opportunity archived

Who may apply

Eligibility

Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:

  • Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional info on eligibility
Only fellowship programs recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) may be included in the proposed program. For Dental Specialty postgraduate programs, only dental specialties approved by the Council on Dental Education and Licensure of the American Dental Association may be included in the proposed program. For veterinary specialties, only veterinary specialties approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association may be included in the proposed program.Evidence is required that the overall structure of research and clinical activities outlined in the application is consistent with participant eligibility for certification or endorsement and oversight by a Board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), or for dentists, meets the requirements for National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists established by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) requirements, or for veterinarians, meets the requirements as recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS).
Cost sharing or matching
Not required

Awarding agency

Additional information

Agency name
National Institutes of Health
Grantor contact
National Institutes of Health
301-402-2541
NHLBI_K38@nhlbi.nih.gov

Assistance listing

CFDA program(s)

  • 93.233 National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
  • 93.398 Cancer Research Manpower
  • 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research
  • 93.838 Lung Diseases Research
  • 93.839 Blood Diseases and Resources Research
  • 93.840 Translation and Implementation Science Research for Heart, Lung, Blood Diseases, and Sleep Disorders
  • 93.855 Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

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723 days is enough time — if you start now.

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