Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 14 331
Apply for PAR 14 331
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (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 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.866 Aging Research 93.989 International Research and Research Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 5, 2014 and posted on Sep 5, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 5, 2017. (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 $125,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: 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 and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. To determine country income categories, please view the following http://data.worldbank.org/country. The subcategories of LMICs are upper middle income (UMIC), lower middle income and low income countries. At least one institution in the U.S. or an UMIC, and at least one institution in a LMIC must be involved as partners in the grant application (UMIC institutions are eligible to partner either with U.S. institutions or directly with other LMIC institutions with no U.S. partner). Exceptions Foreign high income country (HIC) institutions are not eligible institutional partners under this FOA. Note that Hong Kong based institutions are not eligible as applicant or primary LMIC partner institutions. As long as China remains a LMIC, a second institution in mainland China must be involved as the primary collaborating UMIC institution if an institution in Hong Kong is included.
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Opportunity Summary:
Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21) (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-14-331) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) exploratory and developmental grant opportunity designed to spark innovative, early-stage research on brain and nervous system function and disorders across the entire lifespan, with a clear emphasis on issues that matter for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The core idea is to support high-impact pilot studies and new collaborative directions that can later grow into larger, more comprehensive research programs. Projects are expected to generate foundational evidence that can move the field toward better diagnostics, prevention approaches, treatments, and real-world implementation strategies for neurological, neurodevelopmental, neuromuscular, sensory, mental health, and related nervous system conditions as they present from infancy through older age, particularly in LMIC contexts.
A defining feature of this FOA is its required international collaboration structure, guided by World Bank income classifications. Applications must include genuine partnership between at least one institution in the United States or an upper middle-income country (UMIC) and at least one institution in a LMIC. UMIC institutions are allowed to partner either with U.S. institutions or directly with LMIC institutions without a U.S. partner, as long as the required LMIC collaboration is in place. The program is intentionally aimed at strengthening sustainable research capacity in LMICs, so proposals are expected not only to test a research concept but also to help establish longer-term scientific capability, collaboration pipelines, and a platform for ongoing work in the partner LMIC setting. In addition to producing scientific results, projects may also help create research networks and contribute evidence that can inform policy beyond the narrow boundaries of the specific study.
The award mechanism is the NIH R21, which generally supports exploratory, higher-risk ideas and early proof-of-concept work rather than fully mature research programs. Under this FOA, the listed award ceiling is $125,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on September 5, 2014, with an original and current closing date of January 5, 2017, and an archive date of February 5, 2017, meaning the announcement is no longer active but remains useful as a reference for the structure and priorities NIH used for this initiative.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common U.S. applicant organization types, such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status). It also explicitly allows non-U.S. entities to apply, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, as well as non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations. The FOA also highlights eligibility for a range of mission-relevant institution categories, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. At the same time, there are important restrictions: foreign high-income country institutions are not eligible institutional partners under this FOA. There is also a specific exception involving Hong Kong, where Hong Kong-based institutions are not eligible as an applicant or primary LMIC partner. If a Hong Kong institution is included while China is still classified as an LMIC, the collaboration must also include a second institution in mainland China serving as the primary collaborating UMIC institution.
The scientific scope is intentionally wide and cross-cutting, reflected in the multiple CFDA program areas associated with the opportunity, spanning environmental health, communication disorders and deafness, mental health, drug abuse and addiction, general neurosciences and neurological disorders, child health and human development, aging research, and international research and research training. Taken together, these categories signal that NIH was looking for multidisciplinary ideas that connect neuroscience and nervous system disorders to the realities of health systems, environmental exposures, development, aging, and social determinants in LMIC settings, while still keeping the central focus on nervous system health and disease.
For reference and official details, NIH provided the full announcement link at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-331.html. For technical access or linking issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is PAR-14-331 (Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan - R21)?
PAR-14-331 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) exploratory and developmental research opportunity using the R21 mechanism. It was designed to stimulate innovative, early-stage research on brain and nervous system function and disorders across the lifespan, with a clear emphasis on priorities relevant to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to support high-impact pilot studies and new collaborative directions that can generate foundational evidence and grow into larger research programs. The intended downstream impact includes improvements in diagnostics, prevention, treatments, and real-world implementation strategies for nervous system-related conditions, particularly in LMIC contexts.
What types of research projects does this FOA aim to support?
This FOA aims to support exploratory, early proof-of-concept projects that may be higher-risk and innovative rather than fully mature research programs. Projects are expected to generate foundational evidence and may also help build longer-term scientific capability and collaboration pipelines in LMIC settings.
