NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research: Tools and Technologies to Explore Nervous System Biomolecular Condensates (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DA 24 039

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 24 039

The NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research funding opportunity (RFA-DA-24-039) is an NIH discretionary grant solicitation that uses the R21 mechanism and specifically does not allow clinical trials. Its central goal is to accelerate the creation of new, enabling research tools and technologies focused on biomolecular condensates (BMCs) in the nervous system. Biomolecular condensates are organized, often dynamic assemblies of proteins and nucleic acids that can form through processes such as phase separation and are increasingly thought to influence key cellular behaviors. Through this announcement, NIH is prioritizing tool-building work that makes it possible to observe, measure, perturb, or otherwise control these condensates in living systems, with an emphasis on in vivo relevance for neuroscience.

A major theme of the opportunity is moving beyond descriptive studies and instead producing practical, broadly usable capabilities that other neuroscience researchers can adopt. Supported projects are expected to yield innovative approaches to monitor BMC formation, composition, dynamics, localization, and functional consequences within intact cells, circuits, or organisms, and/or to manipulate condensates in targeted ways so that investigators can test causal mechanisms. In other words, the focus is on technology development that unlocks previously difficult or impossible experiments in basic neuroscience, rather than on running human studies. NIH frames this tool-and-technology emphasis as foundational: better methods to study nervous system condensates are expected to clarify how BMCs contribute to normal neural function and how their dysregulation may participate in neurological or neuropsychiatric disease processes, potentially informing longer-term therapeutic strategies that target condensate biology.

The solicitation sits within the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, a trans-NIH effort that supports resources and initiatives benefiting the broader neuroscience community. Consistent with that mission, the announcement highlights tools that can be disseminated or readily taken up by other labs to address outstanding basic neuroscience questions. While the text provided does not list specific required deliverables, the stated intent implies that reviewers will be looking for strong rationale, clear innovation, feasibility for tool development within an R21 scope, and a convincing plan showing how the proposed tool or technology will enable new lines of neuroscience discovery related to BMCs.

Eligibility is broad and includes many kinds of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The opportunity also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types, including 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Administrative details included in the source indicate the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health. The original closing date listed is 2023-11-14, and the opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867. The posted record creation date is 2023-04-24. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided excerpt.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research: Tools and Technologies to Explore Nervous System Biomolecular Condensates (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-11-14. (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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