Forecast for Expanding the Target Landscape by Drugging the Undruggable (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This upcoming NIH grant will fund innovative preclinical research to develop new methods or agents that selectively target "undruggable" molecules involved in difficult-to-treat human diseases.
Funder: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Due Dates: October 17, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | February 17, 2027 | February 17, 2028
Funding Amounts: Up to $275,000 direct costs over 2 years; no more than $200,000 in any single year; project period max 2 years.
Summary: Supports exploratory and early-stage research to develop innovative methods or agents targeting currently undruggable classes relevant to intractable human diseases.
Key Information: Clinical trials are not allowed; projects focused primarily on cancer are not eligible.
Description
This opportunity supports early-stage and exploratory projects that address the challenge of targeting "undruggable" biological classes implicated in intractable human diseases. Applicants are expected to identify a relevant undruggable target class and develop a selective method or agent for one or more targets within that class. The goal is to catalyze innovative strategies that enable modulation of targets not addressable by established therapeutic modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics), thereby opening new avenues for disease intervention and therapy. Projects should serve as proof-of-concept for broader technology or methodology development applicable to the undruggable target class.
Projects focused primarily on cancer or on targets already considered "druggable" (such as receptors, enzymes, or transporters) are not eligible.
