Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) (R03- Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) | PAR 21 309

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 309

The Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity designed to bring more investigators into neuroimaging research and to help researchers transition their work into neuroimaging methods. It uses the Small Research Grant (R03) mechanism and is aimed at supporting early-stage, exploratory, or proof-of-concept studies that can be completed quickly and with relatively limited resources. The focus is on helping researchers either start a new neuroimaging direction or integrate neuroimaging approaches into an existing research program, lowering the barrier to entry for teams that may not yet have extensive preliminary neuroimaging data.

This specific announcement (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-309) falls under the broad activity category of education and health and is associated with CFDA number 93.279. It is explicitly labeled as requiring "Basic Experimental Studies with Humans," meaning the supported work is expected to involve human participants in a basic experimental context rather than purely animal, computational, or clinical service delivery work. In practical terms, applicants should expect to address human subjects considerations and compliance requirements typical of NIH-supported studies, including protections for participants and appropriate ethical oversight.

The main purpose of the R03 under this FOA is to fund small, tightly scoped studies that demonstrate feasibility, generate preliminary data, or test a novel neuroimaging approach in a way that positions the investigator for larger future grants. The R03 format is a good fit for projects like piloting an imaging protocol, validating an analysis pipeline, checking whether a hypothesized neural signal can be reliably detected in a target population, or establishing whether a new task, stimulus design, or biomarker strategy works well enough to justify a bigger study. The overall emphasis is less on delivering definitive conclusions and more on proving that an approach is workable and scientifically promising.

Eligibility is intentionally broad. Beyond the typical academic and nonprofit applicants, the opportunity is open to many types of U.S. government entities (including state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and eligible federal agencies), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and a wide range of nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses may also apply. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories that NIH wants to encourage, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized. It further notes eligibility for non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, and applicants based in a U.S. territory or possession.

Key administrative details from the source listing include that the opportunity was created on 2021-08-02 and had an original closing date of 2025-01-08. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the fields shown, so applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text on NIH/Grants.gov for budget limits, project period details, and any institute-specific participation or priority areas tied to neuroimaging topics.

In plain terms, I/START (R03) is best understood as an NIH on-ramp for neuroimaging: it supports small, fast-moving human-based experimental imaging studies that help investigators establish feasibility, build preliminary evidence, and become competitive for larger neuroimaging research awards later on, while allowing a very wide range of organizations to participate.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) (R03- Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 21 309

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: