Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
View forecast on Grants.gov →Forecasted — not yet open
- Posted
- June 10, 2026
- Closes
- See announcement
- Award ceiling
- $600,000
- Award floor
- $300,000
- Expected awards
- 4
- Cost sharing
- No
- Instrument
- Grant
- Assistance listing
- 93.846
- Category
- Health
Program funding history
Awards made under Assistance Listing 93.846 across FY2025–FY2027, from public federal spending records.
- FY2025 obligated
- $537.1M
- FY2026 obligated
- $554.7M
- FY2027 (to date) obligated
- $0
- Awards in window
- 2,603
Top recipients: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, the, Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, the, Brigham & Womens Hospital Inc, Regents of the University of Michigan, Washington University, the
Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed October 2026 · Program page: awards, recipients and the opportunities under this listing →
Synopsis
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for Exploratory Clinical Trials Grants Program in the mission areas of NIAMS. The goal of the NIAMS clinical trial program is to support research leading to the prevention or reduction of symptoms and improve outcomes and function in patients with rheumatic, musculoskeletal, or skin conditions or diseases. The purpose of the Exploratory Clinical Trials Grants Program is to foster clinical trials that will lead to clinically meaningful improvements in prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of these conditions or diseases.
This Exploratory Clinical Trials Grants Program is designed to facilitate the execution of short-term, interventional studies. The Program is intended to support a range of exploratory studies, from proof-of-concept/first in human to Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. Such studies must meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial and be feasible within the time and budget constraints of this NOFO. A high priority is the use of such studies to stimulate the translation of promising research developments from laboratory, preclinical, and early human testing into clinical practice.
Examples of research areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Conducting early-stage clinical trials, such as but not limited to; first in human, dose-finding or escalation/tolerability/safety/efficacy studies with drugs, biologics, devices, behavioral interventions, and/or physical therapy for treatment of arthritis, musculoskeletal, or skin conditions or diseases.
- Clinical trials to provide data required to support a future, more robust clinical trial whose aim is to help establish the safety and efficacy or effectiveness of an intervention.
- Clinical trials in rare diseases where the number of potential study participants is limited.
- Clinical trials to determine the predictive value of a potential biomarker.
Who can apply
- State governments
- Special district governments
- Private institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- City or township governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- County governments
- Small businesses
Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
How to apply
Applications go through the official government listing. Grants Radar links you straight to the source — applying is free.
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Similar grants
- Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R61 Clinical Trial Required)
- Clinical Observational (CO) Studies in Musculoskeletal, Rheumatic, and Skin Diseases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIAMS Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)
- NIAMS Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement
- Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Limited Competition: Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program: Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)
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