Research Program Award (R35 Clinical Trial Optional)
The NINDS Research Program Award (R35) offers longer-term, flexible funding for investigators to pursue neurological research, reduce administrative work, and mentor trainees, with applications not yet open.
Funder: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Due Dates: July 15, 2026 (Forecasted)
Funding Amounts: $350,000–$750,000 per year; multi-year support
Summary: Provides long-term, flexible funding to support research in neurological disorders and stroke, reducing administrative burden for investigators.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity; applications are not yet being accepted.
Description
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) plans to offer a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support longer-term research programs through the R35 Research Program Award. This program aims to provide Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) with stable, flexible funding so they can focus more on conducting innovative research and mentoring, and less on managing multiple grant applications. The R35 mechanism is intended for investigators at most career stages whose work aligns with the NINDS mission. The funding is designed to support ambitious, long-term research goals and allow for the pursuit of new research directions as opportunities arise.
Benefits include:
- Stable, multi-year funding to facilitate long-term research planning.
- Flexibility to adjust research directions without being tied to specific aims.
- Reduced administrative burden, freeing up more time for research and mentorship.
- Support for mentoring students and postdoctoral researchers.
Research activities must be within the NINDS mission; projects traditionally supported by other NIH Institutes or Centers are not eligible.
