NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI): Mentored Entrepreneurial Career Development Award (K01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 22 227

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 227

The NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI): Mentored Entrepreneurial Career Development Award is a National Institute on Aging (NIA) career development grant (K01 mechanism) designed to help early-stage investigators build the skills, experience, and track record needed to become independent researchers. The award is structured to provide substantial protected time for career development over a three- to five-year period, with the expectation that the recipient will complete an intensive, closely supervised program of mentored training while also advancing a focused research agenda. The program sits at the intersection of research training and entrepreneurial development, emphasizing not only strong scientific growth in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences, but also development experiences that can help move ideas toward real-world impact. Importantly, this specific funding opportunity is labeled “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” meaning applicants must propose research and career development activities that do not meet NIH’s definition of a clinical trial.

The core purpose of the opportunity is career acceleration: it funds a mentored pathway that helps a candidate sharpen their research direction, strengthen methodological and analytical skills, expand professional networks, and build the publication and preliminary-data foundation typically needed to compete successfully for independent NIH research grants later on. In practice, a strong application generally aligns three pieces into a coherent plan: a well-justified training and professional development strategy, a feasible mentored research project that supports the candidate’s transition to independence, and a mentoring environment with the expertise and resources to support both the science and the candidate’s growth. The “protected time” element is central here; the award is meant to reduce competing demands so the recipient can dedicate a major portion of their effort to mentored development and research productivity.

The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Health funding activity category, with CFDA number 93.866, and it is issued as a discretionary grant. The funding opportunity number is PAR-22-227, and the listed original closing date is 2024-10-17. The notice does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided source data, which typically means applicants should consult the full funding announcement and related NIH policy documents for budget structure and any institute-specific limits.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations as allowed by NIH. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, and foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. In other words, the applicant organization and the supported work are expected to be fully domestic, without a foreign component under NIH definitions.

Overall, this REDI K01 opportunity is best understood as a structured, mentored launchpad for investigators who want dedicated time to build independence in aging-related or NIA-relevant scientific areas, while also gaining exposure to entrepreneurial or translational thinking as part of their development. The main deliverable is not only a set of research results, but a demonstrably stronger, more independent investigator positioned to compete for subsequent independent funding and to sustain a long-term research career.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI): Mentored Entrepreneurial Career Development Award (K01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-08-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-17. (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 22 227

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