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OpenResearch announcementOpportunity PAS-27-028

Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program (R03, Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services

At a glance

Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program (R03, Clinical Trial Optional) is an open federal grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (Department of Health and Human Services). Applications are due March 16, 2029. Applicant types listed as eligible include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts and 10 more. Cost sharing is not required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 93.279 (Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs).

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

  1. Jun 9, 2026Posted
  2. Mar 16, 2029Application deadlinenext date
  3. Dec 1, 2026 (est.)Est. award date
  4. May 16, 2029Archived
Posted
Jun 9, 2026
Close date
Mar 16, 2029
Archive date
May 16, 2029
Est. award date
Dec 1, 2026
Award floor
Not specified
Award ceiling
Not specified
Est. total funding
Not specified
Expected awards
Not specified
Cost sharing
Not required
Funding instrument
Grant
Opportunity category
Discretionary

Typical awards for this program (SAM.gov listing for ALN 93.279, not this notice): Range-$5,724 to $27,502,167, Average-$621,479

Who can apply

  • State governments
  • County governments
  • City or township governments
  • Special district governments
  • Independent school districts
  • Public colleges & universities
  • Federally recognized tribal governments
  • Public & Indian housing authorities
  • Native American tribal organizations
  • 501(c)(3) nonprofits
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status
  • Private colleges & universities
  • For-profit organizations (not small businesses)
  • Small businesses
  • Others (see notice)

Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to facilitate the entry of investigators into multiple high-priority areas of substance use research, including comorbidity with HIV. The Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program aims to provide investigators with the opportunity to gather preliminary data that will assist them in securing future research grants and advancing their scientific careers.

Full announcement & documents

The full announcement has the complete rules — page limits, required attachments, evaluation criteria and any letter-of-intent dates. Files download directly from Grants.gov.

How to apply

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Assistance Listing

What is an ALN?

Reported obligations under ALN 93.279

Historical data · not a prediction
FY24$1.25B
FY25$1.34B
FY26$20.2M est.
Source: SAM.gov Assistance Listing 93.279. Program-wide totals, not awards from this specific opportunity.

Agency contact (as published)

National Institutes of Health
hoang.le@nih.gov
301-402-2541

Quick answers

When is the deadline for “Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program (R03, Clinical Trial Optional)”?

According to the official notice, applications are due March 16, 2029. Confirm the deadline and submission time on Grants.gov before applying.

Who is eligible to apply for “Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program (R03, Clinical Trial Optional)”?

The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public colleges & universities, Federally recognized tribal governments, Public & Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, Private colleges & universities and 3 more. Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.

How do I apply for “Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program (R03, Clinical Trial Optional)”?

Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity PAS-27-028), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.

Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.