NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required) | PA 18 344

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 344

The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required), Funding Opportunity Number PA 18 344, is a discretionary NIH grant mechanism designed to support early-stage, high-potential research projects that are still in the exploratory or developmental phase. The R21 mechanism is meant for ideas that are promising but not yet fully proven, where investigators may need initial funding to test feasibility, generate preliminary evidence, or develop an approach far enough to justify a larger, more definitive study later on. NIH explicitly notes that these projects can involve considerable risk, but the payoff could be significant, such as a breakthrough finding or the creation of a novel technique, agent, methodology, model, or application that meaningfully advances biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.

A key feature of this specific Parent announcement is that it requires at least one clinical trial to be proposed. In other words, applicants must include clinical trial activity as NIH defines it, rather than submitting a purely preclinical or observational research plan. The proposed work also needs to fit within the programmatic interests and scientific mission of one or more participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs). Because the R21 Parent announcement is used across NIH, the scientific fit is essential: applicants are expected to align their aims with the priorities of the IC that would potentially support the award. It is also important to pay attention to institute-specific participation rules noted in related NIH notices. Some ICs will only accept applications through this announcement if the proposed clinical trial is a mechanistic study that meets NIHs definition of a clinical trial, meaning the trial is designed to understand biological or behavioral mechanisms rather than primarily to establish clinical efficacy in the traditional sense. This makes it especially important for applicants to verify which ICs are participating for their topic area and what limitations or preferences apply before investing heavily in an application.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $200,000. As an exploratory/developmental mechanism, the R21 is generally oriented toward smaller, time-limited projects compared with larger NIH awards, and it is commonly used to support proof-of-concept clinical trial work, early testing of innovative interventions, pilot randomized studies, or other trial designs appropriate to demonstrating feasibility, acceptability, safety signals, or mechanistic insight. The ultimate goal is often to position the research team for a subsequent, larger application (for example, an R01 or a later-stage clinical trial program) once the early clinical trial results and supporting data are in hand.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations, such as state, county, and local governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; special district governments; and public housing or Indian housing authorities. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, as well as a wide range of nonprofit entities (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses may also apply. Beyond these categories, the announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities. This breadth reflects NIHs intent to support innovative early clinical trial research across many institutional settings, including community-based and international contexts when appropriate.

The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health and is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning NIHs research and training portfolios, reflecting participation across different NIH components. The source information indicates an original closing date of January 7, 2019, and a creation date of November 3, 2017, which signals that the listing reflects a specific posting window; however, Parent NIH funding opportunities often have multiple standard due dates across years, so applicants typically need to confirm the currently active submission dates and the most current version of the announcement and related notices on the NIH and grants.gov pages. Overall, this R21 Clinical Trial Required Parent opportunity is best understood as NIHs mechanism for funding early, potentially transformative clinical trial work that is innovative, somewhat exploratory by nature, and tightly aligned with the mission and requirements of an appropriate NIH Institute or Center.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.172, 93.173, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.846, 93.855, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-07. (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: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PA 18 344

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