New NIH Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant R01 Program

Jeannie Wilson

December 18, 2020

The NIH has announced the publication of two new FOAs for the Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant R01 Program:

PAR-21-038 (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PAR-21-039 (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project in an area of science that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist.

These new FOAs are in honor of Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., former leader of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, who passed away in 2018. He was dedicated to mentoring and training young scientists.

These new opportunities build off of NIH's Next Generation Researchers Initiative (NGRI), which prioritizes funding for early stage investigators (ESIs) across NIH. NGRI has been successful in supporting an increasing number of ESIs since its inception 2017.

2021 proposals are due January 26, May 26, and September 28, and deadlines are provided through 2023.

ESIs can apply for a new Katz R01 to support innovative ideas if they are proposing research that is a change in direction from their past work and experience, and for which they have no preliminary data. ESIs who have preliminary data or want to continue with their current research direction may still apply to the Parent R01 funding opportunities.

Through the Katz R01s, investigators without preliminary data "can still seek NIH funding and pursue creative and innovative scientific hypotheses even though they lack the initial findings. Moreover, this should expand pathways and opportunities for those early in their career, something called for by the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director in their 2018 NGRI working group report." (source)