Support for Research Excellence First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award (R16 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career researchers seeking to establish independent research programs in clinical, behavioral, or translational science. The SuRE-First Award supports first-time independent research investigators who have completed their postdoctoral or clinical fellowship training and are ready to launch their own research. Applicants must be researchers with doctoral degrees (Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) affiliated with domestic institutions that have a research infrastructure. The program explicitly excludes clinical trials. This is a competitive, peer-reviewed award designed to ease the transition from mentored to independent research and provide early-career researchers the opportunity to develop preliminary data and establish themselves as independent investigators.
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Program description
The SuRE program supports research capacity building at eligible higher education institutions through funding investigator-initiated biomedical research inbasic, social, clinical, behavioral, or translational science that falls in the mission areas of the NIH.
The purpose of SuRE-First awards is to provide support for investigator-initiated research at resource-limited institutions by full-time faculty who have not had any prior independent, peer-reviewed, external research grants, to furnish students with high-quality undergraduate and/or graduate research experiences, and to enhance the institutional scientific research culture.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form and face page
- Project Narrative (specific aims, research design and methods, significance and innovation)
- Preliminary Studies/Progress Report
- Bibliography and References
- Biographical sketches of key personnel (applicant and team members)
- Institutional environment statement and resource description
- Budget and budget justification (detailed)
- Facilities and administrative costs documentation
- Compliance supplement (for federal regulatory requirements)
- Letters of support from department chair and/or institution confirming independence and resources
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.859 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$59,464,779
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$57,271,194
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$56,019,458
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$54,912,096
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$54,651,054
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$53,329,877
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$52,858,544
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$52,347,059
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$52,026,661
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$50,213,436
Top States by Funding
- OK 5 awards $143.9M
- ME 4 awards $143.3M
- MS 4 awards $135.1M
- NY 5 awards $131.6M
- CA 5 awards $129.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.859). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $3,085,929,426 | |
| 2025 | $3,092,472,727 | |
| 2026 est. | $3,093,422,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the SuRE-First Award?
Early-career researchers with a doctoral degree who have recently completed postdoctoral or clinical fellowship training and are transitioning to independence at a domestic research institution. Applicants must not have prior substantial independent research support.
What types of research are supported?
Clinical, behavioral, and translational research is supported, but clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this award. Methodological development, pilot studies, and feasibility research are encouraged.
What is the typical funding range for this award?
While specific amounts vary, NIH R-series research awards typically provide funding that supports 3-5 years of salary, supplies, and equipment necessary for an early-career researcher to establish independence.
What documents are required in the application?
A complete NIH research grant application including the SF-424 form, project narrative, specific aims, research design and methods, biographical sketches, institutional environment statement, and a detailed budget with justification.
How competitive is this award?
This is a peer-reviewed NIH award with moderate to high competition. Success rates for early-career awards typically range from 15-25%. A strong preliminary data section, clear innovation, and institutional support significantly improve competitiveness.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build a strong preliminary data section: reviewers will scrutinize whether you have sufficient pilot data to demonstrate feasibility and preliminary support for your research approach.
- Secure a mentor letter: even though this is for independent research, having a strong mentor or sponsor letter that documents your transition to independence strengthens applications.
- Demonstrate how your institution supports your independence: clearly articulate the resources, space, and mentoring available at your institution to ensure your success.
- Distinguish your work clearly: explain what is new and different from your postdoctoral mentors' work. Reviewers want to see intellectual independence emerging.
- Budget strategically: focus resources on activities directly supporting the specific aims; include detailed justification for staffing and equipment needs specific to establishing your lab.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many applications are rejected because applicants lack sufficient preliminary data to support the proposed research or fail to clearly demonstrate independence from their prior mentors. Another common issue is proposing work that is too similar to the applicant's postdoctoral research without clear differentiation or innovation. Additionally, some applicants overestimate what can be accomplished in the proposed timeframe or request resources disproportionate to the research scope.
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- OPEN Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 – Independent Clinical Trial Required) — National Institutes of Health