The NIH is offering the Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (R21) to support innovative research projects in their early and conceptual stages. This grant is for the purpose of funding high-risk, high-reward studies that have the potential to lead to significant breakthroughs or develop novel techniques, methodologies, or applications across biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research fields. A key requirement is the inclusion of at least one clinical trial. These projects must align with the programmatic interests of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, with some ICs specifically accepting mechanistic studies defined as clinical trials through this opportunity. It aims to accelerate impactful discoveries.
Opportunity ID: 357809
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | PA-25-306 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required) |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 93.113 — Environmental Health |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 2 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 18, 2024 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jun 27, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 07, 2028 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 07, 2028 |
| Archive Date: | Feb 12, 2028 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | – |
| Award Floor: | – |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | County governments Special district governments Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses City or township governments State governments Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | National Institutes of Health |
| Description: | The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant supports exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. This Parent Notice of Funding Opportunity requires that at least 1 clinical trial be proposed. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.Applicants should note that some ICs (see Related Notices) only accept applications proposing mechanistic studies that meet NIH’s definition of a clinical trial through this funding opportunity announcement. |
| Link to Additional Information: | https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-25-306.html |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
NIH Grants Information
grantsinfo@nih.gov Email:grantsinfo@nih.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
| Add ALN per NOT-MD-25-009. | Jun 27, 2025 | |
| Dec 18, 2024 |
DISPLAYING: Synopsis 2
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | PA-25-306 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required) |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 93.113 — Environmental Health |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 2 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 18, 2024 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jun 27, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 07, 2028 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 07, 2028 |
| Archive Date: | Feb 12, 2028 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | – |
| Award Floor: | – |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | County governments Special district governments Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses City or township governments State governments Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | National Institutes of Health |
| Description: | The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant supports exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. This Parent Notice of Funding Opportunity requires that at least 1 clinical trial be proposed. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.Applicants should note that some ICs (see Related Notices) only accept applications proposing mechanistic studies that meet NIH’s definition of a clinical trial through this funding opportunity announcement. |
| Link to Additional Information: | https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-25-306.html |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
NIH Grants Information
grantsinfo@nih.gov Email:grantsinfo@nih.gov |
DISPLAYING: Synopsis 1
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | PA-25-306 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required) |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 93.113 — Environmental Health |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 18, 2024 |
| Last Updated Date: | Dec 18, 2024 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | – |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 07, 2028 |
| Archive Date: | Feb 12, 2028 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | – |
| Award Floor: | – |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments State governments County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Special district governments Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | National Institutes of Health |
| Description: | The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant supports exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. This Parent Notice of Funding Opportunity requires that at least 1 clinical trial be proposed. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions. Applicants should note that some ICs (see Related Notices) only accept applications proposing mechanistic studies that meet NIH’s definition of a clinical trial through this funding opportunity announcement. |
| Link to Additional Information: | https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-25-306.html |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
NIH Grants Information
grantsinfo@nih.gov Email:grantsinfo@nih.gov |
Related Documents
Folder 357809 Full Announcement-PA-25-306 -> PA-25-306-Full-Announcement.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | NIH Grants Information grantsinfo@nih.gov Email: grantsinfo@nih.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORMS-I | Use for due dates on or after January 25, 2025 | PKG00289733 | Jan 16, 2025 | Jan 07, 2028 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
357809 RR_SF424_5_0-5.0.pdf
357809 PHS398_CoverPageSupplement_5_0-5.0.pdf
357809 RR_OtherProjectInfo_1_4-1.4.pdf
357809 PerformanceSite_4_0-4.0.pdf
357809 RR_KeyPersonExpanded_4_0-4.0.pdf
357809 PHS398_ResearchPlan_5_0-5.0.pdf
357809 PHSHumanSubjectsAndClinicalTrialsInfo_3_0-3.0.pdf
Optional forms
357809 RR_Budget_3_0-3.0.pdf
357809 RR_SubawardBudget30_3_0-3.0.pdf
357809 PHS398_ModularBudget_1_2-1.2.pdf
357809 PHS_AssignmentRequestForm_4_0-4.0.pdf
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