Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 482
The NICHD Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional), opportunity number PA 18 482, is a discretionary grant program run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It is designed to fund exploratory and early-stage research that fits within the NICHD mission areas, using the R21 mechanism, which is commonly used when investigators are testing promising but still-forming ideas that may not yet have extensive preliminary data. The program explicitly targets projects at the conceptual and developmental stage, where the goal is to open new directions rather than to deliver a fully mature, large-scale study.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on high-risk, high-reward work. NICHD signals that it is willing to support studies that involve considerable scientific risk because the potential upside is significant: a breakthrough in a specific area, or the creation of new tools and approaches that can change how a field operates. Examples of the kinds of outputs NICHD highlights include novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications, with relevance across biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. In other words, the program is not limited to one narrow research style; it is meant to be flexible enough to support innovative ideas across the spectrum of NICHD-relevant science, including work that could later grow into larger NIH projects if the early results are promising.
The funding announcement specifies that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose a project that includes a clinical trial, but they are not required to do so. This flexibility allows both basic or preclinical exploratory work and early-stage clinical or human-focused research, as long as it aligns with NICHD priorities and is appropriate for an R21 scope. The funding activity category is listed as Health, Income Security and Social Services, and the associated CFDA number is 93.865, which corresponds to NICHD programs.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic applicants, such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. It also includes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Both nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status) are eligible, as are for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant categories, reflecting an effort to include a wide range of institutions and communities: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Practically, this means NICHD is open to proposals from many organizational settings, including community-rooted groups and international institutions, provided they meet NIH requirements and the project is well-justified.
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $200,000, indicating the maximum award amount referenced in the source data. The original closing date shown is 2021-01-07, and the opportunity record notes a creation date of 2017-12-06. Even though those dates suggest the specific posting is from an earlier cycle, the core purpose of the program is clear from the description: to give investigators and organizations a way to pursue bold, early-stage ideas within NICHD’s scientific mission, especially projects that could generate foundational evidence, prove feasibility, or produce innovative methods and platforms that can later support larger and more definitive research efforts.Apply for PA 18 482
- The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NICHD Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (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.
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FAQs: NICHD Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional) - PA 18 482
What is the NICHD Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional)?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It uses the R21 mechanism to support exploratory and early-stage research, especially projects that are still at the conceptual or developmental phase.
What is the opportunity number for this funding announcement?
The opportunity number provided is PA 18 482.
What types of projects is this R21 program meant to support?
It is designed to fund exploratory, early-stage work within NICHD mission areas. The focus is on projects that help open new directions in a field rather than deliver a fully mature, large-scale study.
Does this opportunity require extensive preliminary data?
No. The R21 mechanism is commonly used when investigators are testing promising ideas that may not yet have extensive preliminary data, and the program explicitly targets conceptual and developmental stage projects.
What does "high-risk, high-reward" mean in the context of this opportunity?
NICHD emphasizes that it is willing to support studies with considerable scientific risk when the potential payoff is significant. This can include projects that might lead to breakthroughs or that create new tools and approaches that could change how a field works.
What kinds of outputs does NICHD highlight as examples of what this program can produce?
Examples mentioned include novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications. These outputs may be relevant across biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research, as long as they align with NICHD priorities.
Is this opportunity limited to a single research style or discipline?
No. The description indicates the program is intended to be flexible and can support innovative ideas across the spectrum of NICHD-relevant science, including biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research.
Are clinical trials required under this funding opportunity?
No. Clinical trials are optional. Applicants may propose a project that includes a clinical trial, but they are not required to do so.
Can I apply with a basic or preclinical exploratory project?
Yes. The "clinical trial optional" design is described as allowing both basic or preclinical exploratory work and early-stage clinical or human-focused research, as long as it fits NICHD priorities and is appropriate in scope for an R21.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $200,000, which is the maximum award amount referenced in the provided information.
Which federal agency and institute run this program?
The program is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through NICHD (the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development).
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed as Health, Income Security and Social Services.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 93.865, which corresponds to NICHD programs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad. It includes many types of domestic applicants such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity states that nonprofit organizations are eligible, including nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are eligible, and small businesses are also explicitly listed as eligible.
Are tribal entities and tribal-serving institutions eligible?
Yes. The eligible categories include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are minority-serving institutions eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement lists Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) among eligible applicant categories.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligible categories explicitly include faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the listed eligible applicant categories.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity description includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) among eligible applicants, indicating that foreign organizations may apply if they meet NIH requirements and the project is well-justified.
Does this program aim to support work that can grow into larger NIH projects?
Yes. The description indicates that the program supports innovative early-stage ideas that could later grow into larger NIH projects if early results are promising.
What is the primary goal of an R21 project under this opportunity?
The stated emphasis is on projects at the conceptual and developmental stage, with the goal of opening new directions, generating foundational evidence, proving feasibility, or producing innovative methods and platforms.
What are the key dates shown in the opportunity record?
The record notes a creation date of 2017-12-06 and an original closing date shown as 2021-01-07.
Do the dates mean the opportunity information may reflect an earlier cycle?
Yes. The provided information notes that the dates suggest the specific posting is from an earlier cycle, even though the core purpose and program description are clear.
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