Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 16 001
Apply for RFA NS 16 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NINDS Research Program Award (R35)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 15, 2015 and posted on Jul 15, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Special district governments Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses State governments Independent school districts Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled 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.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NINDS Research Program Award (R35), offered by the National Institutes of Health through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), is designed to provide long-term, stable, and flexible support to investigators who have already demonstrated an exceptional track record of research achievement and who are viewed as likely to make major future contributions to neuroscience. Instead of funding a narrow, single project in the traditional sense, this award is intended to support an investigator's broader research program, giving the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) more room to adjust scientific direction as discoveries emerge. The overarching idea is that with fewer constraints and more predictable support, highly productive researchers can pursue more ambitious questions, take informed scientific risks, and follow promising leads that might not fit neatly into a rigid project plan.
A central feature of this opportunity is its duration and budget structure. The RPA can provide support for up to 8 years, which is longer than many standard grant mechanisms, and it allows direct costs of up to $750,000 per year. This multi-year stability is explicitly meant to reduce the constant cycle of short-term renewals and repeated grant submissions, freeing investigators to spend more time on science and less time maintaining funding continuity. NINDS also frames this as a way to enable work that needs a longer runway, such as complex longitudinal studies, development of new tools or model systems, or research programs where meaningful breakthroughs often require sustained iteration and follow-up rather than quick, discrete milestones.
The scientific scope must align with the NINDS mission, meaning the proposed research program should fall within NINDS interests across neurological disorders and fundamental neuroscience relevant to the nervous system. While the announcement emphasizes flexibility, it still anchors the supported work to NINDS priorities and expectations for high-impact neuroscience. In practical terms, applicants should be positioned to show that their overall program direction is coherent, compelling, and likely to continue producing influential advances, even if specific aims may evolve over the award period.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category. The funding opportunity number is RFA-NS-16-001, with an estimated total funding amount of $20,000,000 and an expected number of awards around 30. The CFDA number associated with this program is 93.853 (Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which simplifies budgeting for institutions and investigators compared to programs that require institutional financial participation.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses), and a wide range of governmental entities such as state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public/Indian housing authorities. The opportunity also explicitly includes various mission-serving institutions and community-based entities in its expanded eligibility language, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. However, non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, although foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are permitted, which can matter for programs that require specific international collaborations or access to unique populations or resources.
Key timeline details included in the source data indicate the opportunity was posted and created on July 15, 2015, with an original and current closing date of January 7, 2016, and an archive date of February 7, 2016, meaning this specific announcement is no longer active as written. The official listing points applicants to the NIH grants guide page for the full announcement, and NIH provides standard contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) web team for technical access or linking issues.
FAQs: NINDS Research Program Award (R35) - RFA-NS-16-001
What is the NINDS Research Program Award (R35)?
The NINDS Research Program Award (R35), also called the Research Program Award (RPA), is an NIH funding mechanism from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intended to provide long-term, stable, and flexible support to investigators with an exceptional record of research achievement and strong potential for major future contributions to neuroscience.
What is the main purpose of this award compared with a traditional project grant?
Instead of supporting a narrow, single project with fixed aims, the R35 RPA is intended to support an investigator's broader research program. It is designed to give the PD/PI room to adjust scientific direction over time as new discoveries emerge, with fewer constraints than a rigid project plan.
What kinds of research does NINDS expect this award to support?
The supported research program must align with the NINDS mission and interests, including neurological disorders and fundamental neuroscience relevant to the nervous system. While the award emphasizes flexibility, it still expects a coherent and compelling overall program direction that is likely to produce influential, high-impact advances.
How long can the R35 RPA provide support?
The RPA can provide support for up to 8 years, which is longer than many standard NIH grant mechanisms.
What is the maximum budget allowed under this opportunity?
This opportunity allows direct costs of up to $750,000 per year.
Why does NINDS emphasize long-term stability for this award?
The multi-year stability is intended to reduce the constant cycle of short-term renewals and repeated grant submissions, allowing investigators to spend more time on research and less time maintaining funding continuity. It is also framed as support for work that needs a longer runway, such as longitudinal studies, development of tools or model systems, and research programs that require sustained iteration rather than quick, discrete milestones.
Who is this award intended for?
It is designed for investigators who have already demonstrated an exceptional track record of research achievement and who are viewed as likely to make major future contributions to neuroscience.
Does this award fund a single specific project?
No. The award is intended to support an investigator's broader research program rather than a narrowly defined single project in the traditional sense.
Does the program allow changes in scientific direction during the award period?
Yes. A stated goal is to provide flexibility so the PD/PI can adjust scientific direction as discoveries emerge, as long as the overall program remains aligned with NINDS mission and priorities.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-NS-16-001.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 93.853, titled Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders.
What is the estimated total funding amount and number of awards?
The estimated total funding amount is $20,000,000, and the expected number of awards is around 30.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What category and type of grant is this?
From an administrative standpoint, it is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category.
What types of U.S. organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organization types, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses), and multiple governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public/Indian housing authorities).
Are minority-serving or mission-serving institutions included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes institutions and organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). It also includes faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply under this announcement.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. The announcement states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components permitted at all?
Yes. Although foreign institutions and non-U.S. organizational components are not eligible to apply, foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are permitted, which may matter for research that needs international collaborations or access to unique populations or resources.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The source data indicates it was posted and created on July 15, 2015. The original and current closing date listed is January 7, 2016.
Is this specific funding announcement still active?
No. The archive date is February 7, 2016, and the closing date was January 7, 2016, meaning this specific announcement is no longer active as written.
Where should applicants look for the full official announcement details?
The listing points applicants to the NIH grants guide page for the full announcement.
Who provides technical support for access or linking issues related to the official listing?
NIH provides standard contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) web team for technical access or linking issues.
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