Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) (R38 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has reissued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) Program (R38 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). This opportunity is supported by several NIH institutes, including the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Eye Institute (NEI), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The program seeks to strengthen the clinician-investigator workforce by offering institutional support for structured research training opportunities during residency. The funding builds on NIH’s mission to generate fundamental knowledge to improve health, extend life, and reduce illness and disability. The StARR program is designed to provide early-stage clinicians with mentored research experiences, preparing them to transition into individual career development awards such as K-series grants. Resident-Investigators are expected to engage in at least one contiguous year of research, with a maximum of two years of support. Each participating institution must provide written evidence from recognized boards that the program structure will maintain eligibility for clinical board certification. Institutions may propose cross-disciplinary programs, engaging residents from multiple specialties to broaden research exposure. At minimum, each funded program must support two Resident-Investigators annually and may support up to four. Funding from this opportunity is intended to cover Resident-Investigator salaries, supplementary research expenses, travel, and program-related activities. Residents will receive 80 percent of their postgraduate year (PGY) salary level for the research period, while additional support of up to $20,000 per year per resident is available for supplies, workshops, and professional development. Each resident may also request up to $3,000 per year in travel funds for conference attendance and NIH-sponsored meetings. Administrative costs are capped at $20,000 per year, and institutional indirect costs are reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs. Awards may last up to five years at the institutional level, while individual residents are supported for no more than two years. Eligibility is broad, allowing applications from higher education institutions (both public and private), nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, state and local governments, tribal governments, and other eligible bodies. Foreign institutions are not eligible, nor are foreign components of U.S. organizations. The institutional Principal Investigator must be an established clinician-investigator with a full-time appointment, demonstrated leadership and mentoring experience, and a strong recent history of NIH funding. Resident-Investigators must hold health professional doctoral degrees (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, DVM) with or without a PhD, be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and commit to a minimum of 80 percent effort in research during their appointment. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, NIH ASSIST, or an institutional system-to-system solution. The first open date is September 14, 2026, with application deadlines recurring annually in October through 2028. The earliest start date for funded awards is July 2026. Applicants should follow NIH’s Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply Guide and comply with program-specific requirements detailed in the NOFO. Failure to meet compliance requirements may result in delayed or rejected applications. Applications will undergo NIH’s standard peer review process, focusing on significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment. Reviewers will assess the strength of the research environment, mentoring plans, and institutional commitment. Successful applicants will be expected to track and report Resident-Investigator outcomes, including publications, subsequent awards, board passage rates, and employment in research careers. The program also emphasizes dissemination of best practices to strengthen clinician-investigator training nationwide. For inquiries, applicants may contact program staff, including David Schopfer, M.D. at NHLBI (david.schopfer@nih.gov, 301-402-3833), Ed Clayton, Ph.D. at NEI (ed.clayton@nih.gov, 240-987-8255), NIA Training Office (NIATraining@mail.nih.gov), and Carmen Moten, Ph.D. at NIAID (AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov, 301-594-5945). Financial and grants management contacts are also provided by each participating institute. The NOFO expires on January 11, 2028.

Ensure board eligibility documentation is included, clearly distinguish from NRSA/T grants, consult IC contacts