Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for the NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program (Clinical Trial Optional)

The Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for the NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program is an initiative of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NCATS is focused on catalyzing the development, testing, and implementation of innovative methods and technologies that accelerate the process of turning scientific discoveries into clinical applications. The CTSA Program plays a pivotal role in this effort by supporting a national network of medical research institutions, known as hubs, that work together to improve the translational research process. This small grant program seeks to support scholars who have participated in the CTSA Program’s Institutional Career Development Core/Program (KL2/K12), specifically those who received direct NCATS funding and completed the program within the past two years. These small research grants are intended to facilitate the transition of scholars into fully independent academic translational scientists by providing support for research projects that can be conducted with limited resources over a short period of time. Resubmission eligibility extends 12 months beyond the original two-year eligibility window. The scope of funding includes pilot and feasibility studies, secondary data analysis, small self-contained research efforts, development of research methodologies, and the development of new research technologies. The research proposed under this opportunity may include or exclude patient-oriented research. A key goal is to generate preliminary data that can support a future application for a full-scale research project grant or an equivalent opportunity. This funding opportunity does not require cost-sharing or matching funds. The award mechanism is a grant, and although the forecasted opportunity does not specify the exact award ceiling or floor, it signals that awards will be designed to suit limited-scope projects. The total program funding and number of expected awards have not been provided in the forecast, and such details are expected to be clarified upon the release of the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). To be eligible, applicants must be previous recipients of direct NCATS funding through a KL2/K12 appointment and must have completed their training within the past two years (with resubmission eligibility extended for one additional year). Eligible applicants include a wide range of institutions and organizations such as public and private higher education institutions, state and local governments, tribal entities (federally and non-federally recognized), nonprofit organizations, and small and large for-profit businesses, among others. The submission process will follow standard NIH procedures, with applications being peer-reviewed in accordance with NIH policies. The anticipated timeline for this opportunity includes an estimated post date of August 17, 2026, with applications due by October 17, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced by July 15, 2027, with project start dates matching the award date. This is a forecasted opportunity, and more information will become available as the application date approaches. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor the Grants.gov listing and reach out to the NCATS CTSA Program Branch via email for any questions.