Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 10 002
Apply for PAR 10 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Drug Discovery for Nervous System 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 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 2, 2009 and posted on Oct 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2013. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Private institutions of higher education State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments Special district governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Independent school districts Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities For profit organizations other than small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders (R21) is an NIH funding opportunity (PAR-10-002) designed to push early-stage, high-impact drug discovery work for nervous system disorders. The central goal is to support projects that identify and advance new therapeutic compounds and generate the kinds of preclinical evidence needed to justify further development. In practical terms, the announcement is aimed at exploratory and developmental efforts such as discovering novel small molecules or other candidate compounds, characterizing their activity, and testing them in preclinical systems relevant to prevention or treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. The emphasis on discovery plus preclinical testing signals that applicants are expected to move beyond purely descriptive biology and into studies that demonstrate a plausible path toward a therapy, while still fitting the quicker, risk-tolerant nature of an R21.
The mechanism used is the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21), which is typically intended for early, innovative work where the concept is promising but the full body of preliminary data needed for a larger grant may not yet exist. This FOA runs in parallel with an R01 companion announcement (PAR-10-001) that covers the same scientific scope but is meant for more mature projects needing a larger, longer-term research plan. Applicants therefore had a choice: use the R21 for proof-of-concept and feasibility-driving studies, or use the R01 route for more extensive, fully developed programs. The listing also makes clear that awards depend on the availability of funds and the receipt of enough applications that score well in peer review, meaning there was no guaranteed number of awards.
From a funding standpoint, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $200,000, reflecting the smaller-scale, exploratory nature of the R21 mechanism. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for organizations that may not have discretionary resources to contribute financially. The FOA was posted on October 2, 2009, and remained open through January 7, 2013, with an archive date of February 7, 2013, indicating it is no longer accepting applications but remains accessible as a historical record.
Eligibility was intentionally broad. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and a wide range of government bodies such as state governments, counties, cities or townships, special district governments, and independent school districts. The eligibility language also explicitly included Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations, tribally controlled colleges and universities, U.S. territories or possessions, and a variety of mission-focused institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations. Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations and regional organizations were also listed as eligible, along with eligible federal agencies, highlighting NIHs interest in drawing strong drug discovery ideas from many sectors and geographies.
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA program areas that reflect the breadth of nervous system disorder research it can touch, including mental health (93.242), alcohol research (93.273), drug abuse and addiction research (93.279), and aging research (93.866). That combination suggests the announcement was meant to cover disorders and conditions that span psychiatric disease, substance use and addiction, and age-related neurodegeneration, among other nervous system targets, so long as the work centers on discovering and preclinically evaluating novel compounds with therapeutic potential.
For applicants at the time, the official announcement and application specifics were provided through the NIH Grants Guide link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-002.html). Administrative help was routed through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for access or linking issues, which is typical for NIH postings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders (R21) opportunity?
Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders (R21) is an NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA) identified as PAR-10-002. It is intended to support early-stage, high-impact drug discovery projects focused on nervous system disorders, with an emphasis on identifying and advancing potential therapeutic compounds and producing preclinical evidence that supports further development.
What is the main goal of PAR-10-002?
The central goal is to fund projects that discover or identify new candidate therapeutic compounds and generate preclinical evidence that would justify moving those compounds forward into additional development stages.
What types of research does this FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes exploratory and developmental drug discovery activities, such as discovering novel small molecules or other candidate compounds, characterizing their activity, and testing them in preclinical systems relevant to prevention or treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions.
Does this FOA support purely descriptive biology studies?
Based on the emphasis on discovery plus preclinical testing, the FOA signals that projects are expected to move beyond purely descriptive biology and include work that demonstrates a plausible path toward a therapy, while still fitting the exploratory, risk-tolerant nature of an R21.
What NIH grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism (R21), which is commonly used for early, innovative work where the idea is promising but the level of preliminary data needed for a larger grant may not yet exist.
How is this R21 FOA different from the companion R01 announcement?
