Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 06 418
Apply for PA 06 418
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment food and nutrition health 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): 93.113 Environmental Health 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 93.847 Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.866 Aging Research 93.867 Vision Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2009 and posted on May 17, 2006.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2010 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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts.
- 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, provided each application is scientifically distinct.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) R21 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-06-418) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding program designed to push early-stage, high-risk bioengineering ideas that could lead to major advances in human health. It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is specifically meant for exploratory or developmental work where the concept is promising but the supporting evidence may still be thin. The announcement emphasizes innovation and potential impact over extensive prior results, making it a fit for new directions, unconventional approaches, and platform ideas that could open up entire lines of future research.
A key feature of this FOA is that it does not expect applicants to have extensive preliminary data. Instead, applications are expected to make a strong case for why the problem matters and why the proposed approach is worth pursuing now. Reviewers are still looking for scientific rigor and feasibility, so proposals must show that the core idea is sound, the plan is logical, and the team has the right expertise to execute it. In other words, the program is open to bold concepts, but it is not a free pass for vague or speculative projects; applicants need to show credible technical reasoning, appropriate methods, and access to the facilities, equipment, and collaborations required to carry out the work.
The research scope is broad within bioengineering. Projects can be hypothesis-driven (testing a specific scientific idea), discovery-driven (looking for new phenomena or patterns), developmental (building and refining tools or systems), or design-directed (engineering a solution to a defined biomedical need). The FOA explicitly supports exploration of approaches and concepts that are new to a given research area, as well as early research and development of new technologies, techniques, and methods. It also supports generating initial data that can serve as the foundation for larger, longer-term projects later, such as follow-on applications to more extensive NIH mechanisms. The announcement notes that this FOA runs in conjunction with related NIH bioengineering programs, including Bioengineering Research Grants (PA-06-419) and Bioengineering Research Partnerships (PAR-04-023), which helps position the R21 as an entry point for novel ideas that may mature into larger efforts.
Funding and timing are tightly defined, as is typical for an R21. The maximum project period is two years. Total direct costs are capped at $275,000 across the two-year period, with an additional constraint that no single year may exceed $200,000 in direct costs. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity. The FOA also indicates that there are multiple receipt dates (rather than one single deadline), with applicants directed to the full announcement for the specific submission schedule.
Eligibility is notably expansive. A wide range of domestic and foreign organizations may apply, including for-profit and nonprofit entities, public or private institutions such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories, as well as units of state and local government and eligible federal agencies. The eligibility list also includes faith-based and community-based organizations and several categories of Indian/Native American Tribal governments and tribally designated organizations. On the investigator side, the program is open to any Project Director/Principal Investigator with the skills, knowledge, and resources to carry out the work, and NIH reiterates its standing encouragement for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities to apply. Applicants are also allowed to submit more than one application as long as each submission is scientifically distinct, which can be useful for teams pursuing multiple independent high-risk concepts.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under NIH, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning a wide range of health and biomedical areas (for example, environmental health, cancer, neurological disorders, aging, vision research, mental health, drug abuse, and technology innovation to improve human health). That breadth reflects how bioengineering methods and technologies can cut across many NIH missions and disease areas. The full announcement and official instructions are provided through the NIH grants guide link associated with PA-06-418, and NIH’s Office of Extramural Research provides contact support for access or linking issues.
Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) R21 (PA-06-418) - FAQs
What is the Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) R21 opportunity?
The Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) R21 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-06-418) is an NIH funding program intended to support early-stage, high-risk bioengineering research ideas that could lead to major advances in human health. It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is designed for exploratory or developmental projects where the concept is promising but supporting evidence may still be limited.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes innovation and potential impact over extensive prior results. It is intended to help launch new directions, unconventional approaches, and platform concepts that could open up new lines of future research in bioengineering and human health.
What does the NIH R21 mechanism mean in this context?
