National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services
Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program (R03, Clinical Trial Optional)
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Mar 16, 2029 · 891 days left
- Award size
- Not stated: see the official notice
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- County government, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Tribal organization, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), Public college or university, Larger business, Private college or university, City or town government, State government, Tribal government, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Small business, School district, 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 Blount County (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 65
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/48b76af5-fee6-4257-92cd-60ba5adc4d73 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/7f74f0d3-6acb-4fa0-aad8-c42fbdc5d1f9
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
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About this grant
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.
Who can apply, from the official 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.
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
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 - Feb23
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Mar9
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Mar14
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Mar16
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Blount County facts with citations.
Who in Tennessee has won this program
23 awards to Tennessee groups in 4 counties since 2016 · 0 in Blount County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | $4.9M spent that year | 2025 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $4.6M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $4.5M | 2016 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $4.4M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $4.2M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $4M | 2022 |
| University of Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $3.9M | 2017 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | $3.7M | 2022 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $3.5M | 2019 |
| University of Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $3.4M | 2021 |
| University of Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $3.1M | 2019 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | $3.1M | 2022 |
Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse, USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 42 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Blount County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University | $1.2M spent that year | 2025 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | University of California, San Diego | $397K spent that year | 2023 |
| Ut-Battelle LLC | Oak Ridge, Anderson County | Research Triangle Institute | $368K | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Denovx, LLC | $366K spent that year | 2024 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | University of Kentucky Research Foundation, the | $361K | 2023 |
| Ut-Battelle LLC | Oak Ridge, Anderson County | Research Triangle Institute | $345K | 2023 |
| Ut-Battelle LLC | Oak Ridge, Anderson County | Research Triangle Institute | $345K | 2024 |
| Ut-Battelle LLC | Oak Ridge, Anderson County | Research Triangle Institute | $344K | 2024 |
| Ut-Battelle LLC | Oak Ridge, Anderson County | Research Triangle Institute | $319K | 2024 |
| Ut-Battelle LLC | Oak Ridge | Research Triangle Institute | $319K | 2026 |
| Ut-Battelle LLC | Oak Ridge | Research Triangle Institute | $319K | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Meharry Medical College | $291K spent that year | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
About the federal program
Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs
Program number 93.279 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant, training
How applications are judged
The following considerations will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Scientific and technical merit; (2) the feasibility of the research; (3) potential contribution to the national drug abuse problem; and (4) relevance to NIDA priorities. 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 and technical merit of the proposed approach for achieving the Phase II objectives; (3) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (4) the technology.
Match
None required (federal program listing).