Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 336
The NIH grant opportunity "Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets (R01)" (PAR-17-336) is a discretionary research grant that supports teams focused on creating and refining small-molecule chemical probes that work in living systems (in vivo) to study new and important targets in the brain. The central idea is to accelerate the translation from an initial promising compound to a well-characterized probe that can be used to answer biological questions about brain function and brain disorders. This is not framed as an early, open-ended screening program; instead, the FOA expects applicants to already have credible starting points, meaning validated hit compounds in hand and established bioassays ready to test new analogs as the chemistry evolves.
Projects funded under this announcement are intended to do two tightly linked things. First, they should carry out the discovery and development of novel small molecules that can serve as tools to understand biological processes aligned with the missions of several NIH institutes focused on brain and sensory health: the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute on Aging (NIA), and National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Second, they should contribute to the discovery and/or validation of new biological targets in the brain, producing evidence that those targets matter for disease mechanisms or key brain-relevant pathways. The announcement places special emphasis on proposals that generate genuinely new insight into disease-relevant biology, meaning the probe development is expected to illuminate an important target or process rather than simply produce another compound series.
From a practical standpoint, the FOA is aimed at investigators who can integrate medicinal chemistry and biological testing in an iterative optimization cycle. Applicants are expected to optimize their validated hits into higher-quality probes by improving properties that matter for in vivo use, such as potency, selectivity, and performance in living systems, while using bioassays to rapidly evaluate each round of new analogs. The in vivo expectation signals that the end product should be useful beyond test tubes or isolated cells, enabling real biological experiments that clarify how a novel target influences brain-related pathways, behavior, physiology, or disease mechanisms.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and several categories of special-interest institutions. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), underscoring NIH's intent to welcome a wide range of capable research environments.
Administratively, this opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health as an R01 grant mechanism under the broad activity areas of education and health, with CFDA numbers listed as 93.173, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.867. The FOA record indicates a creation date of July 24, 2017, and an original closing date of September 7, 2020. Award ceiling and expected award counts are not specified in the provided listing, which typically means applicants need to consult the full FOA text and related NIH institute guidance for budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute-specific priorities.
In summary, this R01 is designed for research groups that already have a validated chemical starting point and the experimental infrastructure to optimize and test compounds, with the goal of delivering in vivo-capable chemical probes that unlock new understanding of brain targets and disease-relevant biological processes across NIH neuroscience-related missions.Apply for PAR 17 336
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-07-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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: NIH "Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets (R01)" (PAR-17-336)
What is the NIH funding opportunity described here?
This opportunity is the NIH grant "Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets (R01)" with FOA number PAR-17-336. It uses the R01 research grant mechanism and supports research teams developing small-molecule chemical probes intended to function in living systems (in vivo) for studying novel and important brain targets.
What is the main goal of this grant program?
The core aim is to speed up the path from a promising starting compound to a well-characterized in vivo chemical probe that can be used to answer biological questions about brain function and brain disorders. The program is positioned around translation and probe refinement, not broad early screening.
Is this funding opportunity meant for early-stage screening or open-ended hit discovery?
No. Based on the description provided, the FOA is not framed as an early, open-ended screening program. It expects applicants to already have credible starting points, including validated hit compounds and established bioassays that can test new analogs during iterative chemistry optimization.
What kinds of projects are intended to be funded?
Projects are intended to do two linked things: (1) discover and develop novel small molecules as tools for understanding biological processes aligned with NIH brain and sensory health missions, and (2) support the discovery and/or validation of new biological targets in the brain by producing evidence those targets matter for disease mechanisms or key brain-relevant pathways.
What does "in vivo chemical probe" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this context, an in vivo chemical probe is a small-molecule tool compound designed to work in living systems, not only in test tubes or isolated cells. The expectation is that the probe can enable real biological experiments that clarify how a novel target influences brain-related pathways, behavior, physiology, or disease mechanisms.
What is expected as a starting point for applicants?
The FOA expects applicants to start with validated hit compounds already in hand and with bioassays already established to evaluate new analogs as medicinal chemistry evolves.
What types of expertise or capabilities does a project team need?
The FOA is aimed at investigators who can integrate medicinal chemistry and biological testing in an iterative optimization cycle. That includes the ability to synthesize and refine analogs and rapidly evaluate them using bioassays to improve in vivo-relevant properties.
What types of improvements are expected during optimization?
Applicants are expected to optimize validated hits into higher-quality probes by improving properties important for in vivo use, including potency, selectivity, and performance in living systems, using iterative rounds of chemistry and testing.
Why does this FOA emphasize generating new biological insight?
The announcement places special emphasis on proposals that generate genuinely new insight into disease-relevant biology. Probe development is expected to illuminate an important target or process rather than simply create another compound series.
What research areas or NIH missions does this FOA align with?
The projects should align with missions of NIH institutes focused on brain and sensory health, specifically: the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute on Aging (NIA), and National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
Does the FOA focus only on brain disorders, or also basic brain function?
Based on the description, the probes should help answer biological questions about brain function and brain disorders, and should produce evidence relevant to disease mechanisms or key brain-relevant pathways.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
This is offered as an NIH R01 discretionary research grant mechanism.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad. Eligible applicants include many U.S. organization types (government entities, higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits other than small businesses, and small businesses) and additional special-interest institution categories. The listing also notes eligibility for non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Which government entities are eligible?
Eligible government-related applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments, as well as independent school districts. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are also listed as eligible.
Are higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicant types.
Are nonprofits eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education) are included in the eligibility list.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are included, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments eligible?
Yes. Tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) are explicitly mentioned as eligible.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly mentions non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible.
What special categories of institutions are explicitly highlighted as eligible?
The FOA highlights additional eligible categories including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities. It also highlights faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, and regional organizations.
Which NIH institutes are associated with this opportunity?
The description links this announcement to several NIH institutes focused on brain and sensory health: NIMH, NEI, NIAAA, NIDA, NIA, and NIDCD.
What are the CFDA numbers listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.173, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.867.
When was this FOA created, and what closing date is shown in the record?
The FOA record indicates a creation date of July 24, 2017, and an original closing date of September 7, 2020.
Is the award ceiling or the expected number of awards provided in the listing?
No. The provided listing does not specify an award ceiling or expected award counts. That typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text and any related NIH institute guidance for budget expectations, typical project periods, and institute-specific priorities.
What is the practical expectation for how the work will be carried out?
The description points to an iterative optimization approach: medicinal chemistry generates new analogs, and established bioassays rapidly evaluate each round, with the goal of improving properties required for in vivo use and enabling experiments that clarify target biology.
What kinds of outcomes does the FOA appear to prioritize?
Based on the description, prioritized outcomes include (1) an in vivo-capable, well-characterized chemical probe derived from a validated hit and (2) evidence supporting discovery and/or validation of a novel brain target that matters for disease mechanisms or key pathways, ideally producing genuinely new disease-relevant biological insight.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 17 336) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Synthetic Biology for Engineering Applications (R01) Apply for PAR 17 334 Funding Number: PAR 17 334 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Assay development and screening for discovery of chemical probes or therapeutic agents (R01) Apply for PAR 17 438 Funding Number: PAR 17 438 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research on E-Cigarettes (R01) Apply for RFA HL 18 024 Funding Number: RFA HL 18 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| NINR Center of Excellence (P30) Apply for RFA NR 17 003 Funding Number: RFA NR 17 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| NINR Exploratory Center (P20) Apply for RFA NR 17 002 Funding Number: RFA NR 17 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Precompetitive Collaboration on Liquid Biopsy for Early Cancer Assessment (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 029 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Pharmacogenomics of Anti-retroviral Therapy in People Who Inject Drugs (R01) Apply for RFA DA 18 014 Funding Number: RFA DA 18 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| HIV-associated neuropathic pain and opioid interaction (R01) Apply for RFA DA 18 015 Funding Number: RFA DA 18 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| The Interplay of Cell Death Pathways in Cancer Cell Survival and Resistance to Therapy (R01) Apply for PA 17 440 Funding Number: PA 17 440 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Interplay of Cell Death Pathways in Cancer Cell Survival and Resistance to Therapy (R21) Apply for PA 17 449 Funding Number: PA 17 449 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Collaborative Research Network for Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (U54) Apply for RFA CA 17 049 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 049 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Biospecimen Access (X01) Apply for PAR 17 458 Funding Number: PAR 17 458 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Biology of Lung, and Head and Neck Preneoplasias (R01) Apply for PA 17 459 Funding Number: PA 17 459 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Biology of Lung, and Head and Neck Preneoplasias (R21) Apply for PAR 17 460 Funding Number: PAR 17 460 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Symptom Cluster Characterization in Chronic Conditions (R01) Apply for PA 17 462 Funding Number: PA 17 462 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Symptom Cluster Characterization in Chronic Conditions (R21) Apply for PA 17 461 Funding Number: PA 17 461 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Biology of Lung, and Head and Neck Preneoplasias (R21) Apply for PA 17 460 Funding Number: PA 17 460 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) (R38) Apply for RFA HL 18 023 Funding Number: RFA HL 18 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $221,000 |
| Clinical and Epidemiological Research on Chronic Disease in the Caribbean (R01) Apply for PAR 17 470 Funding Number: PAR 17 470 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): Population, Clinical and Applied Prevention Research (R21) Apply for PAR 17 472 Funding Number: PAR 17 472 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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