Which health areas and conditions are included in the scientific scope?
The scope is intentionally broad and includes neurological, neurodevelopmental, neuromuscular, sensory, mental health, and related nervous system conditions as they present from infancy through older age, especially as they affect LMICs.
Does the project need to address the entire lifespan?
The FOA emphasizes research "across the lifespan," meaning topics can relate to nervous system function and disorders from infancy through older age. The key expectation is that the research aligns with the lifespan framing and remains centered on brain and nervous system health and disease in LMIC-relevant contexts.
How does this opportunity define or emphasize LMIC relevance?
The FOA is explicitly focused on issues that matter for low- and middle-income countries, and it expects projects to be grounded in LMIC settings and realities. It is also aimed at strengthening sustainable research capacity in LMICs, not only producing scientific results.
Is international collaboration required?
Yes. A defining feature of this FOA is the required international collaboration structure guided by World Bank income classifications. Applications must include a genuine partnership that involves at least one LMIC institution.
What collaboration structure is required between countries or institutions?
Applications must include partnership between at least one institution in the United States or an upper middle-income country (UMIC) and at least one institution in an LMIC. UMIC institutions may partner with U.S. institutions or directly with LMIC institutions without a U.S. partner, as long as the LMIC collaboration requirement is met.
Can a UMIC institution apply without a U.S. partner?
Yes. The FOA allows UMIC institutions to partner directly with LMIC institutions without including a U.S. institution, as long as there is a required LMIC collaboration in place.
What is the intended capacity-building expectation in LMICs?
The FOA is intentionally aimed at strengthening sustainable research capacity in LMICs. Proposals are expected not only to test a research concept, but also to support longer-term scientific capability, collaboration pipelines, and a platform for ongoing work in the partner LMIC setting.
Are projects expected to have policy or implementation relevance?
Yes. In addition to producing scientific results, projects may contribute evidence that informs policy and supports implementation strategies, extending impact beyond the narrow boundaries of the specific study.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The award mechanism is the NIH R21, which typically supports exploratory, developmental, and early-stage ideas, including higher-risk concepts and proof-of-concept research.
What is the maximum award amount listed in this FOA?
The FOA lists an award ceiling of $125,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 5, 2014.
What were the closing date and archive date?
The original and current closing date listed is January 5, 2017. The archive date is February 5, 2017.
Is this FOA currently active?
No. Because the closing and archive dates have passed, the announcement is no longer active. It remains useful as a reference for NIH priorities and required structures used in this initiative.
What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes common U.S. applicant organization types such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status). The FOA also explicitly allows non-U.S. entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, as well as non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations.
Were minority-serving institutions specifically encouraged or listed as eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for institution categories including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.
Are foreign high-income country institutions eligible to participate as institutional partners?
No. The FOA states that foreign high-income country institutions are not eligible institutional partners under this opportunity.
What is the Hong Kong eligibility restriction mentioned in the FOA?
The FOA includes a specific exception involving Hong Kong: Hong Kong-based institutions are not eligible as an applicant or primary LMIC partner. If a Hong Kong institution is included while China is still classified as an LMIC, the collaboration must also include a second institution in mainland China serving as the primary collaborating UMIC institution.
Which NIH-related program areas (CFDA categories) are associated with this opportunity?
The FOA references multiple CFDA program areas, spanning environmental health, communication disorders and deafness, mental health, drug abuse and addiction, general neurosciences and neurological disorders, child health and human development, aging research, and international research and research training.
Does the FOA encourage multidisciplinary approaches?
Yes. The breadth of the referenced program areas signals that NIH was looking for multidisciplinary ideas connecting neuroscience and nervous system disorders to health systems, environmental exposures, development, aging, and social determinants in LMIC settings, while keeping nervous system health and disease as the central focus.
Where can the official FOA text be found?
The official NIH announcement link provided is: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-331.html.
Who should be contacted for technical access or linking issues related to the FOA?
For technical access or linking issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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| Lifespan Human Connectome Project Aging (U01) Apply for RFA AG 16 004 Funding Number: RFA AG 16 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Lifespan Human Connectome Project Development (U01) Apply for RFA MH 16 150 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 150 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R01) Apply for PA 15 126 Funding Number: PA 15 126 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R03) Apply for PA 15 124 Funding Number: PA 15 124 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Lifespan Human Connectome Project Baby Connectome (U01) Apply for RFA MH 16 160 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 160 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,700,000 |
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| Research on Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (R03) Apply for PA 06 391 Funding Number: PA 06 391 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
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| Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R03) Apply for PAR 07 019 Funding Number: PAR 07 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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