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HCN Grants Est. 2026
No. RFA-HL-26-017 · National Institutes of Health
Open

Catalyze: Product Definition for Small Molecules, Biologics and Combination Products - Target Identification and Validation, and Preliminary Product/Lead Series Identification (R61/R33 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

Dealbreakers No cost share required Audit: not stated
Not reimbursement-only
“Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.” — From the announcement

At a glance

This program funds early-stage product definition work for small molecules, biologics, and combination products for NHLBI mission-related diseases and disorders. It supports an R61 phase to identify, validate, and screen compounds and an R33 phase to identify lead series and do preliminary preclinical testing and optimization. Eligible applicants include U.S. higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, governments, tribal entities, and other U.S.-based organizations, but foreign organizations are not eligible to apply. Awards are limited to up to $400,000 in direct costs per year in each phase, with a maximum 3-year combined project period, and the R33 phase requires a non-federal cash match of at least 0.25:1. Clinical trials are not allowed, and the notice expects at least one Accelerator Partner for the R33 phase.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Health
  • Research & Discovery
  • Technology & Product Development
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Biomedical & Disease Research
Official description from grants.gov

The goal of the NHLBI Catalyze Program is to provide a comprehensive suite of support and services to facilitate the transition of basic science discoveries into viable diagnostic and therapeutic candidates that have been cleared for human testing, and to develop translational researchers fluent in product development and entrepreneurship. This specific Catalyze Product Definition initiative will provide the early stage translational supportneeded for the activities required to identify and characterize potential therapeutic candidates and combination products to treat HLBS diseases and disorders. This initiative has a companion initiative that supports development of devices and diagnostics and is also part of a suite of innovation grants to advance projects to the point where they can meet the entry criteria for the NHLBI Catalyze Preclinical Program.

Who can apply

  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide