Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 06 461
Apply for PA 06 461
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development and Application of PET and SPECT Imaging Ligands as Biomarkers for Drug Discovery and for Pathophysiological Studies of CNS Disorders (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Aug 7, 2006.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2009 Multiple Receipt Dates See Link to Full Announcement for details.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education State governments Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments.
- Foreign institutions are eligible to apply. Eligible agencies of the Federal Government can apply. Faith based or community based organizations can apply. Applicants may submit more than one application to this FOA, provided each application is scientifically distinct. However, an individual may submit only one application as the PD/PI for any submission date. Once funded as a PD/PI via this FOA, an individual is then ineligible to submit another application as a PD/PI for this FOA.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH funding opportunity PA-06-461 is an Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) focused on creating and testing new PET or SPECT radioligands that can image targets in the human brain. The core purpose is to expand the toolbox of imaging biomarkers that can be used both for drug discovery (for example, showing whether a drug hits its intended target in the CNS, how much of the target it occupies, and how long that engagement lasts) and for studying the underlying biology of central nervous system disorders. The FOA is backed by multiple NIH institutes that span mental health, aging, alcohol use, drug abuse, and biomedical imaging (NIMH, NIA, NIAAA, NIBIB, and NIDA), which signals that projects can be relevant to a wide range of brain-related conditions and translational questions, provided the central emphasis is on imaging ligand development and early demonstration of feasibility.
The research encouraged under this announcement centers on the development of novel radioligands suitable for PET or SPECT imaging in humans, with an expectation that applicants will not stop at chemistry alone. Projects should also incorporate a pilot or feasibility component that demonstrates the ligand can work in practice, such as preclinical evaluations, early model development, or initial clinical studies. In other words, the FOA is aimed at the critical step between identifying a promising molecular target and having a usable imaging probe that can quantify that target in vivo. This can include establishing binding properties, selectivity, kinetic behavior, brain penetration, signal-to-noise characteristics, and initial approaches to quantification and image analysis, all geared toward eventual usefulness in humans.
Because this is an R21 mechanism, the announcement is positioned for exploratory and developmental work where the goal is to de-risk an idea and generate strong preliminary evidence rather than complete a large, fully powered clinical program. The listed award ceiling is $250,000 (as provided in the opportunity data), reinforcing that the intent is to support early-stage development, proof-of-concept studies, and initial feasibility assessments. The FOA sits in the broader “Education/Health” activity space and maps to several CFDA program areas, including mental health research, alcohol research, drug abuse and addiction research, imaging/biomedical engineering innovation, neurosciences, and aging research, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of brain imaging biomarkers.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses and other for-profit entities (including those that are not small businesses), and a variety of government entities such as state governments, county and city governments, independent school districts, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations are eligible, and the announcement explicitly notes that foreign institutions may apply, that eligible federal agencies can apply, and that faith-based or community-based organizations can apply. The FOA also allows multiple applications from the same applicant organization as long as they are scientifically distinct. At the individual level, a researcher may submit only one application as the PD/PI per submission date; and once an individual is funded as PD/PI under this FOA, that person becomes ineligible to submit again as PD/PI to this same FOA, which is a noteworthy limitation for investigators planning multiple related submissions.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant. It was posted on August 7, 2006, with multiple receipt dates (rather than a single deadline), and the dataset shows a current closing date of September 7, 2009, with an archive date of October 7, 2009. The full announcement and official requirements were provided through the NIH Grants Guide link (PA-06-461), and the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact is listed for technical issues accessing the FOA online.
In practical terms, applicants considering this FOA would be expected to propose a clear plan for designing or identifying a radiotracer candidate, radiolabeling strategy (PET or SPECT appropriate), and a coherent path to initial validation that supports future, larger-stage translational studies. That typically means showing how the ligand will serve as a biomarker: not merely producing an image, but enabling quantitative or semi-quantitative measurement tied to a biological target or process relevant to CNS disorders and drug development.
FAQs: NIH PA-06-461 (R21) - PET/SPECT Radioligand Development for Human Brain Imaging
What is NIH funding opportunity PA-06-461?
