Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 09 260
Apply for PAR 09 260
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (SBIR R43)" 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 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 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 26, 2009 and posted on Aug 26, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2012. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH funding opportunity PAR 09 260, titled "Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (SBIR R43)," is a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant aimed at helping small businesses turn early small-molecule "hits" into well-characterized research probes that can be used to study how the nervous system works. The focus is not on building a therapeutic program from scratch, but on using advanced medicinal chemistry plus practical biological testing to optimize candidate compounds so they become reliable tools for neuroscience and neurobiology research. In practice, this means the applicant should already have promising probe candidates identified from screening small-molecule libraries and should be ready to run an iterative cycle of analog design, synthesis or acquisition, and testing to improve key properties that make a probe useful in real experiments.
A central expectation is that applicants come in with evidence linking chemical structure to biological activity. The FOA is designed for groups that have already run in vitro assays suitable for screening compound collections and can show some initial structure-activity relationship (SAR) signal, even if it is early. From there, the work proposed in Phase I should nominate probe candidates from distinct structural series and then systematically optimize them through SAR studies. The FOA emphasizes that assays should be in vitro and adapted to medium-throughput workflows, reflecting the reality that probe optimization often requires testing many close analogs to understand which chemical features drive potency, selectivity, and functional activity.
The end goal is a small-molecule probe with attributes strong enough to support later pharmacological studies that the small business intends to pursue. Although the FOA does not lock applicants into a single definition of "good," it explicitly points to attributes such as affinity, selectivity, and activity, which are typical benchmarks for probes used to interrogate targets or pathways in the nervous system. In other words, applicants are expected to describe how they will improve and measure these qualities, and how the optimized probe will be fit for the types of downstream studies the company envisions.
On the practical side, the announcement encourages applicants to leverage publicly available cheminformatics resources to source compounds and plan analogue expansion efficiently. It also highlights semi-custom synthesis of analogues as an encouraged approach, which signals that applicants do not necessarily need a fully built internal chemistry manufacturing pipeline, but they should have a credible plan for generating analogs (through in-house chemistry, contract research, or hybrid approaches) and a clear strategy for selecting which analogs to make next based on accumulated SAR and assay data.
This FOA uses the SBIR R43 mechanism, meaning it supports Phase I feasibility and early development work by eligible small business concerns. It runs in parallel with other NIH announcements of the same scientific scope using different mechanisms, including an STTR R41 version (PAR 09 259) and an R21 version (PAR 09 251), which may matter for teams deciding whether they want a small-business-led SBIR pathway or a collaboration-centered STTR approach.
Funding details in the listing indicate an award ceiling of $150,000, no cost sharing requirement, and eligibility restricted to small businesses. The opportunity was posted August 26, 2009, with a closing date of September 7, 2012 (and an archive date of October 8, 2012), meaning it is now historical, but it still reflects a common NIH SBIR pattern for probe optimization: demonstrate a credible starting point from screening, propose a disciplined medicinal chemistry and assay-driven optimization plan, and deliver an improved probe with measurable properties that justify moving into more extensive pharmacological or mechanistic studies later. The participating NIH program areas reflected by the CFDA numbers include mental health, alcohol research, drug abuse and addiction, neurosciences and neurological disorders, aging, and vision research, which signals broad relevance across nervous system-related biology and disease areas.
FAQs: NIH PAR-09-260 - Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (SBIR R43)
What is PAR-09-260?
PAR-09-260 is an NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (SBIR R43)." It supports Phase I feasibility and early development work to optimize small-molecule probe candidates for neuroscience and neurobiology research.
What is the main purpose of this SBIR Phase I opportunity?
The goal is to help small businesses take early small-molecule "hits" (identified through screening) and optimize them into well-characterized research probes. The emphasis is on making compounds reliable tools to study nervous system function, rather than starting a therapeutic discovery program from scratch.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to small businesses (small business concerns) under the SBIR program, using the R43 mechanism.
What SBIR mechanism does this FOA use?
This FOA uses the SBIR R43 mechanism, which supports Phase I feasibility and early development activities carried out by an eligible small business.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing indicates there is no cost sharing requirement.
What is the funding ceiling mentioned for this opportunity?
The funding details in the listing indicate an award ceiling of $150,000.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. It was posted on August 26, 2009, with a closing date of September 7, 2012 and an archive date of October 8, 2012. It is a historical opportunity.
What kind of starting point is expected from applicants?
Applicants are expected to already have promising probe candidates identified from screening small-molecule libraries. The FOA is designed for teams that can show early evidence connecting chemical structure to biological activity, such as an initial structure-activity relationship (SAR) signal.
Does the FOA focus on creating a brand-new therapeutic program?
No. The focus is on probe optimization for research use. The work is framed around advancing small-molecule hits into well-characterized probes using medicinal chemistry and practical biological testing, rather than building a therapeutic program from the ground up.
What type of research activities are emphasized in Phase I?
Phase I is described as an iterative cycle of analog design, synthesis or acquisition, and testing. The intent is to nominate probe candidates from distinct structural series and systematically optimize them through SAR studies.
What is meant by "probe optimization" in this FOA?
Probe optimization refers to improving key properties that make a compound useful in real neuroscience experiments. The FOA points to typical probe benchmarks such as affinity, selectivity, and activity, and expects applicants to explain how they will measure and improve these attributes.
What assay format does the FOA expect applicants to use?
