Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career researchers in cardiovascular, lung, blood, and sleep medicine who have recently completed postdoctoral training or equivalent research experience. Applicants must have an MD, PhD, DVM, DDS, or equivalent degree and be in their first independent research position within 5 years of establishing that position. Eligible recipients include research institutions, universities, medical schools, and other organizations with the capacity to support independent biomedical research. The award is designed to provide protected research time and salary support to help emerging investigators establish competitive, NIH-funded research programs. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The purpose of the NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) is to promote scientific productivity and innovation by providing long-term support and increased flexibility to experienced Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) who are currently PDs/PIs on at least two NHLBI R01-equivalent awards and whose outstanding record of research demonstrates their ability to make major contributions to heart, lung, blood and sleep (HLBS) research.
The EIA is intended to support a research program, rather than a research project, by providing the primary and most likely sole source of NHLBI funding on individual grant awards. The EIA will support the research program of NHLBI-funded investigators for up to seven years. The EIA will provide investigators increased freedom to conduct research that breaks new ground or extends previous discoveries in new directions. It will also allow PDs/PIs to take greater risks and to pursue research that requires a longer timeframe. Research supported by the EIA must be within the scope of the NHLBI mission (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/org/mission).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (specific aims, research design, methods section)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketch (NIH format, 4 pages)
- Current and Pending Support form
- Institutional Support Letter demonstrating research time protection and institutional commitment
- Letters of Reference (typically 3-5 letters from established scientists)
- Research Plan (including preliminary data, design, and timeline)
- Facilities and Resources documentation
- Human Subjects, Vertebrate Animals, or Other Compliance forms if applicable
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.233 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$16,277,433
-
$15,004,395
-
$12,669,690
-
$8,456,005
-
$7,924,752
-
$7,402,941
-
$7,333,951
-
$7,218,079
-
$6,771,213
-
$6,674,878
Top States by Funding
- MA 17 awards $93.6M
- PA 11 awards $51.6M
- IL 10 awards $44.8M
- CA 11 awards $36.8M
- MD 7 awards $30.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.233). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $104,734,238 | |
| 2025 | $116,468,492 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award?
Early-career researchers within 5 years of their first independent research position who hold an MD, PhD, DVM, DDS, or equivalent degree. You must demonstrate independence from your prior mentors and have institutional support for your research program.
What types of research does this award support?
Research in heart, lung, blood diseases, and sleep disorders. Clinical trials are optional but supported. Research can be basic, translational, clinical, or population-based as long as it aligns with NHLBI's mission.
What is the typical funding range for this award?
Typically $200,000-$250,000 per year in direct costs for 5 years, though amounts vary. This is a mid-level award compared to larger NIH grants, providing substantial support for early-career establishment.
How competitive is this grant?
Moderately to highly competitive. NHLBI receives hundreds of applications annually. Success requires strong preliminary data, a clear research plan, and evidence of institutional commitment to your independence.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is April 28, 2027. The application portal typically opens about one month before the deadline. Check NIH GRANTS.GOV for exact submission details.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish clear independence from your prior mentors and advisors; highlight how your research differs from or expands upon prior work and emphasize your unique contributions.
- Include strong preliminary data demonstrating feasibility of your proposed research; this is critical for emerging investigators who have limited track records.
- Obtain a strong institutional commitment letter stating that your institution will protect research time (typically 75% effort on research) and provide necessary resources for your independence.
- Follow NIH formatting guidelines and page limits strictly; reviewers are rigorous about compliance, and careless violations can hurt your score.
- Align your research directly with NHLBI strategic goals and scientific priorities; review recent NHLBI program announcements and critique feedback from similar R01 applications.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Emerging investigators often fail to convincingly demonstrate independence from their postdoctoral mentors, replicating prior work rather than forging a distinct research path. Weak or insufficient preliminary data is a frequent cause of rejection; reviewers expect substantial evidence of feasibility even for early-career researchers. Additionally, lack of clear institutional support—particularly protected research time and dedicated resources—signals to reviewers that the applicant may not receive the environment needed to succeed.
Similar grants
- OPEN NHLBI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NHLBI Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trials Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NHLBI Career Transition Award for Intramural Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Trainees (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NHLBI Clinical Trial Pilot Studies (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NHLBI Early Phase Clinical Trials for Therapeutics and/or Diagnostics for HLBS Disorders (R33 CT Required) — National Institutes of Health