Engineering Next-Generation Human Nervous System Microphysiological Systems (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
Developing advanced human nervous system models for studying health and disease without conducting clinical trials.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
National Institutes of Health has archived this opportunity.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 5, 2025 (New) | July 5, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | September 7, 2025 (AIDS) | October 5, 2025 (New) | November 5, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | January 7, 2026 (AIDS)
Funding Amounts: No budget cap; budgets must reflect actual project needs. Maximum project period: 5 years.
Summary: Supports development of advanced human cell-derived microphysiological systems (MPS) to model complex nervous system architecture and function; clinical trials are not allowed.
Key Information: Applications requesting ≥$500,000 direct costs in any year require prior NIH contact at least 6 weeks before submission.
Description
This opportunity supports research to develop next-generation human cell-derived microphysiological systems (MPS) and related assays that more faithfully replicate the complex architecture and physiology of the human nervous system. The goal is to enable future studies of nervous system development, function, and aging in both healthy and disease states, using models that substantially exceed current capabilities in fidelity, robustness, and reproducibility. Clinical trials are not permitted under this funding announcement.
Projects should focus on innovative, technology-driven approaches to create or improve MPS for the brain, spinal cord, or sensory end organs, with an emphasis on advancing the state of the art in tissue organization, circuit-level function, and systems-level features (e.g., myelination, vascularization, blood-brain barrier). The announcement encourages high-risk, high-impact designs and expects applicants to benchmark new systems against current technologies.
This NOFO is intended for projects with established feasibility; early-stage, exploratory research should consider the companion R21 opportunity.
