Limited Competition: Supporting Programs to Advance Research Knowledge in Environmental Health Sciences (SPARK-EHS) (UE5/T32 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions developing new environmental health training programs for predoctoral researchers. Institutions must not have received NIEHS T32 funding in the five years prior to application. Programs should align with NIEHS mission: studying environmental effects on biological systems and translating findings to reduce disease. This is a limited competition with a two-phase award structure (UE5 development phase, T32 implementation phase).
Eligible organizations typically include universities and research institutions with capacity to design and deliver doctoral-level research training. Programs must focus on research areas within NIEHS scope. Clinical trials are not permitted under this mechanism.
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Key dates
- Jun 26, 2026 Applications open
- Dec 7, 2026 Application deadline in 144 days
- Nov 2, 2027 Award announced
- Nov 2, 2027 Project start
Program description
The goal of the Supporting Programs to Advance Research Knowledge in Environmental Health Sciences (SPARK-EHS) initiative is to extend the institutional, geographical, and research reach of NIEHS training. This initiative proposes to launch new and innovative environmental health training programs for research-focused predoctoral trainees at institutions that have not had a funded NIEHS T32 during the preceding five years. Training programs must be responsive to the mission of NIEHS, which is to support research on how the environment affects biological systems across the lifespan, and to translate this knowledge to reduce disease and promote human health. NIEHS will provide support for a two-phased award to eligible institutions to develop (UE5) and implement (T32) training programs specifically oriented to the research interests of NIEHS.
This is a Forecast for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Eligibility Section for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative
- Budget Justification
- Institutional Review Documentation (or equivalent eligibility verification)
- Letters of Institutional Commitment
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NOFO.Information@niehs.nih.gov
- 📧 NOFO.Information@niehs.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.113 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$200,640,187
-
$49,163,443
-
$47,446,509
-
$44,785,560
-
$33,491,440
-
$32,623,202
-
$31,263,603
-
$30,390,185
-
$30,320,471
-
$29,228,555
Top States by Funding
- NC 10 awards $369.0M
- NY 11 awards $187.6M
- CA 11 awards $177.3M
- MA 7 awards $127.8M
- MD 5 awards $52.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.113). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $445,816,844 | |
| 2025 | $465,862,818 | |
| 2026 est. | $40,301,265 |
FAQ
Who can apply to SPARK-EHS?
Institutions that have not received NIEHS T32 funding in the past five years. Your institution must have capacity to develop and implement a research training program.
What is the award structure?
Two-phase award: UE5 (development phase) followed by T32 (implementation phase). Total funding available is limited, so competition is selective.
What types of research training are supported?
Programs must train predoctoral researchers in environmental health sciences aligned with NIEHS mission. Clinical trial research is not allowed.
When is the deadline?
Fixed deadline of December 7, 2026. This is a limited competition, so eligibility is restricted.
What is the funding range?
Awards range from $10,000 to $20,000 within a total pool of $40,000. Exact award amounts depend on peer review.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify your institution has not received NIEHS T32 funding in the past five years before investing time in the application.
- Clearly demonstrate how your proposed training program aligns with NIEHS priorities in environmental health research.
- Detail institutional commitments and resources that will support the two-phase development and implementation.
- Build relationships with NIEHS program officers early; they can clarify expectations for limited competitions.
- Emphasize how your program expands environmental health research capacity to underrepresented geographic areas or institution types.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often lack clear alignment with NIEHS research priorities and mission. Institutions applying without confirming five-year T32 funding eligibility waste effort. Weak institutional commitment letters or insufficient detail on training program structure reduce competitiveness.
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