This Trailblazer Award is an opportunity for NIH-defined New and Early Stage Investigators (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/index.htm) to pursue research programs that integrate engineering and the physical sciences with the life and/or biomedical sciences. A Trailblazer project may be exploratory, developmental, proof of concept, or high risk-high impact, and may be technology design-directed, discovery-driven, or hypothesis-driven. Importantly, applicants must propose research approaches for which there are minimal or no preliminary data.A distinct feature for this FOA is that no preliminary data are required, expected, or encouraged. However, if available, minimal preliminary data are allowed. Preliminary data are defined as material which the applicant has independently produced and not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal. All preliminary data should be clearly marked and limited to one-half page, which may include one figure. Applications including data more than one-half page or more than one figure will be considered noncompliant with the FOA instructions and will not go forward to review.
Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
National Institutes of Health · Opportunity number PA-25-169
Details summarized from the official notice as of May 8, 2026. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and requirements in the official notice before applying.
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Key facts
| Opportunity number | PA-25-169 |
|---|---|
| Agency | National Institutes of Health Department of Health and Human Services |
| Assistance listing (ALN, formerly CFDA) | 93.867, 93.286, 93.866 |
| Posted | Jan 8, 2025 |
| Deadline | May 7, 2026 |
| Cost sharing or matching required | No |
| Funding type | Grant |
| Category | Health |
| Last updated here | May 8, 2026 |
Summary from the notice
Who can apply
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible:
- Private colleges and universities
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Special district governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Small businesses
- Public and state colleges and universities
- Others named in the notice (see the eligibility text)
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and Indian housing authorities
- State governments
Who should take a closer look
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits
- Colleges and universities
- State governments
- Local governments
- Tribal governments and organizations
- Larger for-profit companies
Not listed as eligible
- Individuals
Unless the eligibility text in the notice names you, this opportunity is probably not for you.
Eligibility details from the 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 not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
Registrations you will likely need
Most applications submitted through Grants.gov need the following. Registration can take several weeks, so start early. The notice lists the exact requirements.
- SAM.gov registration for your organization, which also gives you a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Registration is free.
- A Login.gov account, which Grants.gov uses for sign-in.
- A Grants.gov applicant registration linked to your organization's UEI.
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