Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 505
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Advancing Basic Neurobiology Toward Translation Through Assay Development (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-505) supports research projects that build and refine new laboratory assays designed to detect meaningful changes in neuronal and/or glial function. The central idea is to take cutting-edge methods that measure fundamental cellular processes or molecular events in the nervous system and turn them into practical, reliable phenotypic assays. In this context, "phenotypic" means the assay is read out through an observable functional outcome, rather than being limited to a narrow, single-target measurement. NIH is aiming for assays that can probe biological mechanisms or responses to perturbations in a way that is unbiased, efficient, and well-suited to accelerating discovery.
The scientific emphasis is on assay development that bridges basic neurobiology and translational needs. Rather than funding a traditional disease-focused therapeutic trial, this FOA prioritizes tools that make it easier to measure neurobiological endpoints that matter for nervous system function. The assays envisioned here could help researchers understand how neurons and glia behave under different conditions, identify what goes wrong in pathological states, and establish measurable functional outcomes that can later support target identification and therapeutic development. In other words, the deliverable is not a clinical intervention, but an enabling measurement platform that improves how the field studies nervous system biology and evaluates potential points of therapeutic leverage.
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism, meaning it is meant for substantial, hypothesis-driven or technology-enabling research programs with enough scope to develop, validate, and demonstrate the usefulness of an assay. The announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trials Not Allowed," which signals that applications should not propose prospective clinical intervention studies designed to evaluate the effect of an intervention on health-related outcomes in humans. Work can still be strongly translational in intent, but it needs to remain in the realm of assay creation and preclinical or non-trial human research activities consistent with NIH definitions.
Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of institutions and organizations. Public and private institutions of higher education can apply, as can nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, and a wide range of government entities such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Tribal eligibility is also emphasized, including Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized as well as Native American tribal organizations and tribal governments that are not federally recognized. The FOA also highlights eligibility for institutions that serve specific communities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). Faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and applicants located in U.S. territories or possessions are included as well. Notably, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are listed as eligible applicants, which indicates NIH is open to supporting strong assay-development efforts outside the United States when allowed under NIH policy and when the work is justified.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program managed by NIH, and it falls under funding activity categories associated with education and health. The CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) numbers associated with the announcement include 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.866, which correspond to NIH program areas that commonly include neuroscience and related biomedical research activities. The FOA record indicates it was created on 2017-12-18, and the listed original closing date is 2021-01-07. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants would typically look to the full FOA text and NIH institute/center participation details to understand likely budget ranges, project periods, and institute-specific priorities.
Overall, PAR-18-505 is best understood as a tool- and methods-enabling neuroscience opportunity: it invites applicants to create robust, modern assays that capture key functional aspects of neurons and glia, convert sophisticated basic measurements into scalable phenotypic readouts, and deliver endpoints that can speed up fundamental discovery while also making downstream target discovery and therapeutic development more efficient and data-driven.Apply for PAR 18 505
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Basic Neurobiology Toward Translation Through Assay Development (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-18.
- 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.)
- 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: Advancing Basic Neurobiology Toward Translation Through Assay Development (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) (PAR-18-505)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?
The opportunity is titled "Advancing Basic Neurobiology Toward Translation Through Assay Development (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) is PAR-18-505.
What is NIH trying to fund through PAR-18-505?
NIH is supporting research projects that build and refine new laboratory assays designed to detect meaningful changes in neuronal and/or glial function. The emphasis is on converting cutting-edge basic neurobiology methods into practical, reliable phenotypic assays that can accelerate discovery and enable translational progress.
What does "assay development" mean in this FOA?
In this context, assay development focuses on creating, improving, validating, and demonstrating laboratory measurement approaches that can read out functional changes in neurons or glia. The goal is to produce assays that are usable and dependable as tools for neuroscience research rather than one-off experimental measurements.
What does "phenotypic assay" mean here?
"Phenotypic" means the assay is read out through an observable functional outcome, instead of being limited to a narrow, single-target measurement. The intent is that the assay captures meaningful biological function or responses to perturbations in a way that is more unbiased and informative.