PA-06-461 is an NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for an Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) focused on creating and testing new PET or SPECT radioligands that can image targets in the human brain.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The central goal is to expand the toolbox of imaging biomarkers by developing radioligands that can be used in humans to quantify brain targets in vivo. The FOA emphasizes ligand development plus early evidence that the ligand can work in practice, so it can ultimately support drug discovery and studies of CNS disorder biology.
What imaging modalities are supported under this opportunity?
The FOA supports radioligand development for PET (positron emission tomography) or SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography), specifically aimed at imaging targets in the human brain.
What kinds of projects does the FOA encourage?
Projects centered on developing novel PET or SPECT radioligands suitable for human use, coupled with pilot or feasibility work that demonstrates practical performance (for example, preclinical evaluations, early model development, or initial clinical studies).
Is this FOA limited to chemistry, or does it require in vivo testing?
It is not limited to chemistry alone. The FOA expects applicants to incorporate a pilot or feasibility component showing the ligand can work in practice, such as preclinical evaluations, early model development, or initial clinical studies.
What does "radioligand development" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, radioligand development includes designing or identifying a tracer candidate and building evidence that it can image and quantify a brain target in vivo. The opportunity highlights properties such as binding and selectivity, kinetic behavior, brain penetration, signal-to-noise characteristics, and initial approaches to quantification and image analysis geared toward eventual usefulness in humans.
What kinds of feasibility evidence are relevant for an R21 under this FOA?
The FOA describes feasibility work such as preclinical evaluations, early model development, and initial clinical studies. The emphasis is on early demonstration that the ligand is viable as a PET or SPECT imaging probe for the human brain, rather than completing a large, fully powered clinical program.
How is this FOA relevant to drug discovery?
The radioligands developed under this FOA are intended to serve as imaging biomarkers for drug discovery. Example uses described include showing whether a drug hits its intended CNS target, how much of the target is occupied, and how long target engagement lasts.
How is this FOA relevant to studying CNS disorders?
Beyond drug discovery, the FOA supports radioligands that help study the underlying biology of central nervous system disorders by enabling in vivo imaging and quantification of brain targets or processes in humans.
Which NIH institutes are backing this FOA?
The FOA is backed by multiple NIH institutes spanning mental health, aging, alcohol use, drug abuse, and biomedical imaging: NIMH, NIA, NIAAA, NIBIB, and NIDA.
Does the multi-institute support mean a wide range of topics are acceptable?
It signals that projects can be relevant to a wide range of brain-related conditions and translational questions, as long as the central emphasis remains on imaging ligand development and early demonstration of feasibility.
What grant mechanism is used for PA-06-461?
This FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant mechanism (R21), which is intended for exploratory and developmental work to de-risk ideas and generate strong preliminary evidence.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling in the opportunity data is $250,000, consistent with the FOA's focus on early-stage development, proof-of-concept studies, and initial feasibility assessments.
Is this funding opportunity intended for large clinical trials?
No. The FOA is positioned for exploratory/developmental work where the goal is to generate preliminary evidence and demonstrate feasibility rather than run a large, fully powered clinical program.
What kinds of performance characteristics does the FOA expect applicants to evaluate?
The FOA highlights evaluation areas including binding properties, selectivity, kinetic behavior, brain penetration, signal-to-noise characteristics, and initial approaches to quantification and image analysis, all with an eye toward eventual use in humans.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; small businesses and other for-profit entities (including those that are not small businesses); and various government entities such as state governments, county and city governments, independent school districts, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.
Can foreign institutions apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes that foreign institutions may apply.
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. The FOA notes that eligible federal agencies can apply.
Can faith-based or community-based organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes that faith-based or community-based organizations can apply.
Can an organization submit more than one application?
Yes. The FOA allows multiple applications from the same applicant organization as long as the applications are scientifically distinct.
Can an individual submit more than one application as PD/PI per submission date?
No. At the individual level, a researcher may submit only one application as the PD/PI per submission date under this FOA.
If an investigator is funded as PD/PI under this FOA, can they apply again as PD/PI to the same FOA?
No. Once an individual is funded as PD/PI under this FOA, that person becomes ineligible to submit again as PD/PI to this same FOA. This is an important constraint for investigators planning multiple related submissions.
