Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 12 060
Apply for PAR 12 060
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solicitation of Validated Hits for the Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.399 Cancer Control 93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.866 Aging Research 93.867 Vision Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 11, 2014 and posted on Dec 13, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 11, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Independent school districts Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township 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:
PAR-12-060, titled "Solicitation of Validated Hits for the Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes (R01)," was an NIH research grant opportunity designed to move promising early chemical matter toward practical, in vivo-ready chemical probes. The central idea was to fund teams that already had "validated hits" in hand, meaning starting compounds with credible activity and initial validation, along with the ability to run the bioassays needed to evaluate newly synthesized analogs. Rather than supporting very early discovery from scratch, the FOA focused on the next phase: chemical optimization, iterative testing, and building the evidence package that turns a hit into a robust probe that can be used in living systems to interrogate biology.
The scientific goals emphasized two complementary outcomes. First, NIH sought the discovery and development of novel small molecules that could be used as tools for studying disease-relevant pathways aligned with the missions of participating NIH Institutes. Second, the FOA encouraged the discovery and/or validation of new biological targets, with the expectation that better probes can reveal whether a target truly drives a disease mechanism and is worth deeper investigation. A recurring theme was the importance of assays that deliver fresh insight into key disease targets and processes, so applicants were expected to bring strong experimental systems and assay strategies that do more than simply confirm binding or basic activity, ideally advancing understanding of mechanism, selectivity, and in vivo relevance.
Mechanistically, this opportunity supported work typical of chemical probe campaigns: medicinal chemistry to improve potency, selectivity, and properties consistent with in vivo use; development and execution of fit-for-purpose bioassays to guide structure-activity relationship work; and studies that link compound behavior to biological readouts in relevant models. The emphasis on "in vivo chemical probes" implies attention to characteristics like exposure, stability, and the ability to produce interpretable biological effects in animals or other living systems, as opposed to remaining solely as in vitro tool compounds.
Administratively, the award mechanism was the NIH R01 (a standard research project grant), and the opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding. It carried no cost sharing or matching requirement. The FOA was posted December 13, 2011, and is now archived, with the original closing date listed as September 7, 2014 and archive date of August 11, 2014 (the record also shows a current closing date entry of July 11, 2014 tied to an internal creation date update). The sponsoring agency was the National Institutes of Health, and the announcement was distributed across a wide set of NIH-related research areas, reflected in the CFDA numbers spanning cancer research and control, mental health, alcohol and substance use, aging, vision, child health and development, arthritis and musculoskeletal/skin diseases, communication disorders, and broader biomedical research and training.
Eligibility was broad and included many U.S. organizational types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, for-profit entities other than small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as public housing authorities. It also explicitly included tribal governments and tribal organizations, independent school districts, and a range of mission-focused institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities. Importantly, the FOA allowed non-U.S. (foreign) institutions to apply, allowed non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, and permitted foreign components consistent with NIH policy, making the program accessible to international partners when justified.
In practical terms, this grant opportunity was aimed at investigators who could credibly start from a validated chemical hit and carry it through optimization and biological validation to yield a dependable in vivo probe, while simultaneously using those probes to sharpen understanding of disease biology and to validate (or potentially de-risk) therapeutic targets relevant to NIH priorities. The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site at the link provided in the source text.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is PAR-12-060?
PAR-12-060 is an NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Solicitation of Validated Hits for the Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes (R01)." It supported research projects that start from existing, validated chemical "hits" and advance them toward practical chemical probes suitable for use in living systems (in vivo).
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The purpose was to fund teams that already had credible starting compounds ("validated hits") and could perform the iterative chemistry and biology needed to optimize those compounds into robust in vivo-ready chemical probes. The emphasis was on optimization and evidence-building rather than discovering new hits from scratch.
What does "validated hit" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Within this FOA, a "validated hit" refers to a starting compound with credible biological activity and initial validation, along with the applicant's ability to run the relevant bioassays needed to evaluate newly synthesized analogs during optimization.
Is this FOA about early-stage screening to find brand-new hits?
No. The FOA was designed for projects that already had validated hits in hand. It focused on the next stage: medicinal chemistry optimization, iterative testing, and building a strong data package to produce a dependable in vivo chemical probe.
What kinds of outcomes was NIH seeking?
The FOA emphasized two complementary outcomes: (1) discovery and development of novel small molecules that can be used as tools to study disease-relevant pathways aligned with participating NIH Institutes, and (2) discovery and/or validation of new biological targets, where improved probes help determine whether a target truly drives disease mechanisms and merits further investigation.
What scientific activities were encouraged under this grant?
The supported work reflected typical chemical probe development campaigns, including medicinal chemistry to improve potency, selectivity, and in vivo-relevant properties; development and execution of fit-for-purpose bioassays to guide structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies; and experiments linking compound behavior to biological readouts in relevant models.
