Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 11 299
Apply for PAR 11 299
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Molecular and Cellular Substrates of Complex Brain Disorders (R01)" 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 4, 2014 and posted on Aug 10, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 5, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district 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 County governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) 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:
The funding opportunity titled "Molecular and Cellular Substrates of Complex Brain Disorders (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 11-299) is a discretionary National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant program that supports investigator-initiated projects using the R01 mechanism. Its central goal is to push forward basic and translational neuroscience by funding studies that clarify how alterations linked to complex brain disorders affect the core molecular and cellular building blocks of neuronal function. In practice, the FOA is aimed at research that connects disease-associated changes (for example, genetic variation, molecular pathway disruptions, or other biological alterations observed in brain disorders) to concrete effects on how neurons and neural circuits operate at a mechanistic level, with emphasis on fundamental processes that underlie brain function.
The opportunity sits within NIH health research priorities and is associated with CFDA listings 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants) and 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs), signaling its relevance to mental health conditions and alcohol-related research areas, among other complex brain disorders. The FOA language points to a discovery-oriented focus: applicants are expected to go beyond describing correlations and instead investigate how disorder-related alterations influence cellular and molecular substrates, such as synaptic function, neuronal signaling, plasticity, gene expression programs, and other core neurobiological mechanisms that can be studied experimentally. The overall intent is to generate mechanistic insight that can deepen understanding of disease biology and potentially inform future diagnostic or therapeutic strategies, even when the immediate work is primarily basic science.
This is a grant program with no cost sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of the award. As an R01, it is generally designed to support substantial, multi-year research projects that have a clear rationale, rigorous approach, and well-justified experimental plan. While the short summary provided does not list specific scientific topics or exclusions, the framing makes it clear that applications should be anchored in molecular and cellular neuroscience and should explicitly tie the proposed mechanistic work to alterations associated with complex brain disorders, rather than studying neuronal function in isolation.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organizational types. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses), nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), public and private institutions of higher education, and multiple levels of government such as state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The eligibility scope also extends to Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments). Additional eligible categories specifically called out include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects NIH’s interest in attracting strong research proposals from diverse institutional settings, including international and regionally focused research organizations where appropriate.
Key administrative details in the source data indicate the program was posted on August 10, 2011, with a later creation date record of August 4, 2014. The original closing date is listed as September 7, 2014, with a current closing date of August 5, 2014, and an archive date of September 4, 2014, meaning the opportunity is historical/archived rather than currently open. Applicants seeking the full announcement and requirements were directed to the NIH grants guide page at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-299.html. For access issues or linking problems, the contact provided is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Overall, PAR 11-299 is best understood as an NIH R01 call designed to strengthen mechanistic neuroscience research on complex brain disorders by funding projects that directly test how disorder-related alterations reshape the molecular and cellular machinery that neurons rely on to function.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Molecular and Cellular Substrates of Complex Brain Disorders (R01)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 11-299.
What agency sponsors this opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant opportunity.
What type of grant mechanism does it use?
It uses the NIH R01 mechanism and supports investigator-initiated research projects.
What is the main purpose of PAR 11-299?
The central goal is to advance basic and translational neuroscience by supporting studies that clarify how alterations associated with complex brain disorders affect the molecular and cellular building blocks of neuronal function.
What kind of research is this FOA trying to fund?
The FOA is aimed at research that links disease-associated changes (such as genetic variation, disrupted molecular pathways, or other biological alterations observed in brain disorders) to concrete, mechanistic effects on how neurons and neural circuits function.
Does the FOA emphasize correlation studies or mechanistic studies?
The FOA emphasizes mechanistic studies. It expects applicants to go beyond describing correlations and to investigate how disorder-related alterations influence molecular and cellular substrates experimentally.
What are examples of "molecular and cellular substrates" mentioned in the opportunity summary?
Examples specifically referenced include synaptic function, neuronal signaling, plasticity, and gene expression programs, as well as other core neurobiological mechanisms that can be studied experimentally.
Is this opportunity focused on basic science, translational science, or both?
It is positioned to push forward both basic and translational neuroscience. The intent includes generating mechanistic insight that can deepen understanding of disease biology and potentially inform future diagnostic or therapeutic strategies, even if the immediate work is primarily basic science.
Do applications need to connect the proposed work to complex brain disorders?
Yes. The framing makes it clear that applications should explicitly tie the proposed mechanistic work to alterations associated with complex brain disorders rather than studying neuronal function in isolation.
Which program areas or CFDA listings are associated with this FOA?
The FOA is associated with CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants) and 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs).
Does this mean the FOA is only for mental health or alcohol research?
The summary indicates relevance to mental health conditions and alcohol-related research areas, among other complex brain disorders. The description also uses broader language around complex brain disorders generally.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
How long and how substantial are projects typically under an R01?
The summary describes the R01 as generally designed to support substantial, multi-year research projects with a clear rationale, a rigorous approach, and a well-justified experimental plan.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and multiple levels of government.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations are listed as eligible, including small businesses and other than small businesses.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
Are state and local government entities eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes state governments and multiple local government types, including county governments, city/township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) are eligible, and tribal organizations are also eligible, including those other than federally recognized tribal governments.
Are minority-serving institutions included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The list specifically mentions Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other similar categories.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are specifically called out as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the eligibility list.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are listed as eligible.
Is this funding opportunity currently open?
No. The administrative details indicate it is historical/archived rather than currently open.
What dates indicate that the opportunity is archived?
The source data lists an original closing date of September 7, 2014, a current closing date of August 5, 2014, and an archive date of September 4, 2014. These dates indicate the opportunity is no longer active.
When was the opportunity posted?
The program was posted on August 10, 2011.
Why is there also a later "creation date record" mentioned?
The source data includes a later creation date record of August 4, 2014, in addition to the original posting date.
Where can applicants find the full announcement details?
The full announcement and requirements were directed to the NIH grants guide page at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-299.html.
Who is listed as the contact for access issues or linking problems?
The contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
What is the simplest way to describe the intent of PAR 11-299?
It is an NIH R01 call intended to strengthen mechanistic neuroscience research on complex brain disorders by funding projects that directly test how disorder-related alterations reshape the molecular and cellular machinery that neurons rely on to function.
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