Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 740
The Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional), issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under funding opportunity number PAR-18-740, is designed to help launch and stabilize the early independent careers of clinical researchers. The central idea is to give promising clinician-scientists a structured pathway into independence while also connecting two major NIH ecosystems that do not always overlap: the NIH Intramural Research Program (research conducted inside NIH) and the broader extramural community (research funded by NIH but carried out at universities, hospitals, and other outside institutions). The program is essentially a career and research support mechanism aimed at people who are ready to run an independent clinical research program but who would benefit from a protected, well-resourced ramp into long-term independence.
The award is built as a two-phase model that functions like a bridge. In Phase 1, selected Lasker Scholars are appointed as tenure-track investigators within the NIH Intramural Research Program for up to 5 to 7 years. During this intramural period, scholars run independent research programs with their own research budgets and are embedded in the NIH clinical research environment, which can include access to specialized core facilities, clinical infrastructure, and collaborative networks that are often difficult to assemble early in a career. This phase is meant to provide sustained time, resources, and scientific independence so scholars can establish a track record of high-impact clinical or clinically informed research.
Phase 2 is intended for scholars who successfully complete the intramural phase and are ready to transition to the extramural world, although remaining within NIH can also be considered. In this second phase, the program provides up to 3 additional years of NIH support for the scholar to continue their research program at an extramural research facility (for example, an academic medical center or research institute). This transition support is meant to reduce the typical funding and startup gap that can occur when moving institutions or moving from intramural to extramural settings, helping scholars carry momentum, personnel, and research directions forward while they compete for longer-term independent funding.
The “Clinical Trial Optional” designation signals that proposed research may include a clinical trial, but it is not required. Applicants can propose clinical research that ranges from mechanistic studies in humans and translational work to interventional trials, depending on their scientific aims and career direction, as long as the work fits within NIH’s mission areas represented by the relevant CFDA numbers listed in the opportunity (spanning multiple NIH institutes and programs).
Eligibility is broad in terms of applicant organization types, covering many domestic U.S. entities that commonly apply for NIH funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, foreign participation is restricted: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the NIH, with the original closing date listed as August 31, 2018 and the creation date as April 3, 2018. While the source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the overall structure makes clear that the program is meant to be highly selective and resource-intensive per scholar, given the multi-year intramural appointment with an independent budget followed by additional transition support for up to three years in the extramural phase.Apply for PAR 18 740
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services 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, 93.233, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.398, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-08-31. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional) - PAR-18-740
What is the Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (PAR-18-740)?
The Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program is an NIH funding and career development opportunity designed to help launch and stabilize the early independent careers of clinical researchers. It provides a structured pathway to independence by combining an NIH Intramural tenure-track appointment (Phase 1) with the option of transition support to an extramural institution (Phase 2).
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program aims to give promising clinician-scientists a well-resourced ramp into long-term research independence. A central goal is to connect two NIH research ecosystems that often do not overlap: the NIH Intramural Research Program (research conducted within NIH) and the NIH-supported extramural community (research funded by NIH but conducted at universities, hospitals, and other outside institutions).
How is the award structured?
The program is structured as a two-phase model that functions like a bridge:
- Phase 1: Up to 5 to 7 years as a tenure-track investigator within the NIH Intramural Research Program, running an independent research program with an independent research budget.
- Phase 2: Up to 3 additional years of NIH support to continue the research program at an extramural research facility (for example, an academic medical center or research institute), for scholars who successfully complete Phase 1 and transition out of NIH (though remaining within NIH can also be considered).
What happens in Phase 1 (the intramural phase)?
In Phase 1, selected Lasker Scholars are appointed as tenure-track investigators within the NIH Intramural Research Program for up to 5 to 7 years. During this time, scholars run independent research programs with their own research budgets and work within the NIH clinical research environment, which may include access to specialized core facilities, clinical infrastructure, and collaborative networks.
How long can Phase 1 last?
Phase 1 can last up to 5 to 7 years, based on the program description provided.
What happens in Phase 2 (the extramural transition phase)?
