Improved Technologies and Ligands for Non-invasive Brain Imaging (R41/R42) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The funding opportunity titled "Improved Technologies and Ligands for Non-invasive Brain Imaging (R41/R42)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-17-010) is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is specifically structured as a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) opportunity, using the R41/R42 mechanism, which is designed to move early-stage, high-impact biomedical technologies from concept through development by requiring a formal collaboration between a small business and a nonprofit research institution (such as a university or research hospital). The overall purpose is to accelerate practical, translational innovations that can strengthen how researchers and clinicians image and understand the human brain without invasive procedures.

The core focus of this FOA is the development of improved ligands and imaging technologies that advance non-invasive brain imaging, with a strong emphasis on approaches that can be used in human participants. In this context, "ligands" generally refers to molecular probes or compounds that bind to specific biological targets in the brain (for example, receptors, transporters, enzymes, or other proteins) and make those targets visible or quantifiable through imaging methods. These ligands are often central to modalities like positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), where radiolabeled tracers enable measurement of biological processes in living brain tissue. The FOA encourages work that improves the specificity, sensitivity, safety, or overall performance of such probes, as well as the imaging systems and analytical methods that interpret imaging signals.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its direct alignment with research and clinical needs related to substance use disorders (SUD) and HIV/AIDS. The announcement highlights the use of enhanced brain imaging as a way to investigate brain function more effectively and to improve disease diagnosis and treatment. In practice, this could include technologies that help identify neural circuits and molecular pathways involved in addiction, relapse risk, craving, or treatment response, as well as tools that clarify how HIV infection and related comorbidities affect the central nervous system. Because SUD and HIV/AIDS can both involve complex neurological impacts, the FOA signals a priority for technologies that can produce clearer, more informative brain measures that translate into better patient stratification, monitoring, or therapeutic decision-making.

Eligibility is limited to small businesses, consistent with STTR requirements. The activity categories are listed under education and health, and the related CFDA numbers are 93.279 (commonly associated with drug abuse and addiction-related NIH programs) and 93.855 (associated with NIH research and training). The sponsoring agency is listed as HHS-NIH11, reflecting NIH involvement and the likely connection to institutes and centers with interests in drug abuse and neuroimaging. The opportunity was created and posted on April 12, 2016, with an original and current closing date of August 17, 2016. While the summary data provided does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the R41/R42 structure typically implies a phased approach: an initial Phase I (R41) period to establish feasibility and demonstrate proof of concept, followed by a Phase II (R42) period to further develop, validate, and advance the technology toward real-world research or clinical use.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at supporting small business-led, research-institution-partnered innovation that makes non-invasive human brain imaging more capable and more informative, particularly for applications that deepen understanding of brain function and improve diagnostic or treatment tools in the areas of substance use disorders and HIV/AIDS. The emphasis on ligands and imaging technologies indicates an interest not just in incremental improvements, but in enabling tools that can meaningfully change what can be measured in the living human brain and how reliably those measurements can guide scientific and medical decisions.

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