Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 11 319
Apply for PAR 11 319
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Scalable Assays for Unbiased In Vitro Analysis of Neurobiological Function (R21/R33)" 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 24, 2011 and posted on Aug 24, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2014. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses Special district governments.
- 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH funding opportunity titled "Scalable Assays for Unbiased In Vitro Analysis of Neurobiological Function (R21/R33)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 11 319) was designed to support the creation of new, reliable, and scalable in vitro assay platforms that can detect and quantify changes in neuronal and/or glial function. The central idea is to push beyond narrow, single readout experiments by adapting state of the art measurements of fundamental cellular processes or molecular events that drive nervous system function, then turning those measurements into practical assay systems that can probe mechanisms or perturbations in an unbiased, efficient way. In other words, the FOA is aimed at building tools that can capture meaningful neurobiological endpoints in a way that is systematic and suitable for broader discovery workflows, including target identification and drug discovery pipelines.
A key emphasis of the announcement is platform development rather than hypothesis testing alone. Applicants are expected to develop novel analytical approaches that can be implemented as in vitro assays and that are robust enough to support repeated use, optimization, and potential scaling. The assays should focus on core mediators of neuronal or glial biology, such as measurable cellular processes or molecular events that reflect functional states. The intent behind "unbiased" is to encourage approaches that can reveal functional changes without being limited to one preselected pathway or a single expected mechanism, thereby enabling discovery of unexpected effects or signatures that could be relevant to disease mechanisms, therapeutic targeting, or compound screening.
The mechanism specified in the title, R21/R33, signals a phased innovation-to-development pathway. The R21 phase typically supports early, exploratory work to establish feasibility and produce initial proof of concept, while the R33 phase supports further development, refinement, and validation once predefined milestones are met. Within the provided opportunity data, the listed award ceiling is 200,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The program falls under NIH and spans several CFDA listings connected to mental health, alcohol research, drug abuse and addiction, and broader neuroscience and neurological disorders research (93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853), reflecting that the assay platforms could be broadly relevant across multiple neuroscience-related disease and research areas.
Eligibility for this FOA is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and governments, such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, school districts, public housing authorities, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), small businesses, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses). The eligibility language also explicitly includes a range of mission-focused institutions and organizations such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations. Importantly, non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are eligible to apply, and foreign components of U.S. organizations are allowed as defined by NIH policy, which opens the door for internationally based assay development efforts as long as they comply with NIH requirements.
From an administrative standpoint, the FOA was posted and created on August 24, 2011. The original and current closing dates are listed as September 7, 2014, and the archive date is October 8, 2014, indicating that this specific announcement is no longer active for new submissions under that number and cycle. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the associated NIH guide link is provided in the source data. For access or technical issues related to the electronic announcement, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV), which is intended for troubleshooting rather than scientific program guidance.
Overall, the opportunity targeted researchers and organizations that could build next-generation in vitro neurobiology assay platforms with enough rigor and throughput potential to become practical tools for discovery, especially in contexts where researchers need scalable, interpretable measures of neuronal and glial function to support mechanism probing, target identification, and early-stage drug discovery decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Scalable Assays for Unbiased In Vitro Analysis of Neurobiological Function (R21/R33)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 11 319.
What is the overall purpose of this FOA?
The FOA was designed to support the creation of new, reliable, and scalable in vitro assay platforms that can detect and quantify changes in neuronal and/or glial function. The emphasis is on building tools and platforms that produce meaningful neurobiological endpoints in a systematic way that can fit into broader discovery workflows.
What types of assays or platforms is NIH trying to support here?
This FOA focuses on in vitro assay platforms that use state-of-the-art measurements of fundamental cellular processes or molecular events that drive nervous system function, and then adapt those measurements into practical assays that can be used repeatedly, optimized, and potentially scaled.
What does "scalable" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, scalability refers to developing assay systems that are robust and practical enough for repeated use and optimization, with potential to support higher-throughput or broader discovery workflows such as target identification and drug discovery pipelines.
What does "unbiased" mean in this FOA?
"Unbiased" is used to encourage approaches that can reveal functional changes without being limited to a single preselected pathway or one expected mechanism. The intent is to enable discovery of unexpected effects or signatures that could matter for disease mechanisms, therapeutic targeting, or compound screening.
Is this opportunity more about hypothesis testing or platform development?
A key emphasis is platform development rather than hypothesis testing alone. Applicants are expected to develop novel analytical approaches that can be implemented as in vitro assays and are robust enough for repeated use and further refinement.
What biological systems or cell types are relevant to this FOA?
The FOA is centered on assays that detect and quantify changes in neuronal and/or glial function, and it highlights endpoints tied to core mediators of neuronal or glial biology.
What kinds of biological readouts are encouraged?
The FOA encourages moving beyond narrow, single-readout experiments by focusing on fundamental cellular processes or molecular events that reflect functional states in neurons or glia, and translating those measurements into practical assay systems.
How does the R21/R33 mechanism work for this opportunity?
The R21/R33 is described as a phased innovation-to-development pathway. The R21 phase typically supports early, exploratory work to establish feasibility and provide an initial proof of concept. The R33 phase supports further development, refinement, and validation after predefined milestones are met.