Phase 2 provides up to 3 additional years of NIH support for scholars who complete the intramural phase and are ready to transition to an extramural research facility. The intent is to reduce the typical funding and startup gap that can occur during an institutional move or a transition from intramural to extramural settings, helping scholars maintain momentum in their research program.
How long can Phase 2 support last?
Phase 2 can provide up to 3 additional years of NIH support for the scholar to continue their research program at an extramural institution.
Does a scholar have to leave NIH for Phase 2?
Not necessarily. Phase 2 is intended for scholars transitioning to the extramural world, but the program description also notes that remaining within NIH can be considered.
Is this a clinical trial-only program?
No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning the proposed research may include a clinical trial, but a clinical trial is not required.
What kinds of research are allowed under "Clinical Trial Optional"?
Applicants may propose clinical research that ranges from mechanistic studies in humans and translational work to interventional trials, depending on the scientific aims and career direction, as long as the work fits within NIH mission areas represented by the CFDA numbers listed in the opportunity.
Who is the issuing agency for this opportunity?
The program is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is PAR-18-740.
What kind of funding mechanism is this?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH. The program operates as a career and research support mechanism with a two-phase model that includes an intramural tenure-track appointment followed by possible extramural transition support.
Who is this program intended to support?
The program is aimed at people who are ready to run an independent clinical research program but would benefit from a protected, well-resourced ramp into long-term independence. It is described as targeting early independent clinical researchers, particularly promising clinician-scientists.
Does Phase 1 include scientific independence?
Yes. The intramural phase is described as providing sustained time, resources, and scientific independence so scholars can establish a track record of high-impact clinical or clinically informed research.
What resources might be available during the intramural phase?
The description highlights the NIH clinical research environment, including potential access to specialized core facilities, clinical infrastructure, and collaborative networks that can be difficult to assemble early in a career.
What is the purpose of the Phase 2 transition support?
Phase 2 is meant to reduce the funding and startup gap that can occur when moving institutions or transitioning from intramural to extramural settings. It is intended to help scholars carry momentum, personnel, and research directions forward while they compete for longer-term independent funding.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across many U.S. domestic entity types commonly associated with NIH funding. Eligible applicants include:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Are specific institution categories explicitly mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly calls out additional eligible categories, including:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
- Eligible agencies of the federal government
- Regional organizations
- Tribal governments that are not federally recognized
- U.S. territories or possessions
Are foreign institutions or non-U.S. entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign participation is restricted. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the project is outside the United States?
Not under the restrictions described. The opportunity states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.
Does the opportunity specify an award ceiling?
No. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling.
Does the opportunity specify the expected number of awards?
No. The source information provided does not state the expected number of awards.
Is the program expected to be competitive?
Yes, based on the described structure. While the number of awards is not specified, the program is described as highly selective and resource-intensive per scholar due to the multi-year NIH intramural tenure-track appointment with an independent budget and the possibility of additional multi-year transition support.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is August 31, 2018.
What is the creation date listed for this opportunity?
The creation date listed is April 3, 2018.
What is the relationship between the intramural and extramural NIH systems in this program?
The program is designed to intentionally connect the NIH Intramural Research Program with the broader extramural community. Phase 1 embeds scholars inside NIH, while Phase 2 supports a transition to an outside institution with continued NIH backing.
Where does Phase 2 research take place?
Phase 2 research is intended to take place at an extramural research facility, such as an academic medical center or research institute.
What does it mean that Phase 1 scholars have their own research budgets?
Based on the description, Phase 1 scholars operate as independent investigators within NIH and have independent research budgets to run their research programs during the intramural period.
Does the program focus only on clinical research conducted at NIH?
No. While Phase 1 is conducted within the NIH Intramural Research Program, the overall design includes the option of transitioning the research program to an extramural setting with NIH support in Phase 2.
Is a transition to extramural funding the long-term goal?
The description indicates that Phase 2 support is intended to help scholars maintain research momentum while competing for longer-term independent funding, suggesting that sustained independence beyond the program is an intended outcome.
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