Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 09 259
Apply for PAR 09 259
- 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 (STTR R41)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 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-09-259, titled "Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (STTR R41)," supports Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer projects aimed at turning early small-molecule "hits" into practical research probes for neuroscience. The central idea is to help small business concerns refine and optimize small molecule candidates so they can be used to investigate biological function in the nervous system, with a strong emphasis on modern medicinal chemistry paired with biological testing. Rather than funding broad discovery from scratch, the FOA is geared toward applicants who already have promising starting compounds and want to systematically improve them into high-quality probes that can be used in later pharmacological or mechanistic studies.
To be competitive, applicants are expected to have already identified probe candidates through screening of small molecule libraries and to have in vitro assays that can measure biological activity relevant to nervous system function. A key requirement is that the applicant can show an initial relationship between chemical structure and biological activity, meaning there is evidence that certain structural features of the molecules drive the observed effects. From there, projects should nominate candidates from distinct structural series and conduct iterative design-make-test cycles, commonly referred to as structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. The work should rely on in vitro assays that have been adapted for medium-throughput needs, so that multiple analogues can be evaluated efficiently as chemical optimization proceeds.
The expected output of a Phase I project under this FOA is not a clinical lead or an approved therapeutic, but a well-characterized small molecule probe with the kinds of properties that make it useful for research. That includes improved affinity and potency for the intended target or mechanism, selectivity against related targets (to reduce off-target interpretations), and the level of functional activity needed to support future pharmacological experiments proposed by the company. In other words, the endpoint is a probe that is reliable enough to answer biological questions in nervous system research and that has been refined in a disciplined way so that its performance is understood and reproducible.
The FOA also pushes applicants toward efficient, modern workflows by encouraging the use of publicly available cheminformatics resources for compound acquisition and design planning, along with semi-custom synthesis approaches to generate analogues. This reflects an expectation that applicants will leverage accessible computational and sourcing tools to speed up analogue generation and to make the optimization process practical within the constraints of a Phase I STTR budget and timeline.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity using the STTR R41 mechanism for Phase I. It ran in parallel with companion announcements of the same scientific scope under SBIR (R43; PAR-09-260) and an R21 mechanism (PAR-09-251), giving similar projects multiple potential entry routes depending on applicant eligibility and collaboration structure. Only small businesses are eligible to apply under this STTR FOA, and the award ceiling listed is $150,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The number of awards and total dollars actually issued were explicitly dependent on the availability of funds and the quality and volume of applications received.
In terms of NIH program alignment, the opportunity sits in the broader space of nervous system research and related health areas, with CFDA associations spanning alcohol research (93.273), drug abuse and addiction research (93.279), neurosciences and neurological disorders (93.853), aging research (93.866), and vision research (93.867). The FOA was posted and created on Aug 26, 2009, had an original and current closing date of Sep 7, 2012, and was archived on Oct 8, 2012, meaning it is no longer open but remains useful as a reference for the type of work NIH sought to fund under this program.
FAQs: NIH PAR-09-259 - Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (STTR R41)
What is PAR-09-259?
PAR-09-259 is an NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA) titled "Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (STTR R41)." It supports Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) projects focused on optimizing small-molecule probe candidates for use in nervous system research.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The goal is to help small business concerns take early small-molecule "hits" and refine them into practical, well-characterized research probes for neuroscience. The emphasis is on disciplined medicinal chemistry paired with biological testing to improve probe performance and reliability.
Is this FOA meant to fund brand-new discovery efforts from scratch?
No. This FOA is geared toward applicants who already have promising starting compounds (hits) and want to systematically optimize them into high-quality probes. It is not positioned as a broad, from-scratch discovery program.
What types of projects are a good fit for this FOA?
Projects are a good fit when a team has already identified probe candidates (typically from small-molecule library screening), has relevant in vitro assays to measure biological activity tied to nervous system function, and can carry out iterative structure-activity relationship (SAR) optimization through design-make-test cycles.
What is required regarding starting compounds ("hits")?
Applicants are expected to have already identified probe candidates through screening of small molecule libraries and to be prepared to nominate candidates from distinct structural series for optimization.
What assay capabilities are expected for applicants?
Applicants are expected to have in vitro assays that measure biological activity relevant to nervous system function. The FOA also expects these assays to be adapted for medium-throughput needs so multiple analogues can be evaluated efficiently during optimization.
What does NIH mean here by structure-activity relationship (SAR) evidence?
The FOA expects an initial relationship between chemical structure and biological activity. In practical terms, this means there is evidence that specific structural features of the molecules drive the observed biological effects, supporting a rational SAR optimization plan.
What is the typical workflow encouraged under this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes iterative design-make-test cycles (SAR studies): designing analogues, synthesizing (or sourcing) them, testing them in in vitro assays, and then using results to guide further rounds of optimization.
What is the expected Phase I output or endpoint?
The expected output is a well-characterized small molecule probe suitable for research use, not a clinical lead or an approved therapeutic. The probe should be reliable for investigating biological function in the nervous system and refined in a way that makes its performance understood and reproducible.
What probe properties does this FOA emphasize improving?
The FOA highlights improving affinity and potency for the intended target or mechanism, selectivity against related targets (to reduce off-target interpretations), and achieving a level of functional activity that can support future pharmacological experiments proposed by the company.
Does this FOA aim to support clinical development?
No. The Phase I scope described focuses on research probes and optimization for neuroscience research applications, rather than producing clinical candidates or moving directly toward therapeutic approval.
What does the FOA encourage regarding cheminformatics and sourcing?
The FOA encourages the use of publicly available cheminformatics resources for compound acquisition and design planning, along with semi-custom synthesis approaches to generate analogue series efficiently.
Why does the FOA emphasize efficient workflows?
The FOA reflects an expectation that applicants will leverage accessible computational and compound sourcing tools to speed analogue generation and keep optimization practical within a Phase I STTR budget and timeline.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the STTR R41 mechanism and supports Phase I STTR projects.
Who is eligible to apply under PAR-09-259?
Only small businesses are eligible to apply under this STTR FOA, as described in the opportunity summary.
What is the award ceiling for PAR-09-259?
The listed award ceiling is $150,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
How many awards were available?
The FOA indicates that the number of awards and total dollars issued depended on the availability of funds and the quality and volume of applications received.
Are there related or companion NIH opportunities mentioned?
Yes. Companion announcements of the same scientific scope were run in parallel under SBIR (R43; PAR-09-260) and under an R21 mechanism (PAR-09-251). These provided multiple potential entry routes depending on eligibility and collaboration structure.
What scientific and program areas does this FOA align with?
The FOA sits broadly in nervous system research and related health areas, with CFDA associations spanning alcohol research (93.273), drug abuse and addiction research (93.279), neurosciences and neurological disorders (93.853), aging research (93.866), and vision research (93.867).
When was this FOA posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted and created on Aug 26, 2009. Its original and current closing date was Sep 7, 2012.
Is PAR-09-259 still open to applications?
No. The FOA was archived on Oct 8, 2012, meaning it is no longer open. It may still be useful as a reference for the type of work NIH sought to fund under this program.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 09 259) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Optimization of Small Molecule Probes for the Nervous System (SBIR R43) Apply for PAR 09 260 Funding Number: PAR 09 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| 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 |
| Limited Competition for Research Centers in Minority Institutions Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (RCTR) U54 Apply for PAR 09 261 Funding Number: PAR 09 261 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 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 |
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