Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 08 035
Apply for PAR 08 035
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solicitation of Assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) in the Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network (MLPCN) (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310 Trans NIH Research Support.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 13, 2009 and posted on Nov 30, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 14, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Special district governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts.
- Foreign institutions are eligible to apply. Eligible agencies of the Federal Government can apply. Faith based or community based organizations can apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement PAR 08 035, titled "Solicitation of Assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) in the Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network (MLPCN) (R03)," is aimed at bringing new, scientifically strong HTS-ready assays into the NIH Molecular Libraries ecosystem to accelerate chemical probe discovery. The core idea is that many labs have compelling biological targets, pathways, or phenotypes they want to interrogate with small molecules, but they do not have access to industrial-style automation, large compound libraries, or the informatics infrastructure needed for large screening campaigns. This program is designed to bridge that gap by inviting investigators to propose assays that can be implemented within the MLPCN, with the end goal of producing high-quality chemical probes that the broader research community can use to study biology and disease mechanisms.
A central feature of the opportunity is the way it connects applicants to a national screening and data-sharing infrastructure. Successful assay projects are positioned to leverage three major Molecular Libraries components: the MLPCN high-throughput screening centers (for automated, large-scale screening), the Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (MLSMR) (which provides access to a diverse compound collection), and PubChem BioAssay (which serves as a public database where assay methods and screening results are shared). In practice, the program is not just paying for small pilot work; it is a structured pathway for an investigator-developed assay to be standardized, executed at scale, and then disseminated in a way that can support downstream validation and tool development by both academic and industry scientists.
The funding mechanism is the NIH Small Research Grant (R03). This FOA also runs alongside a related pathway (PAR 08 034) that uses the X01 Resource Access mechanism, which is more focused on access to resources rather than direct grant support. Under PAR 08 035, the R03 funding is specifically meant to cover practical costs required to implement an assay in the screening network and to support early follow-up steps that help move from primary hits toward credible probes.
In terms of scale, the NIH signaled an intent to select and implement roughly 100 HTS assays per year beginning in 2008, although the actual number depends on application quality and the capacity and resources available across the MLPCN. The estimated total funding listed for the opportunity is $2,500,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Awards are small by design: up to $25,000 in total costs per project (including both direct costs and facilities and administrative costs). The project period is limited to one year, with the possibility of a one-year no-cost extension, meaning the timeline can be extended up to 12 additional months if more time is needed, but without additional NIH funds.
The allowable use of funds is tightly aligned with the program purpose. The $25,000 cap is intended to help applicants cover assay implementation costs that can otherwise become a barrier to participation, including non-commercially available reagents, travel to screening centers, and support for secondary and counter-screen assays that are often essential to validate screening hits and begin shaping them into useful chemical probes. The emphasis on secondary and counter screens is important because HTS campaigns routinely generate false positives and artifacts; having resources to confirm specificity and rule out assay interference is a practical requirement for generating probes that will be trusted and reused by the community.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and multiple levels of government (state, local, county, special district), as well as U.S. territories and tribal entities (federally recognized and other than federally recognized). The FOA also explicitly includes foreign (non-U.S.) organizations as eligible, along with eligible federal government agencies, and faith-based or community-based organizations. It also highlights participation by institutions serving historically underrepresented communities, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.
On the investigator side, the FOA invites Project Directors/Principal Investigators who have the skills, knowledge, and resources to conduct the preliminary studies needed to support an assay access application. It also reiterates NIH-wide encouragement for applications from individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities. The program allows multiple PDs/PIs on an application, reflecting that HTS assay development and implementation often benefits from team science spanning biology, chemistry, assay development, and informatics.
Applicants are allowed to submit more than one application as long as each is scientifically distinct. There is also a practical instruction for how to bundle work: if an applicant is proposing parallel screens for multiple related molecular targets or cellular systems that can be executed within a single HTS campaign, those should be prepared as one application rather than split into separate submissions. For application history rules, renewals are not accepted under this R03 mechanism, but up to two resubmissions of a previously reviewed small grant application are permitted (consistent with NIH policy referenced in the announcement).
Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary NIH grant in the health research category (CFDA 93.310, Trans-NIH Research Support). Key dates included in the source data show it was posted November 30, 2007, with an original closing date of September 24, 2010, and later archival information indicating an archive date of April 14, 2009 (with a current closing date shown as March 14, 2009 in the provided listing). The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health. The full announcement was linked through the NIH grants guide, and general technical contact support for accessing the announcement was routed through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted on-ramp for researchers who have a biologically meaningful, HTS-compatible assay concept and want to plug into a national screening and open-data pipeline to generate chemical probes. It provides modest, short-term funding specifically to overcome the logistical and reagent costs of getting an assay into an MLPCN screening center and to support the early validation steps that turn raw hits into credible starting points for probe development, with the added expectation that assay results will contribute to public resources like PubChem BioAssay and broadly enable follow-on science.
FAQs: NIH PAR 08 035 - Solicitation of Assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) in the MLPCN (R03)
What is PAR 08 035 trying to fund?
PAR 08 035 is designed to bring new, scientifically strong, HTS-ready assays into the NIH Molecular Libraries ecosystem so they can be run at scale and used to accelerate chemical probe discovery. The focus is on enabling investigators who have compelling biological targets, pathways, or phenotypes to connect with a national screening network and generate high-quality chemical probes for broad community use.
What is the overall goal of the program?
The end goal is to move an investigator-developed assay into a standardized, large-scale high-throughput screening workflow and then disseminate assay methods and screening results in a public way (for example, through PubChem BioAssay) to support follow-on validation, tool development, and broader biological and disease-mechanism research.
Who is this opportunity intended for?
This opportunity is aimed at researchers who have biologically meaningful assay concepts that are compatible with HTS but who may not have access to industrial-style automation, large compound libraries, or the informatics infrastructure needed for major screening campaigns.
What NIH infrastructure does a funded project connect to?
Successful projects are positioned to leverage three main Molecular Libraries components: (1) MLPCN high-throughput screening centers for automated, large-scale screening; (2) the Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (MLSMR) for access to a diverse compound collection; and (3) PubChem BioAssay as the public database for sharing assay methods and screening results.
How is this different from a typical small pilot grant?
The program is described as a structured pathway: an assay is proposed by an investigator, implemented and standardized within the screening network, executed at scale using national resources, and then shared publicly to enable downstream science. It is not described as funding only internal, stand-alone pilot work.
What funding mechanism is used?
The funding mechanism is the NIH Small Research Grant (R03).
Is there a related program opportunity mentioned?
Yes. The announcement notes a related pathway, PAR 08 034, which uses the X01 Resource Access mechanism and is described as being more focused on access to resources rather than direct grant support.
How much funding is available per award?
Awards are capped at up to $25,000 in total costs per project, including both direct costs and facilities and administrative (F&A) costs.
How long is the project period?
The project period is limited to one year. A one-year no-cost extension is possible, allowing up to 12 additional months without additional NIH funds if more time is needed.
What is the estimated total program funding listed?
The estimated total funding listed for the opportunity is $2,500,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What types of costs can the $25,000 be used for?
The cap is intended to cover practical costs needed to implement an assay in the screening network and support early follow-up steps, including non-commercially available reagents, travel to screening centers, and support for secondary and counter-screen assays used to validate hits and reduce false positives and artifacts.
Why does the opportunity emphasize secondary and counter screens?
The FOA highlights that HTS campaigns can generate false positives and assay artifacts. Secondary and counter screens are positioned as essential steps to confirm specificity, rule out assay interference, and move from raw hits toward credible chemical probes that can be trusted and reused by the research community.
How many assays did NIH intend to select per year?
NIH signaled an intent to select and implement roughly 100 HTS assays per year beginning in 2008, although the actual number depends on application quality and the capacity and resources available across the MLPCN.
What organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; small businesses; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); state, local, county, and special district governments; U.S. territories; and tribal entities (federally recognized and other than federally recognized). The FOA also includes foreign (non-U.S.) organizations as eligible, as well as eligible federal government agencies and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes foreign (non-U.S.) organizations as eligible applicants.
Does the FOA encourage participation from specific institution types?
Yes. It highlights participation by institutions serving historically underrepresented communities, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.
Who can serve as the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)?
The FOA invites PDs/PIs with the skills, knowledge, and resources to conduct the preliminary studies needed to support an assay access application.
Are multiple PDs/PIs allowed?