What does "in vivo chemical probe" imply for the research plan?
It implies that projects should pay attention to characteristics needed for interpretable performance in living systems, such as exposure, stability, and the ability to produce meaningful biological effects in animals or other living models, rather than remaining only as in vitro tool compounds.
What role did assays play in this FOA?
Assays were central. Applicants were expected to have strong experimental systems and assay strategies that provide fresh insight into disease targets and processes. The FOA emphasized going beyond simple confirmation of binding or basic activity by advancing understanding of mechanism, selectivity, and in vivo relevance.
What funding mechanism was used?
The award mechanism was the NIH R01, a standard NIH Research Project Grant mechanism.
What type of funding was this categorized as?
The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA specified no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was this FOA posted?
The FOA was posted on December 13, 2011.
Is this FOA still open?
No. The FOA is archived. The record lists an original closing date of September 7, 2014 and an archive date of August 11, 2014. The record also shows a "current closing date" entry of July 11, 2014 tied to an internal creation date update.
Who was the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency was the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What research areas did this FOA cover?
It was distributed across a wide range of NIH-related research areas, reflected by CFDA numbers spanning cancer research and control, mental health, alcohol and substance use, aging, vision, child health and development, arthritis and musculoskeletal/skin diseases, communication disorders, and broader biomedical research and training.
What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many U.S. organization types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, for-profit entities other than small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special districts), as well as public housing authorities.
Were tribal entities eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly included tribal governments, tribal organizations, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities.
Were school districts eligible?
Yes. Independent school districts were explicitly included in the eligible organization types.
Did the FOA encourage applications from mission-focused institution types (e.g., HBCUs and Hispanic-serving institutions)?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly included institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities.
Could non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply?
Yes. The FOA allowed non-U.S. (foreign) institutions to apply.
Could a U.S. organization include non-U.S. components?
Yes. The FOA allowed non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations and permitted foreign components consistent with NIH policy.
What kinds of teams were this FOA aimed at?
It was aimed at investigators and teams who could credibly start with a validated chemical hit and carry it through medicinal chemistry optimization and biological validation to produce a reliable in vivo probe, while using that probe to sharpen understanding of disease biology and to validate or de-risk targets relevant to NIH priorities.
Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site at the link provided in the source text.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 12 060) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Jointly Sponsored Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Predoctoral Training Program in the Neurosciences (T32) Apply for PAR 12 084 Funding Number: PAR 12 084 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on the Health of LGBTI Populations R01 Apply for PA 12 111 Funding Number: PA 12 111 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on the Health of LGBTI Populations R03 Apply for PA 12 112 Funding Number: PA 12 112 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Research on the Health of LGBTI Populations (R21) Apply for PA 12 113 Funding Number: PA 12 113 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) R21 Apply for PA 12 142 Funding Number: PA 12 142 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) R01 Apply for PA 12 141 Funding Number: PA 12 141 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R21) Apply for PAR 12 174 Funding Number: PAR 12 174 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R03) Apply for PAR 12 176 Funding Number: PAR 12 176 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Womens Mental Health During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period (R21) Apply for PA 12 215 Funding Number: PA 12 215 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Womens Mental Health During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period (R01) Apply for PA 12 216 Funding Number: PA 12 216 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Children in Military Families The Impact of Parental Military Deployment and Reintegration on Child and Family Functioning (R13) Apply for PA 12 223 Funding Number: PA 12 223 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Ethical Issues in Research on HIV/AIDS and its Co morbidities (R01) Apply for PAR 12 244 Funding Number: PAR 12 244 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ethical Issues in Research on HIV/AIDS and its Co morbidities (R21) Apply for PAR 12 243 Funding Number: PAR 12 243 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) H3Africa Research Grants (U01) Apply for RFA RM 12 007 Funding Number: RFA RM 12 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| U.S. Russia Bilateral Collaborative Research Partnerships (CRP) on the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS and Co morbidities (R21) Apply for RFA DA 14 001 Funding Number: RFA DA 14 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| International Research Ethics Education and Curriculum Development Award (R25) Apply for PAR 13 027 Funding Number: PAR 13 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (U01) Apply for PAR 13 029 Funding Number: PAR 13 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Prevention and Health Promotion Interventions to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Associated Physical and Psychological Health Problems in U.S. Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families (R34) Apply for RFA DA 13 013 Funding Number: RFA DA 13 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Prevention and Health Promotion Interventions to Prevent Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Associated Physical and Psychological Health Problems in U.S. Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families (R01) Apply for RFA DA 13 012 Funding Number: RFA DA 13 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| School Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies, Obesogenic Behaviors, and Weight Outcomes (R21) Apply for PA 13 098 Funding Number: PA 13 098 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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