Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 16 040
Apply for PA 16 040
- The HHS-NIH11 in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.279, 93.286, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.837, 93.853, 93.865,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 20, 2015 and posted on Nov 20, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 07, 2019. (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: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-16-040) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program under HHS (listed as HHS-NIH11). It is designed to support early-stage, exploratory bioengineering research projects that are not yet ready for larger-scale funding but have the potential to open up new directions in biomedical science and technology. The core intent is to help investigators establish feasibility for a new technology, technique, or method, especially when the idea is unproven and preliminary data are minimal or even absent. In other words, this program is meant for projects that are too early, too uncertain, or too unconventional to compete well in more traditional mechanisms, but that could produce outsized impact if the underlying approach works.
A central theme of the FOA is high-risk, high-reward innovation that draws on multidisciplinary thinking. Proposed work should either introduce or test a new multidisciplinary approach to a biomedical challenge, push into areas where the chance of failure is real but the payoff is potentially large, and generate convincing early data that can serve as a springboard for more substantial future studies. The program explicitly allows a wide range of research styles, including hypothesis-driven studies, discovery-driven efforts, developmental research, and design-directed projects. This flexibility is important in bioengineering, where the most valuable early milestones are often proof-of-concept demonstrations, prototype development, validation of a measurement method, or early evidence that a platform can work in a relevant biological context.
In terms of funding parameters, the award ceiling is listed as $200,000, which signals that this mechanism is intended for limited-scope projects focused on feasibility and enabling results rather than full, mature programs of research. The announcement does not provide a number of expected awards in the supplied text, suggesting that the final count may depend on available NIH institute/center budgets and the volume and quality of applications in a given cycle. The closing date shown is January 7, 2019 (with the same date as both the original and current closing date in the provided record), and the FOA was created and posted on November 20, 2015. Even though these dates are historical in the listing you provided, the summary purpose and structure reflect how NIH R21-style exploratory mechanisms are generally positioned: to de-risk a novel idea and produce the kind of preliminary evidence that can justify later, larger applications.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations that might participate in biomedical and bioengineering R&D. Eligible applicants include 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; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and additional categories referenced as “Others” with further clarification in the full FOA text. This wide eligibility reflects NIH’s interest in supporting bioengineering innovation wherever it can be developed, including academic labs, research foundations, startups, established companies, and government-linked entities.
The funding activity category is listed under “Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services,” but the content of the FOA is firmly centered on biomedical technology development and early-stage bioengineering research. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity span multiple NIH programs and institutes (including 93.121, 93.279, 93.286, 93.393 through 93.399, 93.837, 93.853, and 93.865), which typically indicates that multiple NIH components may participate in or accept applications under this announcement depending on scientific fit. Practically, that means applicants should align their proposed biomedical problem area and approach with the missions of the relevant NIH institute or center when deciding where their application best fits.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a targeted on-ramp for bold bioengineering ideas: it backs early feasibility work for novel tools and approaches, encourages cross-disciplinary solutions to biomedical problems, and prioritizes projects that can quickly generate credible initial results that justify and enable more expansive follow-on research.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21) opportunity?
The Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21) is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity under HHS (listed as HHS-NIH11). It is designed to support early-stage, exploratory bioengineering research projects that are not yet ready for larger-scale funding but may open new directions in biomedical science and technology.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-16-040.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this grant?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What is the main purpose of this R21 bioengineering program?
The core intent is to help investigators establish feasibility for a new technology, technique, or method. It is particularly aimed at unproven ideas where preliminary data are minimal or even absent, and where early evidence could justify larger follow-on studies later.
What kind of projects are a good fit for this opportunity?
This FOA is meant for projects that are too early, too uncertain, or too unconventional to compete well under more traditional funding mechanisms, but that could have outsized impact if the underlying approach works. Typical fit includes feasibility studies, proof-of-concept demonstrations, prototype development, validation of measurement methods, or early evidence that a platform can work in a relevant biological context.
Is this opportunity focused on high-risk, high-reward research?
Yes. A central theme of the FOA is high-risk, high-reward innovation, including multidisciplinary approaches to biomedical challenges where the chance of failure is real but the potential payoff is large.
Does the FOA require extensive preliminary data?
No. The program is explicitly positioned to support ideas that may have minimal or even no preliminary data, as long as the project is aimed at establishing feasibility and generating convincing early results.
