Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21) | Apply Online

FAQs: Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21) (PA 16-141)

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the NIH "Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21)" program under Funding Opportunity Number PA 16-141. It is a discretionary grant program intended to support highly innovative, early-stage projects that develop, significantly improve, or rigorously characterize animal models and closely related biological materials used in biomedical research.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The main purpose is to strengthen the research toolkit that supports many areas of human health and disease research. The emphasis is on broadly enabling models, resources, and approaches that multiple research communities can use, rather than projects narrowly focused on a single disorder area.

What types of projects does this FOA aim to support?

Projects that create new animal models, significantly improve existing animal models, or rigorously characterize animal models and closely related biological materials used in biomedical research. The program also supports work that improves the diagnosis, prevention, and control of diseases that can disrupt or compromise the use of animals in biomedical research.

Does the program only support models of human diseases?

No. In addition to developing models of human conditions, the program supports research aimed at improving the diagnosis, prevention, and control of diseases that can disrupt or compromise the use of animals in biomedical research, which helps protect research integrity and animal colony health.

What does "related biological materials" mean in this context?

The announcement includes not only animal models themselves, but also biological materials closely related to those models that are used in biomedical research. The FOA frames these materials as part of the broader set of research-enabling resources the program seeks to strengthen.

What makes an application "responsive" to this FOA?

A key requirement is that the proposed project aligns with the programmatic interests of two or more NIH Institutes or Centers. In practice, this means the work should be broadly applicable across multiple disease areas or research domains, consistent with the FOA's cross-cutting intent.

Why is alignment with two or more NIH Institutes or Centers required?

The FOA is designed to fund projects that have cross-cutting relevance and value across NIH. Requiring alignment with two or more NIH Institutes or Centers reinforces that the resource or advance is broadly enabling, rather than confined to a single disease area or a single institute's mission.

Are single-disease animal model applications a good fit for this opportunity?

Generally, no. Applications that develop an animal model strictly tied to one specific disease, or that fit cleanly within one categorical area, are described as not responsive to this FOA. Those projects are expected to be submitted instead to the most relevant NIH Institute or Center that focuses on that disease or topic.

What kinds of applications tend to be competitive under this FOA?

Competitive applications typically emphasize platform-like model development, broadly useful resources, or methodological advances in model generation and validation that multiple NIH components would find valuable.

What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This FOA uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is generally intended for exploratory and developmental research and emphasizes innovation and proof-of-concept.

What is the award ceiling for this R21 opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $275,000.

Who is the sponsoring agency for this program?

The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH).

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The program is associated with CFDA number 93.351.

When was this opportunity posted and created?

The opportunity was posted and created on March 18, 2016.

What is the closing date shown for this listing?

The closing date shown for this listing is May 7, 2019.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as allowed under NIH policy and as referenced in the additional eligibility text.

Can government entities apply (state, local, or special district governments)?

Yes. Eligible applicants explicitly include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.

Can schools and universities apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.

Can tribal governments or tribal organizations apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations.

Can nonprofits apply, and does 501(c)(3) status matter?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, excluding higher education institutions within those nonprofit categories as noted in the eligibility description.

Can for-profit organizations apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

What is the overall focus investigators should keep in mind when applying?

The program is positioned for investigators and teams building broadly enabling animal models and biological resources that can serve multiple research communities and NIH missions. It is not intended for single-disease, single-institute projects.