Yes. The program allows multiple PDs/PIs on an application, reflecting that HTS assay development and implementation can benefit from team science across biology, chemistry, assay development, and informatics.
Does NIH mention any workforce diversity encouragement?
Yes. The FOA reiterates NIH-wide encouragement for applications from individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities.
Can an applicant submit more than one application?
Yes. Applicants may submit more than one application as long as each is scientifically distinct.
If I want to screen multiple related targets or systems, should I submit separate applications?
The FOA provides a bundling instruction: if you are proposing parallel screens for multiple related molecular targets or cellular systems that can be executed within a single HTS campaign, those should be prepared as one application rather than split into separate submissions.
Are renewals allowed under this R03 opportunity?
No. Renewals are not accepted under this R03 mechanism as described in the announcement.
Are resubmissions allowed?
Yes. Up to two resubmissions of a previously reviewed small grant application are permitted, consistent with NIH policy referenced in the announcement.
What is the CFDA number and general category for this opportunity?
The FOA is described as a discretionary NIH grant in the health research category under CFDA 93.310 (Trans-NIH Research Support).
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Where are assay methods and screening results expected to be shared?
The announcement describes PubChem BioAssay as a public database where assay methods and screening results are shared, reflecting an expectation that results contribute to public resources that broadly enable follow-on science.
What are the key dates mentioned in the provided listing?
The source data indicates the opportunity was posted on November 30, 2007. It lists an original closing date of September 24, 2010, and also includes later archival information showing an archive date of April 14, 2009, with a current closing date shown as March 14, 2009 in the provided listing.
Where was the full announcement linked?
The full announcement was linked through the NIH grants guide.
Who is listed for technical contact support for accessing the announcement?
General technical contact support for accessing the announcement was routed through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster.
In plain terms, what does this FOA provide to researchers?
It serves as an on-ramp for researchers with an HTS-compatible assay idea to plug into a national screening and open-data pipeline. It offers modest, short-term funding to cover key logistical and reagent costs for assay implementation in an MLPCN screening center and early validation work needed to turn screening hits into credible starting points for chemical probe development.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 08 035) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Metagenomic Analyses of the Oral Microbiome (R01) Apply for PA 08 090 Funding Number: PA 08 090 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Approaches to Study Polymicrobial Diseases (R01) Apply for PA 08 091 Funding Number: PA 08 091 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Approaches To Study Polymicrobial Diseases (R21) Apply for PA 08 092 Funding Number: PA 08 092 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| CAM Practitioner Research Education Project Grant Partnership Competitive Renewal (R25) Apply for PAR 08 095 Funding Number: PAR 08 095 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Family Planning Service Delivery Improvement Research (R01) Apply for PAR 08 999 Funding Number: PAR 08 999 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Genome Wide Association Analysis of Existing Data Sets for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01) Apply for PAR 08 123 Funding Number: PAR 08 123 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mouse Models Containing Human Alleles Novel Tools to Study Brain Function (R21/R33) Apply for PAR 08 158 Funding Number: PAR 08 158 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Adverse Metabolic Side Effects of Second Generation Psychotropic Medications Leading to Obesity and Increased Diabetes Risk (R01) Apply for PAR 08 160 Funding Number: PAR 08 160 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanisms of Alcohol Induced Tissue Injury (R01) Apply for PA 08 164 Funding Number: PA 08 164 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Secondary Analysis of Existing Alcohol Epidemiology Data (R01) Apply for PA 08 167 Funding Number: PA 08 167 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Secondary Analysis of Existing Alcohol Epidemiology Data (R21) Apply for PA 08 168 Funding Number: PA 08 168 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Secondary Analysis of Existing Alcohol Epidemiology Data (R03) Apply for PA 08 169 Funding Number: PA 08 169 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Economics of Treatment and Prevention Services for Drug Alcohol Abuse (R21) Apply for PA 08 173 Funding Number: PA 08 173 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Integrative Systems Biology Approaches to Auditory Hair Cell Regeneration (R01) Apply for PA 08 177 Funding Number: PA 08 177 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Integrative Systems Biology Approaches to Auditory Hair Cell Regeneration (R21) Apply for PA 08 176 Funding Number: PA 08 176 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NIDCR Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34) Apply for PAR 08 195 Funding Number: PAR 08 195 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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