Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 036
Platform Delivery Technologies for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics (R41/R42), funding opportunity number PAR-17-036, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) small business grant program designed to push forward practical, scalable ways to deliver nucleic acid-based therapeutics into cells and tissues. The central focus is not on discovering a new drug target or running broad clinical studies, but on solving one of the biggest bottlenecks in the field: getting nucleic acids (such as various RNA- or DNA-based therapeutic modalities) safely, efficiently, and predictably to the right place in the body so they can produce a therapeutic or preventive effect against human disease. In other words, the NIH is using this initiative to encourage platform-like delivery approaches that can be applied across multiple nucleic acid payloads or disease areas, rather than one-off solutions that only work in a narrow setting.
This opportunity uses the SBIR/STTR-style phased structure reflected in the R41/R42 activity codes. While the specific rules and expectations depend on whether an application is submitted under the SBIR or STTR mechanism, the overall concept is that Phase I typically supports early proof-of-concept work and feasibility demonstrations, and Phase II supports more advanced development steps that move the technology closer to a product. The intention is to help small businesses bridge the gap between an innovative delivery concept and a usable, validated technology that can attract follow-on investment, partnerships, or later-stage development support. As a discretionary grant program in the health funding category, it sits within NIHs broader mission to accelerate biomedical innovation that can translate into real-world therapies.
Eligibility is centered on small businesses. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are explicitly not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the announcement notes that foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed, which generally means limited, well-justified involvement by a non-U.S. collaborator or performance site could be permissible under NIH policy if it provides a unique resource or expertise that is not readily available domestically. Practically, applicants should treat the project as primarily U.S.-based, with any foreign component needing clear justification and compliance with NIH definitions and requirements.
Administrative details from the source indicate this is an NIH grant opportunity with CFDA numbers 93.350, 93.855, and 93.856, created on 2016-10-27, with an original closing date listed as 2019-09-05. The source excerpt does not provide an award ceiling or an expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement text and NIH institute participation details to understand typical budget ranges, project periods, and anticipated funding levels. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted push to strengthen the enabling delivery technologies that make nucleic acid therapeutics workable in real patients, supporting small companies that can turn promising delivery concepts into robust, repeatable platforms for treating or preventing human disease.Apply for PAR 17 036
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Platform Delivery Technologies for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics (R41/R42)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.350, 93.855, 93.856.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-10-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the full title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Platform Delivery Technologies for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics (R41/R42).
2) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PAR-17-036.
3) Which agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity.
4) What type of program is this (in plain terms)?
It is an NIH small business grant program (SBIR/STTR-style) focused on advancing practical, scalable technologies for delivering nucleic acid therapeutics into cells and tissues.
5) What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The main goal is to push forward platform delivery approaches that help nucleic acid-based therapeutics reach the right place in the body safely, efficiently, and predictably, so they can produce a therapeutic or preventive effect against human disease.
6) What problem area is NIH trying to address with this program?
The program targets a major bottleneck in nucleic acid therapeutics: delivery. The emphasis is on improving how nucleic acids are transported into specific cells and tissues, rather than on target discovery or broad clinical testing.
7) What kinds of therapeutics are in scope?
The opportunity is focused on nucleic acid-based therapeutic modalities, described broadly as RNA- or DNA-based approaches, and the technologies that can deliver these payloads effectively.
8) Is this opportunity focused on discovering new drug targets?
No. The central focus is not on discovering a new drug target. It is focused on solving delivery challenges for nucleic acids.
9) Does this opportunity fund broad clinical studies?
No. The description indicates the focus is not on running broad clinical studies; it is on delivery technology development and validation steps aligned with phased small business awards.
10) What does "platform-like delivery approach" mean in this announcement?
It refers to delivery technologies that can be applied across multiple nucleic acid payloads or disease areas, rather than a one-off delivery solution that only works in a narrow setting.
11) What activity codes are used and what do they imply?
The opportunity uses the R41/R42 activity codes and follows an SBIR/STTR-style phased structure. Phase I typically supports early proof-of-concept and feasibility work, while Phase II supports more advanced development to move the technology closer to a product.
12) How are Phase I and Phase II described in the source information?
Phase I is described as supporting early proof-of-concept work and feasibility demonstrations. Phase II is described as supporting more advanced development steps that move the technology closer to a product.
13) What is the intended outcome NIH is looking for from awardees?
The intention is to help small businesses bridge the gap between an innovative delivery concept and a usable, validated technology that can attract follow-on investment, partnerships, or later-stage development support.
14) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is centered on small businesses.
15) Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. The source explicitly states that foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply.
16) Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. The source indicates that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
17) Are foreign components allowed at all?
The source notes that foreign components (as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement) may be allowed. This generally means limited, well-justified non-U.S. involvement could be permissible if it provides unique resources or expertise not readily available domestically, and if it complies with NIH definitions and requirements.
18) How should applicants think about the project location based on the source?
Practically, applicants should treat the project as primarily U.S.-based, with any foreign component needing clear justification and compliance with NIH policy.
19) What funding category is mentioned?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant program in the health funding category.
20) What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The source lists CFDA numbers 93.350, 93.855, and 93.856.
21) When was this opportunity created (per the source excerpt)?
The source indicates it was created on 2016-10-27.
22) What is the original closing date listed in the source excerpt?
The source excerpt lists an original closing date of 2019-09-05.
23) Is an award ceiling provided in the source excerpt?
No. The excerpt does not provide an award ceiling.
24) Does the source excerpt state the expected number of awards?
No. The excerpt does not provide an expected number of awards.
25) What should applicants do to understand typical budgets and project periods?
Because the excerpt does not include budget ranges, project periods, or anticipated funding levels, applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement text and any relevant NIH institute participation details to understand typical funding parameters.
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