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National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services

NHLBI Clinical Trial Pilot Studies (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)

Open

Key facts

Deadline
Due Jan 7, 2027 · 92 days left
Award size
Not stated: see the official notice
Match ?
Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply
Private college or university, County government, City or town government, School district, Larger business, Tribal government, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), State government, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), Public college or university, Tribal organization, Small 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 Tennessee (nationwide program)
  • No match required
  • Past Tennessee awards on file: 286

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

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More from National Institutes of Health

About this grant

This Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) intends to supports studies that are both necessary and sufficient to inform the planning of a Phase II-IV clinical trial within NHLBI's mission. The NHLBI expects that applications to this NOFO will describe the planned clinical trial and in so doing demonstrate that the proposed (R34) research is scientifically necessary to design or plan the subsequent trial. Furthermore, this NOFO will support research projects that are designed to provide results that will be sufficient to inform the future trial without further studies. The planned Phase II, III, or IV trial must be primarily intended to test the efficacy, safety, clinical management, or implementation of intervention(s) in the prevention and/or treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders. In contrast to the study start up or preparation phase of NHLBI funding opportunities for clinical trials (as described at https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/grants-and-training/funding-opportunities-and-contacts/clinical-trials-optimization), the R34 mechanism is intended to provide new information that answers a scientific or operational question(s) which may be pragmatic in nature and, therefore, informs the final development of a Phase II-IV clinical trial. Regardless of the results of the R34, support of the proposed future clinical trial will require a new application.

Who can apply, from the official notice

Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; 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 eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

  1. 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
  2. Dec17
    Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
    Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters.
  3. Dec31
    Finish a complete draft for a final review
    Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft.
  4. Jan5
    Submit
    Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
  5. Jan7
    Deadline
    From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.

Who in Tennessee has won this program

78 awards to Tennessee groups in 2 counties since 1977. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee winners
Past winnerWhereAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$34.7M spent that year2025
St Jude Children's Research Hospital IncMemphis, Shelby County$28.2M1997
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$24.7M2014
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$21.8M2012
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$21.6M2010
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$19.2M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$15.5M2014
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$12.3M2016
University of TennesseeMemphis, Shelby County$11.3M1977
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$8.1M2022
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$7.1M2019
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$6.8M2007

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. 208 pass-through grants on file. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winnerWhereThroughAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyTrustees of Boston University$4.6M2023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyResearch Triangle Institute$3.6M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyRegents of the University of Michigan$3.4M2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$1.3M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyPurdue University$1.2M2024
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Michigan$1.1M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyRegents of the University of California, San Francisco, the$1M2023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyYale Univ$938K2023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyResearch Triangle Institute$936K spent that year2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyThe Children's Hospital of Philadelphia$810K2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education$764K2026
St Jude Children's Research Hospital IncMemphis, Shelby CountyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai$763K2024

Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).

About the federal program

National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
Program number 93.233 (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; (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).

This program on SAM.gov

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).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Lung Diseases Research
Program number 93.838 (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 scientific, technical, or 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; (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)...

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Blood Diseases and Resources Research, also called “Division of Blood Diseases and Resources (DBDR)”
Program number 93.839 (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; (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).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Translation and Implementation Science Research for Heart, Lung, Blood Diseases, and Sleep Disorders
Program number 93.840 (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) 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...

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

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