Successor-in-Interest (Type 6 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 17, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for established researchers and research institutions seeking to continue or extend clinical trial research under a successor-in-interest arrangement, typically when a parent grant has ended or leadership has changed. Applicants must be eligible NIH grant recipients including academic institutions, hospitals, research centers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations with active research capacity. This mechanism allows qualified successor investigators to take over ongoing clinical trials without recompeting the full original grant, facilitating continuity of critical patient-centered research. The clinical trial must have demonstrated scientific merit and benefit continuation. Geographical scope includes all U.S. states and territories, as well as eligible international institutions. The award supports direct costs of conducting the clinical trial and related research activities.
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Program description
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) hereby notify recipient organizations holding specific types of NIH grants, listed in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), that applications for change of recipient organization status, often referred to in this announcement as Successor-In-Interest, may be submitted to this NOFO. Applications for change of recipient organization status are considered prior approval requests (as described in Section 8.1.2.8 of the NIH Grants Policy Statement) and will be routed for consideration directly to the Grants Management Specialist named in the current award.Although successor-in-interest requests may be submitted through this NOFO, there is no guarantee that an award will be transferred to the new organization. All applicants are encouraged to discuss potential requests with the awarding IC before submission.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NIH Form SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (including research strategy, trial status, and succession plan)
- Budget and Budget Justification (Form PHS 398)
- IRB approval letter and human subjects protection documentation
- Clinical trial protocol and informed consent form
- Safety and progress reports from the parent trial
- Curriculum vitae of successor investigator(s)
- Institutional support letter confirming resources and commitment
- Letters of collaboration from key personnel (if applicable)
- Data on participant enrollment, safety events, and preliminary efficacy outcomes
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.213 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$22,367,527
-
$21,646,919
-
$19,236,131
-
$17,730,528
-
$15,036,701
-
$14,473,882
-
$12,748,932
-
$11,956,053
-
$11,225,697
-
$10,919,780
Top States by Funding
- CA 13 awards $83.5M
- MA 13 awards $80.2M
- WA 8 awards $69.9M
- NC 7 awards $53.8M
- NY 6 awards $40.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.213). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $240,178,154 | |
| 2025 | $232,899,116 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,655,626 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for a Successor-in-Interest Type 6 grant?
Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations that are currently registered with NIH as grant recipients and can demonstrate scientific capacity to continue the parent clinical trial. The successor investigator must have appropriate qualifications and institutional support to manage the ongoing trial.
What is the key difference between a Successor-in-Interest and a new competing application?
A Successor-in-Interest application allows an eligible successor investigator to continue an established clinical trial without full recompetition, streamlining the process and maintaining research continuity. This is less burdensome than a new competing application but requires clear documentation of the transition and trial status.
What types of clinical trials are supported?
This mechanism supports Phase II, Phase III, and Phase IV clinical trials that have demonstrated scientific and clinical merit and benefit continuation. The trial must address an important health question and have acceptable safety and preliminary efficacy data.
How competitive is this type of award?
Successor-in-Interest applications are generally less competitive than new applications because they build on established protocols and preliminary data. However, scientific rigor and the investigator's qualifications remain important evaluation factors.
What is the typical funding range?
Funding amounts vary depending on the scope and budget of the parent clinical trial being continued. Applications should budget realistically for trial operations, personnel, participant costs, and regulatory compliance.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly document the transition plan, including why the original investigator is no longer leading the trial and how the successor investigator is qualified to assume responsibility while maintaining scientific integrity.
- Provide evidence of the parent trial's progress, including enrollment numbers, safety data, and preliminary efficacy findings to justify continuation and demonstrate the trial's value to participants and the field.
- Address any modifications to the original protocol transparently, explaining why changes are necessary and how they strengthen rather than compromise the trial's scientific design and participant protections.
- Ensure your institution has institutional review board (IRB) approval and all regulatory documentation current before submission, as delays in obtaining necessary approvals can jeopardize the timeline for continuing participant enrollment.
- Emphasize the clinical and public health significance of completing the trial, including how continuation benefits participants already enrolled and contributes to answering important research questions that may influence clinical practice.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications commonly fail when they inadequately document the scientific rationale for continuation or fail to address concerns about trial conduct during the investigator transition. Weak submissions often lack sufficient preliminary data demonstrating trial progress, participant safety, and preliminary efficacy, leaving reviewers uncertain whether continuation is justified. Additionally, incomplete regulatory or IRB documentation and unclear succession plans that don't convince reviewers of the successor investigator's qualifications are frequent reasons for unfavorable reviews.
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