What type of award is this administratively?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant.
When was PA-06-461 posted?
The FOA was posted on August 7, 2006.
Does the FOA have a single deadline or multiple receipt dates?
The opportunity includes multiple receipt dates rather than a single deadline.
What are the closing, archive, and related dates shown in the opportunity data?
The dataset shows a current closing date of September 7, 2009, and an archive date of October 7, 2009.
Where can applicants find the official FOA details?
The full announcement and official requirements were provided through the NIH Grants Guide link for PA-06-461.
Who is listed as the contact for technical issues accessing the FOA online?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact is listed for technical issues related to accessing the FOA online.
What should a strong application generally include, based on the FOA description?
Based on the FOA description, applicants would be expected to propose a clear plan for designing or identifying a radiotracer candidate, a radiolabeling strategy appropriate for PET or SPECT, and a coherent path to initial validation supporting later translational work. The proposal should treat the ligand as a biomarker by enabling quantitative or semi-quantitative measurement tied to a biological target or process relevant to CNS disorders and drug development.
What is the key emphasis that should stay central to the project?
The central emphasis should remain on imaging ligand development and an early demonstration of feasibility for PET or SPECT imaging in humans, rather than focusing primarily on other aspects of neuroscience or clinical research.
Which broader program areas does this FOA map to?
The FOA maps to several CFDA program areas, including mental health research, alcohol research, drug abuse and addiction research, imaging/biomedical engineering innovation, neurosciences, and aging research.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health
Next opportunity: Development and Application of PET and SPECT Imaging Ligands as Biomarkers for Drug Discovery and for Pathophysiological Studies of CNS Disorders (R33)
Previous opportunity: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Education and Career Development Program (R25)
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Development and Application of PET and SPECT Imaging Ligands as Biomarkers for Drug Discovery and for Pathophysiological Studies of CNS Disorders (R33) Apply for PA 06 462 Funding Number: PA 06 462 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Development and Application of PET and SPECT Imaging Ligands as Biomarkers for Drug Discovery and for Pathophysiological Studies of CNS Disorders (Phased Innovation Award R21/R33) Apply for PA 06 463 Funding Number: PA 06 463 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03) Apply for PAR 06 520 Funding Number: PAR 06 520 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21) Apply for PAR 06 521 Funding Number: PAR 06 521 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Translational Research for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes and Obesity (R18) Apply for PAR 06 532 Funding Number: PAR 06 532 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (B/START) (R03) Apply for PAR 06 541 Funding Number: PAR 06 541 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Development, Application, and Evaluation of Prediction Models for Cancer Risk and Prognosis (R21) Apply for PA 07 022 Funding Number: PA 07 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Focal Cognitive Deficits in CNS Disorders (R03) Apply for PA 07 034 Funding Number: PA 07 034 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Focal Cognitive Deficits in CNS Disorders (R21) Apply for PA 07 035 Funding Number: PA 07 035 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders (R21) Apply for PAR 07 049 Funding Number: PAR 07 049 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Molecular genetics of drug addiction and related co morbidities (R01) Apply for PA 07 073 Funding Number: PA 07 073 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development, Application, and Evaluation of Prediction Models for Cancer Risk and Prognosis (R01) Apply for PA 07 021 Funding Number: PA 07 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Basic Research in the Bladder and Lower Urinary Tract (R01) Apply for PA 07 023 Funding Number: PA 07 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanisms of Alcohol Associated Cancers (R01) Apply for PA 07 069 Funding Number: PA 07 069 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Chronic Insomnia Disorder (R01) Apply for PA 07 047 Funding Number: PA 07 047 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders (R01) Apply for PAR 07 048 Funding Number: PAR 07 048 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research On The Reduction And Prevention Of Suicidality (R01) Apply for PA 07 079 Funding Number: PA 07 079 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Risk Factors For Psychopathology Using Existing Data Sets (R01) Apply for PA 07 082 Funding Number: PA 07 082 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01) Apply for PAR 07 086 Funding Number: PAR 07 086 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HIV Infection Of The Central Nervous System (R01) Apply for PA 07 089 Funding Number: PA 07 089 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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