At a glance
NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a federal competitive grant from National Institutes of Health for the science & technology sector. Eligible applicants: Private institutions of higher education; Small businesses; Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; State gov. The application deadline is January 7, 2028. Apply via the official listing at www.grants.gov.
- Amount
- See listing
- Deadline
- Jan 7, 2028
- Type
- Competitive
- Status
- Open
About this program
The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant supports exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
Who can apply
Private institutions of higher education; Small businesses; Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; State governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); County governments; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized); Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; For profit organizations other than small businesses; Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification); City or township governments; Special district governments; Independent school districts; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education. 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.
How to apply
Apply through Grants.gov using funding opportunity number PA-25-304. Register your organization (SAM.gov + Grants.gov) before the deadline, then submit the application package listed in the official notice.
Apply at official sourceRelated grants
- NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Clinical Trial Required) NIH · Up to $50K · Jan 7, 2028 Open
- Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (2027) IMLS · $5K–$500K · Nov 13, 2026 Open
- Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Planning Grants (R34 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) NIH · See listing · Jul 7, 2028 Open
- Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) NIH · See listing · Nov 18, 2026 Open