Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 342
This funding opportunity, titled "Pre-application: Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (X02 Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-21-342), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant mechanism designed to spark and strengthen translational research collaborations that can move promising basic science discoveries toward real clinical impact. The core purpose is to support high-quality projects that are well aligned with the missions and priorities of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, with a clear line of sight to improving human health. The program is especially interested in studies that deepen understanding of important disease processes or that have credible potential to generate new or improved therapeutics, diagnostics, or prevention approaches.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on collaboration between NIH intramural investigators and researchers outside the NIH. NIH intramural investigators are those working within NIH laboratories and clinics, while extramural investigators are based at universities, medical centers, companies, nonprofits, or other organizations outside NIH. The program is built to accelerate translational science by pairing these groups and by helping external teams access resources that are difficult to replicate elsewhere, particularly the specialized infrastructure and patient-oriented research environment of the NIH Clinical Center. In practical terms, it is meant to enable extramural investigators to conduct clinical research projects at the NIH Clinical Center in partnership with NIH intramural collaborators, taking advantage of the Clinical Center's capabilities to support complex protocols and clinically focused studies.
The "X02" label signals that this is a pre-application opportunity, meaning it is structured as an initial step to propose and shape a potential collaborative project rather than functioning as a traditional, full-scale research project grant from the outset. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that proposed projects may include a clinical trial when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required. This flexibility allows applicants to propose work ranging from translational studies that prepare for clinical testing, to patient-centered investigations, to clinical studies that can directly evaluate interventions, diagnostics, or prevention strategies, as long as they fit the participating NIH Institutes and Centers' interests.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic applicants: state, county, and local 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. In addition, the opportunity explicitly highlights eligibility for a wide range of other applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects a program goal of broadening participation and building translational collaborations across diverse institutional settings and communities.
Key administrative details provided include that the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category spans education, health, and related social service domains. The listing includes multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing numbers) associated with different NIH components. The opportunity information notes an award ceiling of $500,000 and lists an original closing date of 2023-12-13, with an opportunity creation date of 2021-11-19. While the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided data, the structure and intent make it clear the program prioritizes strong, feasible collaborative translational projects that can leverage the NIH Clinical Center environment and intramural expertise to speed progress from discovery to clinical application.Apply for PAR 21 342
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pre-application: Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (X02 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.394, 93.395, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-11-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-12-13. (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 $500,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and program number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Pre-application: Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (X02 Clinical Trial Optional)" and the program announcement number provided is PAR-21-342.
What agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The core purpose is to spark and strengthen translational research collaborations that help move promising basic science discoveries toward real clinical impact, with a clear line of sight to improving human health.
What kinds of research projects does the program want to support?
The program is especially interested in high-quality projects that align with the missions and priorities of participating NIH Institutes and Centers and that (1) deepen understanding of important disease processes and/or (2) have credible potential to generate new or improved therapeutics, diagnostics, or prevention approaches.
What does "translational research" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, translational research here refers to work that bridges basic science discoveries and clinical application, aiming to accelerate progress toward interventions or approaches that can improve human health.
What does the "X02" label mean?
"X02" indicates that this is a pre-application opportunity. It is structured as an initial step to propose and shape a potential collaborative project rather than serving as a traditional full-scale research project grant from the outset.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The opportunity is designated "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning proposed projects may include a clinical trial when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
If clinical trials are optional, what kinds of studies might fit?
The description indicates applicants may propose a range of work, including translational studies that prepare for clinical testing, patient-centered investigations, and clinical studies that directly evaluate interventions, diagnostics, or prevention strategies, as long as they align with participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
What is the defining collaboration feature of this opportunity?
A defining feature is collaboration between NIH intramural investigators (within NIH laboratories and clinics) and extramural investigators (outside NIH, such as universities, medical centers, companies, nonprofits, or other organizations).
Who are NIH intramural investigators?
NIH intramural investigators are researchers working within NIH laboratories and clinics.
Who are extramural investigators?
Extramural investigators are based outside the NIH, including (as examples provided) universities, medical centers, companies, nonprofits, or other organizations.
What role does the NIH Clinical Center play in this program?
The program is designed to enable extramural investigators to conduct clinical research projects at the NIH Clinical Center in partnership with NIH intramural collaborators, leveraging the Clinical Center's specialized infrastructure and patient-oriented research environment.
Why does the opportunity emphasize the NIH Clinical Center?
The description highlights that the Clinical Center offers specialized resources and a patient-oriented research environment that may be difficult to replicate elsewhere, and it can support complex protocols and clinically focused studies.
What does "discretionary grant mechanism" imply here?
Based on the provided text, it is described as an NIH discretionary grant mechanism designed to catalyze and strengthen translational collaborations. No additional operational definition is provided beyond that description.
What activity areas does this opportunity cover?
The activity category spans education, health, and related social service domains.
How broad is eligibility for applicants?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes many types of domestic applicants as well as a wide range of additional applicant categories, including certain institution types, community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Which domestic organizations are eligible to apply?
The listed eligible domestic applicant types include state, county, and local 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and other specialized institution types eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights eligibility for categories that include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other groups listed in the description.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly highlighted as eligible in the provided information.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly highlighted as eligible.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are explicitly highlighted as eligible.
Is the number of expected awards provided?
No. The information provided states that the number of expected awards is not specified.
What is the maximum award amount mentioned?
The listing notes an award ceiling of $500,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity creation date listed is 2021-11-19.
What is the closing date listed in the provided information?
The original closing date listed is 2023-12-13.
What are CFDA numbers (Assistance Listing numbers) and are they referenced here?
The description notes that the listing includes multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing numbers) associated with different NIH components.
What kinds of projects are most likely to be prioritized?
Based on the description, the program prioritizes strong, feasible collaborative translational projects that leverage the NIH Clinical Center environment and intramural expertise to accelerate progress from discovery to clinical application, and that align with participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Does this opportunity focus only on basic science?
No. While it aims to move basic discoveries toward clinical impact, the emphasis is on translational research and clinically relevant progress, including work that can lead to therapeutics, diagnostics, or prevention approaches.
Does the opportunity require that the work take place at the NIH Clinical Center?
The description emphasizes enabling extramural investigators to conduct clinical research projects at the NIH Clinical Center with NIH intramural partners. The provided information does not state additional location rules beyond that emphasis.
What is the intended benefit of pairing intramural and extramural teams?
The intent is to accelerate translational science by combining external expertise with NIH intramural capabilities and by enabling access to the NIH Clinical Center's specialized infrastructure and patient-oriented research setting.
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