This R21 FOA (PAR-10-002) runs in parallel with a companion R01 FOA (PAR-10-001) covering the same scientific scope. The R21 is positioned for proof-of-concept and feasibility studies, while the R01 route is intended for more mature projects that require a larger and longer-term research plan.
Is there a guaranteed number of awards?
No. The FOA indicates that awards depend on the availability of funds and on receiving a sufficient number of meritorious applications that score well in peer review.
What is the maximum award amount for this R21 opportunity?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $200,000, consistent with the smaller-scale, exploratory purpose of the R21 mechanism.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA specifies that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was PAR-10-002 posted, and is it still accepting applications?
The FOA was posted on October 2, 2009. It remained open through January 7, 2013, and has an archive date of February 7, 2013. Based on those dates, it is no longer accepting applications and remains available as an archived record.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) organizations); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits); and many types of government entities.
Which government entities are listed as eligible?
Eligible government applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, Native American tribal governments, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are tribal organizations and tribally controlled institutions included?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes Native American tribal organizations and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Are mission-focused institutions (like HBCUs or Hispanic-serving institutions) eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes mission-focused institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, as well as faith-based and community-based organizations.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA states that foreign (non-U.S.) organizations and regional organizations are eligible, and it also lists eligible federal agencies.
Which agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What CFDA program areas are associated with this FOA?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA program areas, including mental health (93.242), alcohol research (93.273), drug abuse and addiction research (93.279), and aging research (93.866).
What does the range of CFDA areas suggest about the scientific scope?
The set of CFDA areas suggests the FOA was intended to support nervous system disorder drug discovery across multiple domains, including psychiatric disease, substance use and addiction, and age-related neurodegeneration, as long as the work centers on discovering and preclinically evaluating novel compounds with therapeutic potential.
Where could applicants find the official FOA details?
The official announcement and application specifics were provided through the NIH Grants Guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-002.html.
Who was listed for administrative or technical help with the posting?
Administrative help for access or linking issues was routed through NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts, as is typical for NIH postings.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 10 002) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders (R01) Apply for PAR 10 001 Funding Number: PAR 10 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Community Networks Program (CNP) Centers for Reducing Cancer Disparities through Outreach, Research and Training (U54) Apply for RFA CA 09 032 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 032 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Pathway to Independence Award in Cancer Nanotechnology Research (K99/R00) Apply for RFA CA 09 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cancer Nanotechnology Training Centers (CNTCs)(R25) Apply for RFA CA 09 014 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R01) Apply for PA 10 012 Funding Number: PA 10 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R03) Apply for PA 10 011 Funding Number: PA 10 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34) Apply for PA 10 013 Funding Number: PA 10 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Validation and Advanced Development of Emerging Technologies in Biospecimen Science (R33) Apply for RFA CA 10 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Application and Early Stage Development of Emerging Technologies in Cancer Research (R21) Apply for RFA CA 10 003 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Innovative Technology Development for Cancer Research (R21) Apply for RFA CA 10 005 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Validation and Advanced Development of Emerging Technologies for Cancer Research (R33) Apply for RFA CA 10 004 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Innovative and Early Stage Development of Emerging Technologies in Biospecimen Science (R21) Apply for RFA CA 10 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment Research Data (R01) Apply for PAR 10 018 Funding Number: PAR 10 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Drug Abuse Dissertation Research Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, Services, and/or Women and Sex/Gender Differences (R36) Apply for PAR 10 020 Funding Number: PAR 10 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| AIDS Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03) Apply for PAR 10 021 Funding Number: PAR 10 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| State and Community Tobacco Control Policy and Media Research (U01) Apply for RFA CA 10 008 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Effectiveness Research on Smoking Cessation in Hospitalized Patients (U01) Apply for RFA HL 10 020 Funding Number: RFA HL 10 020 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 10 025 Funding Number: PA 10 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development, Application, and Evaluation of Prediction Models for Cancer Risk and Prognosis (R21) Apply for PA 10 026 Funding Number: PA 10 026 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| 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 PAR 10 024 Funding Number: PAR 10 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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