What kinds of biological systems does the FOA focus on?
The scientific focus is on assays that measure fundamental cellular processes or molecular events in the nervous system, specifically emphasizing neuronal and/or glial function.
Is this opportunity meant to fund disease-focused therapeutic trials?
No. Rather than funding a traditional disease-focused therapeutic trial, the FOA prioritizes tools that make it easier to measure neurobiological endpoints that matter for nervous system function. The deliverable is an enabling measurement platform (an assay), not a clinical intervention.
How is this FOA "translational" if it is not funding clinical trials?
It is translational in intent because improved assays can help researchers understand how neurons and glia behave under different conditions, identify what goes wrong in pathological states, and establish measurable functional outcomes that can later support target identification and therapeutic development. The work is aimed at enabling downstream translation by improving measurement capabilities.
What does "Clinical Trials Not Allowed" mean for applicants?
It means applications should not propose prospective clinical intervention studies designed to evaluate the effect of an intervention on health-related outcomes in humans. Projects can still be translational, but they must stay within assay creation and preclinical or non-trial human research activities consistent with NIH definitions.
What grant mechanism is used for PAR-18-505?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism, which is intended for substantial research programs with enough scope to develop, validate, and demonstrate the usefulness of an assay.
What types of projects are a good fit for an R01 under this FOA?
Projects with sufficient scope to create or refine an assay, establish reliability and practical utility, and demonstrate that the assay can detect meaningful functional changes in neurons and/or glia are aligned with the stated purpose. The FOA frames these projects as hypothesis-driven and/or technology-enabling research programs centered on assay deliverables.
What is the main deliverable NIH expects from funded projects?
The central deliverable is a robust assay platform that translates sophisticated basic neurobiology measurements into practical phenotypic readouts, enabling more efficient and data-driven discovery and evaluation of neurobiological mechanisms.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and many government entities (state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities).
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. The FOA emphasizes eligibility for Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized, as well as tribal organizations and tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Are minority-serving institutions highlighted as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for institutions serving specific communities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Can faith-based or community-based organizations apply?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are included among the eligible applicant types listed.
Can organizations in U.S. territories or possessions apply?
Yes. Applicants located in U.S. territories or possessions are included as eligible.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are listed as eligible applicants, indicating NIH is open to supporting strong assay-development efforts outside the United States when allowed under NIH policy and when justified.
What federal agency manages this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant program managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this FOA?
The CFDA numbers associated with the announcement are 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.866.
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The FOA falls under funding activity categories associated with education and health.
When was the FOA record created, and what is the original closing date shown?
The FOA record indicates it was created on 2017-12-18, and the listed original closing date is 2021-01-07.
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or number of awards?
No. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
If award amounts and number of awards are not specified here, what should applicants do?
Based on the provided description, applicants would typically consult the full FOA text and NIH institute/center participation details to understand likely budget ranges, project periods, and institute-specific priorities.
What is the overall purpose of PAR-18-505 in one sentence?
PAR-18-505 is a tool- and methods-enabling neuroscience opportunity intended to produce robust assays that capture key functional aspects of neurons and glia and provide measurable endpoints that can speed basic discovery and support downstream translation.
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| Biobehavioral and Technological Interventions to Attenuate Cognitive Decline in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment or Dementia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 348 Funding Number: PA 18 348 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Self-Management for Health in Chronic Conditions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 376 Funding Number: PA 18 376 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Community Partnerships to Advance Research (CPAR) (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 475 Funding Number: PA 18 475 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Self-Management for Health in Chronic Conditions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 474 Funding Number: PA 18 474 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Early-life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R03 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 531 Funding Number: PA 18 531 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Early-life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 532 Funding Number: PA 18 532 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Early-life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 529 Funding Number: PA 18 529 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) (K01) - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed Apply for PAR 18 539 Funding Number: PAR 18 539 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) (K01) - Independent Clinical Trial Required Apply for PAR 18 540 Funding Number: PAR 18 540 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition: Clinical Research Sites for MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study, MACS/WIHS-CCS (U01-Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HL 19 008 Funding Number: RFA HL 19 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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