Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 22 078

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 078

The Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional), Funding Opportunity Number PAR 22-078, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program designed to accelerate the careers of early-stage, independent clinical researchers by giving them a structured path to build and sustain an impactful research program. The core idea is to create a deliberate bridge between NIH's intramural research environment (research conducted within NIH) and the broader extramural community (research conducted at universities, hospitals, and other external institutions). By combining a substantial initial period embedded at NIH with a later transition option to an outside institution, the program is set up to help promising clinician-scientists establish independence, develop leadership experience, and produce research outputs that can support long-term career stability.

The program is organized into two sequential phases. In the first phase, selected Lasker Scholars receive a tenure-track-style appointment within the NIH Intramural Research Program for up to 5 to 7 years. During this time, scholars operate as independent investigators with their own research budgets, which is a major feature of the program because it supports genuine scientific independence rather than a purely mentored fellowship experience. This intramural phase is meant to provide access to NIH's clinical research infrastructure, specialized resources, and a dense collaborative environment that can be particularly valuable for human-subjects research, translational studies, and other clinically oriented work.

In the second phase, scholars who successfully complete the intramural period can receive up to 3 additional years of NIH support to continue their research at an extramural research facility, such as an academic medical center or research institute. This second-phase support is intended to help the investigator transition their program, personnel, and momentum to an external setting without the typical funding gap that can occur during major career moves. Alternatively, the scholar may be considered to remain as an investigator within the NIH intramural program rather than transitioning outside, which preserves flexibility based on the investigator's trajectory and NIH's needs. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that applications may propose clinical trials where appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required to be responsive.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many common domestic applicant categories such as state, county, city/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; certain tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types that align with NIH's interest in engaging a wide range of institutions and communities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the FOA clearly restricts foreign participation: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH, with the funding instrument listed as a grant and an activity category spanning areas such as education, environment, food and nutrition, and health. The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (including 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.279, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.866, and 93.879), reflecting that the program can align with a wide range of NIH institutes and mission areas depending on the scholar's proposed clinical research focus. The opportunity was created on January 26, 2022, and the original closing date listed is June 24, 2022. The publicly provided excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which typically means applicants should rely on the full FOA details and NIH guidance for budget expectations and cohort size.

Overall, the Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program stands out because it is not just a single grant award but a career-structuring mechanism that combines protected time, independence, and a built-in transition option. It is aimed at clinicians and clinically focused investigators who are ready to run an independent research program and who would benefit from the NIH intramural setting as a launchpad, followed by either continued intramural investigation or a supported move to an extramural institution where the work can expand and mature.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.279, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.866, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 PAR 22 078

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