**Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)****Overview**The Trailblazer Award is an opportunity for NIH-defined New and Early Stage Investigators (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/index.htm) to pursue research programs that integrate engineering and physical sciences with the life and/or biomedical sciences. A Trailblazer project may be exploratory, developmental, proof of concept, or high risk-high impact, and should not be considered preliminary data for a future hypothesis-driven study. Importantly, applicants must propose research approaches for which there are minimal or no preliminary data.**Specific Research Objectives and Scope**Each institute has specific areas of research interest.* **National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)** interests include the development and integration of advanced engineering, imaging, and computational technologies with life sciences for the improvement of human health and medical care. An application is not within the NIBIB mission and will be withdrawn from consideration if its principal focus is development of technologies whose goal is to understand basic biological function or mechanisms. Additionally, NIBIB only supports projects whose technology would ultimately be applicable to a broad spectrum of disorders and diseases rather than being limited to only a single tissue, organ, or physiological condition. However, applicants may propose research that utilizes only a single tissue, organ or physiological condition as a model system to facilitate the development of what is expected to be a more broadly applicable emerging technology. An application is not within the NIBIB mission and will be withdrawn from consideration if the proposed technology or approach has limited application to a single disease, organ, or physiological condition.* **National Eye Institute (NEI)** leads the federal government in conducting and supporting research in vision research. The mission of the National Eye Institute (NEI) is to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through vision research. The NEI has framed its current strategic plan around this mission which addresses multiple opportunities as challenges in the vision field. NEI will support applications that address or seek fundamental knowledge related to vision sciences, including, but not limited to: cellular and molecular neuroscience, imaging, genetics, development, basic/translational research on vision including how the visual system works from the eyes to the brain in health and disease. The overarching goal is to reduce visual impairment and blindness and thus resulting in an improvement in the quality of life for people of all ages. In all these areas and related areas of vision sciences research, NEI encourages an emphasis on understanding and addressing health disparities that are experienced by underserved populations.* **National Institute on Aging (NIA)** leads the federal government in conducting and supporting research on aging and the health and well-being of older people. To fulfill its mission, NIA supports technologies which aim to increase the research community's understanding of the aging process, as well as diseases, conditions, and needs associated with growing older, in order to extend the healthy, active years of life. Studies of interest to NIA include, but are not limited to the following: * Technology development for imaging modalities and visualization tools as applied to aging * Applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, or health monitoring technologies to the study of aging biology or age related diseases * Bioinformatic, statistical, and computational approaches in aging biology research Novel sensors and biomarkers for monitoring age-related changes and diseases * Less invasive and more ubiquitous ways of collecting biological and diagnostic data * Systems biology of aging * Other emerging technologies that may benefit aging research and reflect new directions, such as new imaging technologies or novel biophysical approaches Tissues-, organs- and organ systems-on-a-chip technologies Imaging of any of the pillars of aging which include protein homeostasis, nuclear and DNA integrity, metabolism and mitochondrial quality control, cellular senescence, autophagy and cell death, and other hallmarks as described in the literature: **Award Information*** **Grant:** A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.* **Application Types Allowed:** * New * Resubmission* **Anticipated Number of Awards:** 66* **Project Period:** 3 years* **Budget:** Up to $400,000 direct costs per year for 3 years**Eligibility Information*** **Eligible Applicants:** Higher Education Institutions, Nonprofits, Small Businesses* **Eligible Individuals:** * New and Early Stage Investigators (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/index.htm) * Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women, are encouraged to apply.**Application and Submission Information*** **Submission Deadline:** January 08, 2025* **Application Submission:** * Required Registrations: * System for Award Management (SAM) * National Science Foundation FastLane System * eRA Commons * Instructions: Follow all instructions in the NIH Grants Policy Statement and the Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide**Application Review Information*** **Criteria:** * Significance (Importance and Innovation) * Approach (Rigor and Feasibility) * Investigator(s) and Environment (Expertise and Resources)* **Reviewers:** Applications will be evaluated by NIH peer review panels and assigned an overall impact score.**Award Administration Information*** **Award Notices:** Notice of Award (NoA) is the official authorizing document notifying the applicant that an award has been made.* **Administrative and National Policy Requirements:** * NIH Grants Policy Statement * HHS-specific policy requirements* **Data Management and Sharing:** Recipients will be required to adhere to the Data Management and Sharing requirements outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.**Agency Contacts*** **Scientific/Research Contact:** * Randy King, Ph.D. - National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) * Martha C Flanders - NEI - NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE * Leonid V. Tsap, Ph.D. - National Institute on Aging (NIA)* **Financial/Grants Management Contact:** * Katie Ellis - National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) * Jessi Perez - National Institute on Aging (NIA) * Karen Robinson-Smith - National Eye Institute (NEI)**Authority and Regulations**Awards are authorized by the Public Health Service Act and the Federal Regulations for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.