The FOA emphasizes in vitro assays that are adapted to medium-throughput workflows. This aligns with the practical need to test many close analogs during SAR-driven optimization.
Why does the FOA emphasize medium-throughput in vitro assays?
The optimization process often requires evaluating many related analogs to learn which chemical features drive potency, selectivity, and functional activity. Medium-throughput in vitro assays are highlighted as a practical way to support that iterative testing.
What properties should an optimized probe demonstrate?
While the FOA does not mandate a single definition of "good," it explicitly points to attributes such as affinity, selectivity, and activity. Applicants are expected to describe plans to improve and measure these properties so the probe is fit for downstream studies.
What is the intended end product of the Phase I work?
The end goal is an improved small-molecule probe with measurable attributes strong enough to support later pharmacological studies that the small business intends to pursue.
Does the FOA expect evidence of structure-activity relationship (SAR)?
Yes. A central expectation is evidence linking chemical structure to biological activity. Even early SAR signal from in vitro screening assays is positioned as an important starting point for proposing systematic optimization.
Does the FOA prefer a single chemical series or multiple series?
The FOA describes nominating probe candidates from distinct structural series and then optimizing them through SAR studies, suggesting applicants should consider more than one structural series where appropriate.
How does the FOA suggest applicants generate or source analogs?
The FOA encourages leveraging publicly available cheminformatics resources to source compounds and plan analogue expansion efficiently. It also highlights semi-custom synthesis of analogues as an encouraged approach.
Do applicants need a fully internal medicinal chemistry pipeline?
The FOA signals that applicants do not necessarily need a fully built internal chemistry manufacturing pipeline, but they should present a credible plan to generate analogs. This can include in-house chemistry, contract research, or hybrid approaches.
How should applicants decide which analogs to make next?
The FOA emphasizes an iterative optimization strategy where accumulated SAR and assay data guide analogue selection. Applicants are expected to propose a clear strategy for choosing the next set of analogs based on what the data show.
Are there related NIH announcements with the same scientific scope?
Yes. The FOA runs in parallel with other NIH announcements of the same scientific scope using different mechanisms, including an STTR R41 version (PAR-09-259) and an R21 version (PAR-09-251).
How might a team choose between the SBIR R43, STTR R41, and R21 versions mentioned?
Based on the information provided, the SBIR pathway (R43) is small-business-led, while the STTR version (R41) is described as collaboration-centered. The R21 is another mechanism with the same scientific scope. Teams may compare these mechanisms depending on whether they want a small-business-led SBIR approach or an STTR-style collaboration focus.
What NIH program areas does this FOA appear to relate to?
The participating NIH program areas reflected by the CFDA numbers include mental health, alcohol research, drug abuse and addiction, neurosciences and neurological disorders, aging, and vision research. This suggests broad relevance across nervous system-related biology and disease areas.
What overall pattern does this historical FOA reflect for NIH SBIR probe-optimization projects?
It reflects a common pattern: start with credible screening-derived hits and early SAR, propose disciplined medicinal chemistry plus assay-driven optimization in vitro, and deliver an improved probe with measurable properties that justify moving into more extensive pharmacological or mechanistic studies later.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health
Next opportunity: 2010 NIH Directors New Innovator Award Program (DP2)
Previous opportunity: Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (STTR R41)
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 09 260) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54) Apply for RFA RM 09 019 Funding Number: RFA RM 09 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Exploring Epigenomic Processes and Non Coding RNAs in HIV/AIDS (R01) Apply for RFA DA 10 010 Funding Number: RFA DA 10 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Exploring Epigenomic Processes and Non Coding RNAs in HIV/AIDS (R21) Apply for RFA DA 10 011 Funding Number: RFA DA 10 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Targeted Library Synthesis and Screening at Novel Targets for Potential Drug Addiction Treatments and Research Tools (R21/R33) Apply for RFA DA 10 005 Funding Number: RFA DA 10 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA) (R01) Apply for RFA GM 10 009 Funding Number: RFA GM 10 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Developing Research Capacity in Africa for Studies on HIV Associated Malignancies (D43) Apply for RFA CA 09 016 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Medications Development for Cannabis Related Disorders (R01) Apply for RFA DA 10 016 Funding Number: RFA DA 10 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in Human Cancer for Years 2010, 2011 and 2012 (P50) Apply for PAR 10 003 Funding Number: PAR 10 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders (R21) Apply for PAR 10 002 Funding Number: PAR 10 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Drug Discovery for Nervous System Disorders (R01) Apply for PAR 10 001 Funding Number: PAR 10 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Community Networks Program (CNP) Centers for Reducing Cancer Disparities through Outreach, Research and Training (U54) Apply for RFA CA 09 032 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 032 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Pathway to Independence Award in Cancer Nanotechnology Research (K99/R00) Apply for RFA CA 09 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cancer Nanotechnology Training Centers (CNTCs)(R25) Apply for RFA CA 09 014 Funding Number: RFA CA 09 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R01) Apply for PA 10 012 Funding Number: PA 10 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R03) Apply for PA 10 011 Funding Number: PA 10 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34) Apply for PA 10 013 Funding Number: PA 10 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Validation and Advanced Development of Emerging Technologies in Biospecimen Science (R33) Apply for RFA CA 10 002 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Application and Early Stage Development of Emerging Technologies in Cancer Research (R21) Apply for RFA CA 10 003 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Innovative Technology Development for Cancer Research (R21) Apply for RFA CA 10 005 Funding Number: RFA CA 10 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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