National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services
Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) (R38 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
In short: A grant from National Institutes of Health. Open to many kinds of groups. See who can apply.
Key facts
- Deadline
- Accepts applications through Jan 10, 2028. Rounds may close sooner: check the notice
- Award size
- Not stated: see the official notice
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Tribal government, Tribal organization, County government, School district, City or town government, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), Public college or university, Small business, Private college or university, State government, Larger business, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Shelby County (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 529, including your county
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
The overall goal of the Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) program is to provide resident clinicians in training with in-depth research experiences early in their careers, in order to recruit, retain and accelerate independence of a pool of clinician-investigators with both clinical and research experience necessary to perform basic, clinical and/or translational research.
Who can apply, from the official notice
Other Eligible Applicants include the following:
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Regional Organizations; U.S. Territory or Possession; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/1992d55d-3baf-47a7-9483-9503754fc660 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/461d2152-f272-4fea-88d1-c85af311f238
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct11
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Dec20
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Jan3
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Jan8
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Jan10
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Shelby County facts with citations.
See how others wrote it
The agency posted this example. Read them for structure and level of detail. Don't copy their words: funders treat copied text as plagiarism, and requirements change from year to year, so follow the current notice.
- NIH research, career, fellowship and small-business grants (R01, R03, R15, R21, R21/R33, R41-R44, K01, K08, K23, F31, G11, U01)
Funded applications with reviewer comments
46 full funded applications and 49 reviewer summary statements (PDF), plus sample forms and letters · Link checked Oct 7, 2026
Who in Tennessee has won this program
99 awards to Tennessee groups in 4 counties since 1977 · 18 in Shelby County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $118.6M | 2017 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $63.8M spent that year | 2025 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | $45.7M | |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | $43.7M | 2019 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $43M | 2020 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $39.5M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $38.1M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $37.5M | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $34.7M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $33.3M | 2011 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $32.8M | 2007 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $27.5M | 1997 |
Source: USAspending.gov; Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through Tennessee Department of Education
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Education passes it on: watch that agency for applications, not the federal agency. 430 pass-through grants on file · 63 in Shelby County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Trustees of Boston University | $4.6M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Vermont & State Agricultural College | $4.4M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Regents of the University of Michigan | $3.4M | 2025 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $2.8M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Washington University, the | $2.8M | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Washington University | $2.1M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | The Johns Hopkins University | $2M | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | $2M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Vumc | $1.9M spent that year | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | $1.8M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $1.8M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | The Johns Hopkins University | $1.5M | 2023 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
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About the federal program
Cardiovascular Diseases Research
Program number 93.837 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) the scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) the soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the importance of the problem the proposed research will address; (3) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (4) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (5) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (6) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (7) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (8) the adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will be evaluated; and (9) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or...
Match
None required (federal program listing).
About the federal program
Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research, also called “National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases”
Program number 93.855 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: (1) The scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific...
Match
None required (federal program listing).
About the federal program
Aging Research, also called “(Aging)”
Program number 93.866 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: the scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed...
Match
None required (federal program listing).
About the federal program
Vision Research, also called “NEI”
Program number 93.867 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The following consideration will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Technical merit of the proposed project; (2) Availability of funds; and (3) Relevance to program priorities.
Match
None required (federal program listing).