What research styles are allowed under this program?
The FOA explicitly allows a wide range of research styles, including hypothesis-driven studies, discovery-driven efforts, developmental research, and design-directed projects.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for this mechanism is $200,000, signaling a limited-scope project intended to produce enabling feasibility results rather than support a fully mature research program.
How many awards will NIH make under this FOA?
The provided information does not list an expected number of awards. The final number may depend on NIH institute/center budgets and the volume and quality of applications in a given cycle.
What are the key dates listed for this funding opportunity?
The FOA was created and posted on November 20, 2015. The closing date shown in the provided record is January 7, 2019 (listed as both the original and current closing date in that record).
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations involved in biomedical and bioengineering R&D. Eligible applicants listed include:
- State governments
- County governments
- 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
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Additional categories referenced as "Others" (with details in the full FOA text)
Are both nonprofit and for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status) as well as for-profit organizations and small businesses.
Can government entities apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes multiple government entity types, including state, county, city or township, and special district governments, as well as federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
What is the funding activity category listed for this FOA?
The funding activity category is listed as "Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services." However, the FOA content itself is focused on biomedical technology development and early-stage bioengineering research.
Which NIH programs or institutes are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity lists multiple CFDA numbers (including 93.121, 93.279, 93.286, 93.393 through 93.399, 93.837, 93.853, and 93.865). This typically indicates that multiple NIH components may participate in or accept applications under the announcement, depending on scientific fit.
How should applicants think about NIH "fit" for this FOA?
Because multiple NIH institutes/centers may be associated, applicants should align their proposed biomedical problem area and bioengineering approach with the mission of the most relevant NIH institute or center when determining where their application fits best.
What outcomes is this program trying to produce?
The program prioritizes early, credible results that de-risk a novel idea, demonstrate feasibility, and serve as a springboard for more substantial future studies (for example, larger applications that build on the initial enabling evidence).
What is the overall "best use" of this grant mechanism?
Based on the provided description, it functions as an on-ramp for bold bioengineering ideas: it supports early feasibility work for novel tools and approaches, encourages cross-disciplinary solutions to biomedical problems, and focuses on generating convincing initial results that can enable follow-on research.
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| BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early - Stage Research for Large - Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) Apply for RFA EY 16 001 Funding Number: RFA EY 16 001 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Optimization of Transformative Technologies for Large Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01) Apply for RFA NS 16 007 Funding Number: RFA NS 16 007 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Non-Invasive Neuromodulation - New Tools and Techniques for Spatiotemporal Precision(R01) Apply for RFA MH 16 810 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 810 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01) Apply for RFA NS 16 006 Funding Number: RFA NS 16 006 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Non-Invasive Neuromodulation - Mechanisms and Dose/Response Relationships for Targeted CNS Effects (R01) Apply for RFA MH 16 815 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 815 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Analyze Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01) Apply for RFA MH 16 775 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 775 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Next-Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (U44) Apply for RFA NS 16 011 Funding Number: RFA NS 16 011 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: SBIR Direct to Phase II Next-Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (U44) Apply for RFA NS 16 018 Funding Number: RFA NS 16 018 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Education and Health: New Frontiers (R01) Apply for PAR 16 080 Funding Number: PAR 16 080 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Education and Health: New Frontiers (R03) Apply for PAR 16 079 Funding Number: PAR 16 079 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Education and Health: New Frontiers (R21) Apply for PAR 16 078 Funding Number: PAR 16 078 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Basic Biopsychosocial Mechanisms and Processes in the Management of Chronic Conditions (R21) Apply for PAR 16 095 Funding Number: PAR 16 095 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Obesity Policy Evaluation Research (R01) Apply for PA 16 165 Funding Number: PA 16 165 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01) Apply for PA 16 190 Funding Number: PA 16 190 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications for U.S-South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (U01) Apply for RFA AI 16 040 Funding Number: RFA AI 16 040 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications for U.S-South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (R01) Apply for RFA AI 16 039 Funding Number: RFA AI 16 039 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (K12) Apply for RFA OD 16 013 Funding Number: RFA OD 16 013 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Foundations of Non-Invasive Functional Human Brain Imaging and Recording - Bridging Scales and Modalities (R01) Apply for RFA MH 17 235 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 235 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) Apply for RFA EY 17 001 Funding Number: RFA EY 17 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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