OpenFederal grantOpen to for-profit businessesPAR-27-062

Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of HealthCloses Jul 12, 2029(1003 days left)

Does this fit your business?

This is an NIH mentored career-development award (K32) that pays for up to three years of research and training for an early-stage postdoctoral scholar — the applicant is the sponsoring organization, not the business owner. If you run a small business, retail shop, or software firm with no postdoc to sponsor and no research mission, do not bother. It fits universities, nonprofits, governments, tribal entities, and research-oriented companies that can host and mentor a US-based postdoc.

Best for
Universities and research institutions sponsoring an early-stage postdoc, Small businesses and for-profits that can host and mentor a postdoctoral researcher, Nonprofits, tribal entities, and state, local, or tribal governments with a research-relevant mission
Not for
Small-business owners with no postdoc to sponsor, Retail, finance, housing, or software firms with no research mission, Foreign organizations and non-US components of US organizations
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Education & TrainingMatches your industry (training)
80
Strong Match
Healthcare & BiotechMatches your industry (clinical)
78
Strong Match
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
Arts & CultureLimit: Nothing in this notice points to arts & culture
54
Possible Match
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Nothing in this notice points to energy & clean tech
54
Possible Match
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Environment & ConservationLimit: Nothing in this notice points to environment & conservation
54
Possible Match
Finance & BankingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to finance & banking
54
Possible Match
Food & BeverageLimit: Nothing in this notice points to food & beverage
54
Possible Match
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
ManufacturingLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: Nothing in this notice points to social services & nonprofit
54
Possible Match
Technology & SoftwareLimit: Nothing in this notice points to technology & software
54
Possible Match
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
Research, Training
Who can apply
Small businesses, For-profit companies, Nonprofits, State and local governments, Colleges and universities, Tribal governments and organizations, Other applicants (see eligibility)

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
July 12, 2029. The notice was posted May 26, 2026, so the deadline is well over a year away.
Who can apply for this grant?
The award goes to eligible organizations — universities, governments (state, county, city, tribal, special district, housing authority), nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, independent school districts, small businesses, and other for-profits — that sponsor an early-stage postdoctoral scholar. The scholar must be a US-based postdoc, and the application must be submitted up to one year before the postdoc starts or no more than two years after training begins. Foreign organizations and non-US components of US organizations are not eligible.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
The facts do not say. Small businesses are listed as eligible, but the notice does not spell out how sole proprietors or single-member LLCs are treated, so check the NOFO's eligibility section before assuming you qualify.
Can a nonprofit apply?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are both listed as eligible applicants.

Summary

NIH K32 mentored career-development award supporting early-stage postdoctoral scholars for up to three years of rigorous research and training in fields relevant to participating NIH Institutes. Eligible organizations include universities, governments, nonprofits, tribal entities, and small businesses; the scholar must be a US-based postdoc.

About this grant

The purpose of the Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32) is to support rigorous, mentored scientific research and career development for up to three years for early-stage postdoctoral scholars. Candidates must submit their application up to one year prior to beginning their postdoctoral position or no more than two years after their postdoctoral training begins (resubmissions included). The ACE K32 will foster early, goal-directed planning and encourage innovative applications with the potential for a significant impact on scientific research and career development. Inclusion of preliminary data are not required as the ACE K32 emphasizes innovative research ideas and thoughtful plans for training and mentorship that will facilitate the development of the postdoctoral scholars who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in research fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

Who can apply

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Health
  • Science
  • Workforce

Program contact

National Institutes of Healthncik32@nih.gov301-402-2541

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