What happens after the R21 phase?
Advancement to the R33 phase is intended to occur once predefined milestones are met, after which the work can move into further development, refinement, and validation of the assay platform.
What is the listed award ceiling for this FOA?
The listed award ceiling is 200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed for this opportunity.
Which agency sponsors this funding opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Which research areas or CFDA programs are associated with this FOA?
The FOA spans multiple CFDA listings connected to mental health, alcohol research, drug abuse and addiction, and broader neuroscience and neurological disorders research. The CFDA numbers listed are 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.853.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and governments, including public and private institutions of higher education; state and local governments; tribal governments, and tribal organizations; school districts; public housing authorities; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); small businesses; and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses).
Are mission-focused institutions specifically included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are eligible to apply based on the provided information.
Are foreign components of U.S. organizations allowed?
Yes. Foreign components of U.S. organizations are allowed as defined by NIH policy, according to the opportunity description.
Is this FOA still active for new submissions?
No. The provided dates indicate this specific announcement is no longer active. The original and current closing dates are listed as September 7, 2014, and the archive date is October 8, 2014.
When was this FOA posted and created?
The FOA was posted and created on August 24, 2011.
What were the closing date and archive date?
The closing date is listed as September 7, 2014, and the archive date is October 8, 2014.
What kinds of workflows or use cases are these assay platforms meant to support?
The FOA frames these platforms as tools suitable for broader discovery workflows, including probing mechanisms or perturbations in an efficient and systematic way, and supporting target identification and drug discovery pipelines.
Who should be contacted for technical issues related to the electronic announcement?
For access or technical issues related to the electronic announcement, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Is the listed contact intended for scientific or program guidance?
No. The listed contact is described as intended for troubleshooting electronic announcement issues rather than providing scientific program guidance.
Does the FOA specify that assays must be in vitro?
Yes. The title and description emphasize in vitro assay platforms for analysis of neurobiological function.
What is the main scientific focus: neurons, glia, or both?
Both are included. The FOA aims to detect and quantify changes in neuronal and/or glial function.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 11 319) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions (R21) Apply for RFA CA 11 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 11 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions (R01) Apply for RFA CA 11 011 Funding Number: RFA CA 11 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| mHealth Tools to Promote Effective PatientProvider Communication, Adherence to Treatment and Self Management of Chronic Diseases In Underserved Populations (R03) Apply for PA 11 331 Funding Number: PA 11 331 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| mHealth Tools to Promote Effective PatientProvider Communication, Adherence to Treatment and Self Management of Chronic Diseases In Underserved Populations (R01) Apply for PA 11 330 Funding Number: PA 11 330 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| mHealth Tools to Promote Effective PatientProvider Communication, Adherence to Treatment and Self Management of Chronic Diseases In Underserved Populations (R21) Apply for PA 11 332 Funding Number: PA 11 332 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Scholars Training for the Advancement of Research (STAR) Competitive Revision to NINR T32 Training Grants (T32) Apply for RFA NR 11 011 Funding Number: RFA NR 11 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of novel and emerging technologies for the accurate detection and diagnosis of polymicrobial infections in biomedical laboratory animal models (SBIR R43/R44) Apply for PA 11 340 Funding Number: PA 11 340 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Novel and Emerging Technologies for the Accurate Detection and Diagnosis of Polymicrobial Infections in Biomedical Laboratory Animal Models (STTR R41/R42) Apply for PA 11 341 Funding Number: PA 11 341 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cancer Research Network a Research Resource within Health Care Delivery System (Limited Competition U24) Apply for RFA CA 11 502 Funding Number: RFA CA 11 502 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Cancer Institute Program Project (P01) Applications Apply for PAR 12 005 Funding Number: PAR 12 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer Therapeutics, Imaging Technologies, Interventional Devices, Diagnostics, and Prognostics Toward Commercialization (R44) Apply for RFA CA 12 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 12 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Validation of Molecular Diagnostics to Predict Patient Outcomes Using Specimens from Multi Site Cancer Trials (R01) Apply for PA 12 013 Funding Number: PA 12 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Validation of Molecular Diagnostics to Predict Patient Outcomes Using Specimens from Multi Site Cancer Trials (R21) Apply for PA 12 014 Funding Number: PA 12 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10) Apply for PAR 12 017 Funding Number: PAR 12 017 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Midcareer Investigator Award in Mouse Pathobiology and Comprehensive Phenotyping Research (K26) Apply for PAR 12 021 Funding Number: PAR 12 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Practical Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence in Primary Care (R21) Apply for PA 12 023 Funding Number: PA 12 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program (Si2) Apply for RFA OD 12 001 Funding Number: RFA OD 12 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Application of Genomic Advances to Wound Repair (R21) Apply for RFA NR 12 003 Funding Number: RFA NR 12 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Application of Genomic Advances to Wound Repair (R01) Apply for RFA NR 12 002 Funding Number: RFA NR 12 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Behavioral Interventions to Address Multiple Chronic Health Conditions in Primary Care (R01) Apply for PA 12 024 Funding Number: PA 12 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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