Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 383
The Chemistry Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (C/START) (R03) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity administered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to help new and early stage investigators (ESIs) break into substance use disorder (SUD) research. The main idea is to provide a small, focused grant that lets an investigator run an innovative chemical or pharmacological pilot project, generate credible preliminary data, and use those early results to compete for larger follow-on awards. In practice, this program is positioned as a career-launching bridge: it is not meant to fund a full multi-year research program, but rather to de-risk a promising concept so the investigator can transition quickly into bigger NIH mechanisms (such as an R21/R33 CHEM, an R21, or an R01) or other drug development-oriented funding pathways.
This opportunity uses the NIH R03 mechanism, which is designed for small-scale research projects. The work NIDA is looking for falls in the chemistry and pharmacology space as applied to SUD, meaning projects may involve early discovery, design, synthesis, optimization, or evaluation of compounds; exploratory structure-activity relationship work; early pharmacological profiling; development or refinement of chemical tools; or other pilot efforts that directly support future therapeutic development or deeper mechanistic studies relevant to addiction and substance use disorders. The emphasis is on innovation and on producing preliminary evidence that can support a stronger, more competitive next-stage application, rather than completing an entire drug development pipeline within the R03 itself.
The maximum award amount listed for this opportunity is $50,000 (award ceiling), highlighting its role as a limited, proof-of-concept style investment. While the source information does not specify the number of expected awards, the program’s intent is clearly targeted: support ESIs with enough resources to generate key data points quickly and credibly, so they can demonstrate feasibility, refine hypotheses, and strengthen the rationale for subsequent submissions to larger grant programs.
Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and a 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 are also eligible, along with other applicant types captured under NIH’s standard eligibility categories. In addition, the opportunity explicitly calls out several institution types as eligible or encouraged within the applicant pool, 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, the opportunity is clear about restrictions involving non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the applicant organization and the work supported by the award must be based in the U.S. without foreign components under NIH policy.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant within the Education and Health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.279. The funding opportunity number is PAR-16-383, with a creation date of 2016-08-01, and an original closing date shown as 2019-09-07 in the provided source record. Overall, C/START is best understood as a targeted on-ramp for ESIs: small funding, fast data generation, and a deliberate path toward larger NIDA/NIH chemistry and drug development research support focused on substance use disorders.Apply for PAR 16 383
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Chemistry Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (C/START) (R03)" 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 2016-08-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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FAQs: Chemistry Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (C/START) (R03)
What is the C/START (R03) opportunity?
C/START (Chemistry Science Track Award for Rapid Transition) is an NIH funding opportunity administered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). It is designed to help new and early stage investigators (ESIs) enter substance use disorder (SUD) research by supporting a small, focused pilot project in chemistry or pharmacology.
Which NIH institute administers this program?
This opportunity is administered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the main purpose of the award?
The program is intended to function as a career-launching bridge for ESIs by funding an innovative, limited-scope chemical or pharmacological pilot project. The goal is to generate credible preliminary data that strengthens the investigator's ability to compete for larger follow-on awards.
Is this meant to fund a full multi-year research program?
No. The award is positioned as a proof-of-concept or de-risking mechanism rather than support for a full multi-year research program. It is meant to support early results that enable rapid transition to larger NIH mechanisms or other drug development-oriented pathways.
What grant mechanism does C/START use?
C/START uses the NIH R03 mechanism, which is designed for small-scale research projects.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The maximum award amount listed in the provided information is $50,000 (award ceiling), reinforcing that it is intended as a limited pilot investment.
What scientific areas does the program emphasize?
The focus is on chemistry and pharmacology as applied to substance use disorders (SUD). The emphasis is on innovation and on producing preliminary evidence that supports a strong next-stage application.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for C/START?
Projects may include early discovery, design, synthesis, optimization, or evaluation of compounds; exploratory structure-activity relationship (SAR) efforts; early pharmacological profiling; development or refinement of chemical tools; or other pilot work that directly supports future therapeutic development or deeper mechanistic studies relevant to addiction and SUD.
What kind of outcomes is NIDA looking for from an R03 C/START project?
The program is designed to help investigators generate credible preliminary data quickly. Typical outcomes include feasibility evidence, refined hypotheses, and stronger rationale for subsequent submissions to larger grant programs.
What follow-on funding pathways does this award aim to support?
The opportunity is framed as a transition point toward larger mechanisms, including R21/R33 CHEM, R21, or R01 awards, as well as other drug development-oriented funding pathways.
Who is the program targeted toward?
The opportunity is targeted to new and early stage investigators (ESIs) seeking to break into substance use disorder research, particularly through chemistry- and pharmacology-oriented pilot projects.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations, including state, county, city/township, and 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; non-federally recognized Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are listed as eligible applicant types in the provided information.
Are minority-serving and community-based institutions included in the eligible applicant pool?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls out a range of institution types as eligible or encouraged within the applicant pool, 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, and regional organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions in the eligible or encouraged applicant pool.
Can foreign institutions apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if the work will be conducted outside the United States?
No. The opportunity states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. The applicant organization and the supported work must be based in the U.S. without foreign components under NIH policy.
Are foreign components allowed in the project?
No. Foreign components, as defined by NIH policy, are explicitly not allowed under this opportunity.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is PAR-16-383.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.279.
How is this opportunity categorized in the provided record?
It is listed as a discretionary grant and is associated with the Education and Health funding activity category.
What is the creation date shown for this funding opportunity?
The provided information lists a creation date of 2016-08-01.
What closing date is shown in the source record?
The source record shows an original closing date of 2019-09-07.
Does the provided information state how many awards are expected?
No. The provided information does not specify the expected number of awards.
What is the simplest way to describe C/START based on the provided information?
It is an on-ramp for ESIs: small funding, fast preliminary data generation, and a deliberate path toward larger NIDA/NIH chemistry and drug development research support focused on substance use disorders.
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