NICHD Exploratory-Developmental Research Grant (R21) | PA 17 259

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 259

The NICHD Exploratory-Developmental Research Grant (R21), funding opportunity number PA 17 259, is a discretionary NIH grant program run through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It is designed to back early-stage, exploratory, and developmental research that fits within the NICHD mission areas. The core idea is to give researchers room to test new concepts and take informed risks at the point where a strong idea exists but the evidence base is still emerging, the technical approach is still being proven, or the direction is still being refined.

This opportunity is aimed at projects that are intentionally high-risk and high-reward. In practice, that means proposed studies can be more speculative than a typical full-scale research project, as long as they are scientifically grounded and have a credible path to generating useful results. NICHD highlights that these R21 studies may lead to major breakthroughs in a given area or may catalyze the development of novel tools and approaches, such as new techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications. The emphasis is not on supporting large, mature programs of research, but on helping investigators establish feasibility, generate critical preliminary findings, or create enabling methods that could substantially shift biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant funding instrument within the Health, Income Security and Social Services funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.865. The source data lists an award ceiling of $200,000, indicating the maximum level of support stated in the summary information. While the announcement notes "ExpectedAwards:" in the source data, no number is provided in what you shared, so prospective applicants would need to consult the full announcement for any estimates on how many awards NICHD anticipates making and how that might vary by year or receipt date.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants across the public, private, nonprofit, and tribal sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits that are not institutions of higher education. The opportunity also allows applications from federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as other Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. In addition, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are eligible, along with for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses) and small businesses. The inclusion of "Others" suggests there may be additional eligible entity types or special cases spelled out in the full funding announcement.

Timing details in the source data indicate the opportunity was created on 2017-04-19 and lists an original closing date of 2017-12-06. Because NIH funding announcements often operate on standard receipt cycles and can be reissued, extended, or replaced over time, anyone planning to apply would want to confirm the current status and active submission dates in the official announcement and on NIH submission systems, rather than relying only on this historical close date.

Overall, the NICHD R21 is best understood as a mechanism to move promising, potentially transformative ideas from concept to credible early evidence. It is particularly well-suited for work that could open up a new line of investigation, establish proof of concept for an emerging approach, or create a new research capability that others can build on, even when the project carries more uncertainty than a conventional, later-stage research proposal. For complete requirements, review criteria, budget and project period specifics, and any NICHD mission-area priorities or restrictions, the full announcement is the authoritative source.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NICHD Exploratory-Developmental Research Grant (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-04-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-12-06. (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 PA 17 259

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