Supplements to Advance Research (STAR) from Projects to Programs (Admin Supp)- Clinical Trial Not Allowed | PA 18 914

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 914

The Supplements to Advance Research (STAR) from Projects to Programs (Administrative Supplement) opportunity (PA-18-914) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding mechanism run through NIAMS (the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) that provides extra, add-on funding to an already funded NIH research project. The central goal is to help investigators move beyond a single, tightly defined project and begin building a broader, more durable research program by supporting innovative, potentially high-risk directions that still fit within the overall scientific scope of the parent award. Importantly, this opportunity is explicitly marked as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the supplement should not be used to propose or conduct a clinical trial; it is intended for non-clinical-trial activities that extend or deepen the underlying research in ways that open up new lines of inquiry.

A defining feature of the STAR Program is its focus on "early established investigators" within the NIAMS community. For NIAMS, that term is used in a specific way: it refers to investigators who have successfully renewed their first NIAMS-supported R01. In practical terms, this is a career stage after an investigator has already demonstrated the ability to compete for and successfully renew major NIH R01 support, but may still be in the process of expanding from a single funded project into a cohesive, multi-project program of research. The supplement is meant to give these investigators room to explore new opportunities, test bold ideas, generate preliminary data for future proposals, and broaden the impact and trajectory of their NIAMS-funded work without having to wait for an entirely new, stand-alone grant cycle.

The funding is offered as a discretionary grant and is categorized under the health funding activity area (CFDA 93.846). As an administrative supplement, it is tied to an existing, peer-reviewed award rather than functioning as an independent, full new grant. The listed award ceiling is up to $300,000, which signals that NIAMS intended these supplements to be substantial enough to meaningfully expand a project’s reach, support new experiments or approaches, and accelerate program development. The opportunity originally listed a closing date of April 5, 2021, and it was created on September 7, 2018, reflecting its placement within NIAMS efforts during that period to encourage innovation and program growth among investigators at a key transition point.

Eligibility is broad in terms of the types of institutions and organizations that can apply, as long as they otherwise meet NIH requirements and the supplement is linked to an eligible active award. Eligible applicant types include many levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other eligible entities. The opportunity also highlights a range of mission- and community-serving organizations as eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.

There are also clear limits around foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply directly, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant components. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means that a U.S.-based applicant organization may, when justified and consistent with NIH rules, include certain elements of the work that take place outside the United States. This distinction matters for teams that collaborate internationally: the applicant must be eligible and U.S.-based, but specific foreign components may be permitted if they meet NIH policy requirements.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as NIAMS using supplemental dollars to strategically help a specific group of investigators (those who have renewed a first NIAMS R01) take a step up in scientific ambition. Rather than simply adding more of the same work, the supplement is designed to support exploration, innovation, and expansion within the broader scope of an ongoing NIAMS-funded research project, with the long-term aim of helping the investigator evolve from running one well-defined project to leading a broader research program.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supplements to Advance Research (STAR) from Projects to Programs (Admin Supp)- Clinical Trial Not Allowed" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.846.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-09-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 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.

Apply for PA 18 914

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