Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists' Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR)

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has announced a forecasted funding opportunity titled "Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists' Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR)." This opportunity is designed to support early-career physician-scientists and dentist-scientists trained in medical or surgical specialties who are interested in developing careers centered on aging and geriatrics-related research. It is categorized under discretionary funding and aligns with the broader objectives of promoting health research, especially focused on aging populations. The primary goal of the GEMSSTAR program is to encourage professionals who are early in their careers to pursue transdisciplinary research that bridges their medical or surgical specialty with the clinical care needs of older adults. The program is structured to yield pilot data and build experience that will position awardees for future, larger-scale aging research initiatives. This focus supports the long-term objective of strengthening the research pipeline in geriatrics and related disciplines, aligning individual specialties with the challenges and complexities of aging populations. The GEMSSTAR program emphasizes the importance of a strong and supportive research environment. Applicants are encouraged to establish meaningful collaborations that can enhance the impact of their proposed research. Projects must be responsive to the aging research agenda and facilitate the career development of the applicant in aging-focused areas. While the funding mechanism is the NIH R03 activity code, which supports small research projects, specific award amounts and ceilings are not detailed in this forecast. Applications are not yet being accepted, but the estimated application opening date is December 16, 2025, with submissions due by February 16, 2026. This grant opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching contributions, which lowers barriers for early-career investigators seeking support. The estimated project start date and award date are both set for December 16, 2026, and the opportunity is tied to fiscal year 2027. The funding supports aging-related research under Assistance Listing 93.866. While the total program funding and number of anticipated awards are not provided, the program’s long-standing support for early-career development in this field suggests competitive but supportive conditions. Eligible applicants include a broad spectrum of entities such as 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than higher education institutions), state and county governments, independent school districts, federally recognized and non-recognized tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, public housing authorities, and both small and larger for-profit businesses. This wide eligibility is designed to ensure a diverse applicant pool from various sectors of healthcare and academic research. For those interested in applying, the key contact for this opportunity is Dr. Laura Major at the National Institute on Aging. She can be reached via email at niagemsstar@mail.nih.gov. While no detailed application questions or process specifics are provided in this forecast stage, the early notification allows potential applicants time to develop robust and collaborative proposals aligned with the GEMSSTAR mission. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov for the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity, which will provide full instructions and application materials.