← Back to contracts

NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

US · MD · Bethesda National Institutes of Health (NIH) — Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant open #PA-25-126
Response due May 24, 2026 · 00:00 UTC

Summary

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), under NIH/HHS, is soliciting small research grant (R03) applications focused on basic experimental studies with humans (BESH). This program supports small, time-limited research projects aligned with NICHD's scientific mission. Applicants must conduct basic experimental research involving human participants. The R03 mechanism typically provides limited funding for pilot/feasibility studies, data analysis, or discrete research projects.

What they want

Applicants must submit research proposals under the NIH R03 Small Research Grant mechanism specifically requiring Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH). Projects must fall within NICHD's mission areas (e.g., child health, human development, reproductive sciences, rehabilitation). Research must involve direct experimentation with human subjects and comply with applicable human subjects protections. The opportunity is a standing program announcement (PA-25-126) open for multiple submission cycles between its open and close dates.
Technical requirements
  • Research must constitute Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH) as defined by NIH
  • Projects must align with NICHD's scientific mission areas
  • Human subjects protections must be addressed in the application
  • Must use the NIH R03 small grant mechanism (typically limited budget and project period)

How they evaluate

Submission: Electronic submission via Grants.gov and NIH ASSIST or institutional system-to-system portal

Eligibility & certifications

SAM.gov registration (Grants.gov submission)IRB approval or documentation of human subjects protectionsCompliance with NIH human subjects requirements (45 CFR 46)

Risks & flags

  • Program announcement is specific to NICHD mission — limits eligible research scope
  • BESH requirement adds a regulatory layer that may disadvantage applicants unfamiliar with NIH's human subjects framework distinctions

Market context

inferred from NAICS
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
NAICS 541711
US market size
$2.0T
Typical award
$25K – $50M
Typical buyers
All federal civilianDoDStates
Commonly required
8(a)WOSBSDVOSBPE/PMP

Sector-level estimate — full code lookup not yet in catalog.

NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Ba…
Due May 24
Onboard ↗