Tobacco Regulatory Science Small Grant Program for New Investigators (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're an early-career researcher with a novel idea about tobacco products, manufacturing, marketing, or public health policy, this $75K grant is designed to fund your first independent study.
Report stale or inaccurate summary
What this is
The Tobacco Regulatory Science Small Grant Program targets new investigators establishing independent careers in tobacco research, using the R03 mechanism to fund pilot studies, secondary data analysis, methodology development, and new research tools. Projects must address FDA Center for Tobacco Products priorities under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, with results directly informing tobacco product regulation. This is a structured, low-risk entry point for early-stage researchers to generate preliminary data and establish regulatory science credentials.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include universities (public and private), nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, for-profit organizations, state/local governments, Native American tribal organizations, and independent researchers. International organizations are not eligible; applicants must be U.S.-based entities or institutions.
Eligible applicant types
- County governments
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- City or township governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Small businesses
- Independent school districts
- State governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Full description — from the agency
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aims to support new biomedical, behavioral, and social science investigators who are in the early stages of establishing independent careers in tobacco regulatory research. The R03 grant mechanism supports different types of projects, including pilot and feasibility studies, secondary analysis of existing data, small, self-contained research projects, development of research methodology, and development of new research technology. Applicants are encouraged to conduct projects that ultimately have the potential to inform regulations on tobacco product manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. Research projects must address one or more High-Priority Research Topic(s) related to the regulatory authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) as mandated by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA), Public Law 111-31. The awards under this NOFO will be administered by NIH using funds made available through FDA CTP and the FSPTCA. Research results from this NOFO are expected to generate findings and data directly relevant to informing the FDA's regulation of the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products to protect public health.
Topics: tobacco regulatory science · FDA regulation · early-career researcher · pilot study grant · R03 mechanism
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.