NIDCR Award for Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research (SOAR) (R35 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DE 19 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DE 19 005

The NIDCR Award for Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research (SOAR) (R35, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DE-19-005; CFDA 93.121) designed to give stable, longer-term support to mid-career investigators who already have NIDCR funding and who have demonstrated an exceptional track record. The core idea is to back people, not just a single short project, by recognizing sustained research productivity along with strong mentorship and meaningful professional service to the broader research community. NIDCR’s expectation is that this kind of extended support will help proven investigators take on more ambitious, higher-impact, longer-horizon research programs that still sit clearly within the NIDCR mission area.

A defining feature of SOAR is its emphasis on durability and scientific runway. The award is structured to support research for as long as eight years, which is unusually long compared to many standard NIH mechanisms. That longer timeframe is meant to reduce the constant cycle of reapplication and allow investigators to pursue complex lines of inquiry, build cohesive research programs, and adapt directions as results emerge, while maintaining overall alignment with NIDCR priorities. The announcement also specifies that clinical trials are not allowed under this R35 opportunity, meaning the supported work must fit NIH’s definition of non-clinical-trial research for this mechanism.

From a funding perspective, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $650,000 (as provided in the source data). The posting does not specify an expected number of awards in the provided fields, but the presence of a ceiling helps potential applicants gauge the maximum scale of support contemplated by the program. The original closing date listed is December 5, 2018, and the opportunity creation date is September 18, 2018, which indicates this specific notice refers to a past submission cycle; anyone interested would typically look for a reissued or current version of the program announcement or related NIDCR R35 opportunities.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common domestic applicant organization types: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities. The opportunity also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

On the international component, the rules are more nuanced. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible to apply, and foreign components are allowed as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Practically speaking, this means a U.S.-based applicant organization can include certain foreign elements in the project when permitted and properly justified, but a standalone foreign institution cannot be the primary applicant.

In short, SOAR is aimed at sustaining and accelerating the trajectories of outstanding mid-career NIDCR-supported investigators by providing up to eight years of support for ambitious, long-term research programs within NIDCR’s mission, with a defined funding cap and broad domestic organizational eligibility, while prohibiting clinical trials and limiting direct foreign-institution applications even though certain foreign components may be included under NIH policy.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCR Award for Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research (SOAR) (R35 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-09-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $650,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA DE 19 005

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