NHLBI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HL 20 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HL 20 011

The NHLBI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number RFA-HL-20-011, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant designed to give established investigators long-term, flexible support for an entire research program in heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) science. Instead of funding a single, tightly defined project the way many traditional grants do, this award is meant to back a broader, cohesive program of work led by an investigator with a proven record of major contributions to the field. The central idea is to increase scientific productivity and spark innovation by giving highly accomplished researchers the time horizon and freedom needed to pursue ambitious questions, pivot as discoveries emerge, and explore riskier or longer-term directions that might be harder to justify under shorter, project-specific mechanisms.

A key feature of the OIA is that it targets experienced Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) who are already strongly supported by NHLBI and have demonstrated sustained excellence. Eligibility, as described, requires that the PD/PI currently serve as PD/PI on at least two NHLBI R01-equivalent awards, along with an outstanding research track record indicating the ability to make major contributions to HLBS research. The award is positioned to become the primary, and most likely the sole, source of NHLBI support on individual investigator grant awards during the OIA project period. In practice, this signals NHLBI's intent to consolidate support into one long-term, program-centered award rather than multiple separate project grants, creating administrative and scientific flexibility while maintaining accountability for overall impact.

The period of support is notably long: the OIA can provide funding for up to seven years. That extended timeframe is one of the main benefits, because it allows investigators to pursue research trajectories that require sustained effort, such as building large datasets, developing complex methodologies, conducting longitudinal studies, or iterating through multiple experimental and translational phases. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that the program may support research that includes clinical trials, but clinical trials are not required. Regardless of the approach, the supported research must fall within the NHLBI mission, meaning it should align with the institute's priorities across cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep-related health and disease.

In terms of funding details provided in the source, the award ceiling is listed as $600,000 (as stated in the opportunity data). The opportunity is categorized as a grant under the health funding activity category, with CFDA numbers listed as 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, and 93.840. The original closing date shown is 2021-04-15, and the record creation date is 2019-01-25. While the excerpt does not specify the number of expected awards, it emphasizes the institute's goal of investing in investigators with exceptional leadership and scientific momentum.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types that commonly apply for NIH funding, including state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The opportunity also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the notice makes clear that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply; however, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain foreign activities or collaborations when well-justified and compliant with NIH policy.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a flagship, investigator-centered mechanism from NHLBI aimed at backing proven scientific leaders with the stability and latitude to deliver high-impact advances in HLBS research. It is structured to reward demonstrated excellence, reduce the constraints of project-by-project funding, and encourage bold, potentially field-shifting work over a multi-year horizon, while keeping the research program squarely aligned with NHLBI's mission and priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NHLBI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.233, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-15. (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 $600,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA HL 20 011

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