In this context, the R21 mechanism is meant for exploratory or developmental work. The program expects a strong rationale and a logical plan, even if preliminary evidence is thin. The focus is on testing bold, early ideas with a credible technical approach within a limited time frame and budget.
Is preliminary data required for an application under PA-06-418?
No. A key feature of this FOA is that it does not expect extensive preliminary data. However, the application still needs to make a strong case for importance and timeliness and demonstrate that the approach is worth pursuing now.
If preliminary data is not expected, what do reviewers look for?
Reviewers still look for scientific rigor and feasibility. Applications should show that the core idea is technically sound, the plan is logical, the methods are appropriate, and the team has the expertise and access to facilities, equipment, and collaborations needed to execute the work.
Does this program support speculative or vague ideas?
No. While the FOA is designed for bold concepts, it is not a free pass for vague or purely speculative projects. Applicants are expected to provide credible technical reasoning and a clear, workable plan.
What kinds of research approaches are within scope?
The scope is broad within bioengineering. Projects may be hypothesis-driven, discovery-driven, developmental (building/refining tools or systems), or design-directed (engineering a solution to a defined biomedical need).
Does the FOA support development of new technologies and methods?
Yes. The FOA explicitly supports early research and development of new technologies, techniques, and methods, including exploration of approaches and concepts that are new to a given research area.
Can the project be used to generate early data for a future, larger NIH project?
Yes. The FOA supports generating initial data that can serve as a foundation for larger, longer-term projects later, including potential follow-on applications to more extensive NIH mechanisms.
How does PA-06-418 relate to other NIH bioengineering programs?
The FOA is described as running in conjunction with related NIH bioengineering programs, including Bioengineering Research Grants (PA-06-419) and Bioengineering Research Partnerships (PAR-04-023). This positioning makes the R21 an entry point for novel ideas that may mature into larger efforts.
What is the maximum project period?
The maximum project period is two years.
What is the funding cap for direct costs?
Total direct costs are capped at $275,000 across the two-year project period.
Is there a per-year direct cost limit?
Yes. No single year may exceed $200,000 in direct costs.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Are there multiple deadlines to apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates that there are multiple receipt dates rather than a single deadline, and applicants are directed to the full announcement for the specific submission schedule.
Who is eligible to apply as an organization?
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of domestic and foreign organizations. Examples listed include for-profit and nonprofit entities; public or private institutions such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories; units of state and local government; and eligible federal agencies. The eligibility list also includes faith-based and community-based organizations and multiple categories of Indian/Native American Tribal governments and tribally designated organizations.
Can foreign organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates that both domestic and foreign organizations may apply.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes for-profit entities among eligible organizations.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes nonprofit entities among eligible organizations.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes units of state and local government and eligible federal agencies, and it also includes several categories of Indian/Native American Tribal governments and tribally designated organizations.
Who is eligible to serve as Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)?
The FOA is open to any PD/PI with the skills, knowledge, and resources to carry out the proposed work.
Does NIH encourage applications from underrepresented groups?
Yes. NIH reiterates its standing encouragement for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities to apply.
Can the same team submit more than one application?
Yes. Applicants may submit more than one application as long as each submission is scientifically distinct.
What type of grant is this administratively?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant under NIH.
What does it mean that multiple CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning a wide range of health and biomedical areas (including examples such as environmental health, cancer, neurological disorders, aging, vision research, mental health, drug abuse, and technology innovation to improve human health). This reflects that bioengineering methods and technologies can apply across many NIH missions and disease areas.
Where can applicants find the official announcement and instructions?
The full announcement and official instructions are provided through the NIH grants guide link associated with PA-06-418.
Who provides help if there are access or linking issues with the announcement?
NIH's Office of Extramural Research provides contact support for access or linking issues related to the full announcement.
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Applicants also applied for:
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| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD and Other Dual Doctoral Degree Fellows (Parent F30) Apply for PA 10 107 Funding Number: PA 10 107 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (Parent F32) Apply for PA 11 113 Funding Number: PA 11 113 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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