Discovery of cell-based Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets (R21) | PAR 17 335

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 335

The NIH funding opportunity "Discovery of cell-based Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets (R21)" (PAR-17-335) is a discretionary research grant aimed at accelerating early-stage discovery work that produces high-quality, cell-based chemical probes for previously underexplored brain targets. It is designed for investigators who are ready to move beyond initial screening and can already demonstrate a credible starting point for medicinal chemistry. In practical terms, applicants are expected to come in with validated hit compounds in hand and with established, relevant bioassays that can be used to test newly synthesized analogs during an optimization campaign. The goal is to push those starting hits toward becoming useful, selective small-molecule tools that can interrogate biology in a cellular context, rather than simply reporting another set of screening results.

The scientific emphasis is on using small molecules as research tools to illuminate brain biology and disease mechanisms aligned with the missions of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). The FOA encourages projects that either (1) discover and develop novel small molecules that help researchers understand biological processes relevant to these institutes, or (2) discover and/or validate novel biological targets that can reshape or advance how brain diseases and disorders are studied mechanistically. Review interest is particularly strong for applications that can convincingly show how the proposed probe will generate new insight into disease-relevant targets and pathways, meaning the work should be clearly connected to an important biological question rather than focusing mainly on chemistry for its own sake.

A defining feature of this FOA is that the centerpiece must be cell-based chemical probe discovery. That generally implies probes with measurable activity in cells, appropriate potency for the intended experiments, and evidence of on-target engagement or functional effects that map back to the proposed target or pathway. The program is positioned as an R21, which typically supports exploratory and developmental work, making it a fit for teams that have credible preliminary leads and want to rapidly optimize and demonstrate utility as a cellular probe. At the same time, the announcement signals a boundary: projects that primarily aim to develop in vivo chemical probes are steered toward the companion R01 mechanism (PAR-17-336), which is better suited for more advanced, resource-intensive in vivo probe development and validation.

Administratively, this is an NIH grant opportunity in the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.173, 93.242, 93.866, and 93.867. The listed award ceiling is $200,000. The original closing date shown in the source information is 2020-09-07, and the FOA creation date is 2017-07-24. The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health, and while the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided data, the structure and ceiling indicate a targeted, early-stage probe-development program intended to catalyze specific, high-value tool compounds rather than fund large-scale, multi-year translational efforts.

Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types, which lowers barriers for cross-sector and multi-institutional teams. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; 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; non-federally recognized tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, the eligibility language suggests NIH is encouraging participation from diverse institutional settings, including those that may bring specialized chemistry, assay platforms, target biology expertise, or disease-model knowledge into a probe discovery collaboration.

Overall, PAR-17-335 is best read as a focused call for teams that already have credible hit matter and assays and can execute a tight, hypothesis-driven optimization plan to produce cell-active probes that clarify brain-relevant biology. The most competitive projects are likely to be those that couple a clear medicinal chemistry strategy with robust cell-based testing and a strong rationale for why the target or pathway is novel, important, and meaningfully connected to mental health, aging-related neurobiology, or communication disorders.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Discovery of cell-based Chemical Probes for Novel Brain Targets (R21)" 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, 93.866, 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.)
• 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.

Apply for PAR 17 335

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