Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 16, 2025 (New) | July 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | October 16, 2025 (New) | November 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | Letters of Intent: May 17, 2025 | September 16, 2025
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 research on neurological and/or mental health effects of infection-associated chronic illnesses, including Long COVID, ME/CFS, POTS, and related conditions.
Key Information: Clinical trial optional; mechanistic focus required; foreign and domestic applicants eligible.
This NIH funding opportunity (R21, Clinical Trial Optional) solicits applications for exploratory and developmental research projects investigating the neurological and/or mental health manifestations of infection-associated chronic illnesses. The scope includes, but is not limited to, post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (Neuro-PASC/Long COVID), post-treatment Lyme Disease, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), post-viral fatigue syndromes, and other chronic illnesses with a suspected infectious trigger.
Projects may focus on a single condition or investigate common mechanisms across multiple conditions. Both clinical and preclinical studies are encouraged, provided they address mechanistic pathways relevant to post-infectious etiology. Mechanistic clinical trials and basic experimental studies in humans (BESH) are within scope. Preclinical studies using animal, cell culture, or human tissue models are also encouraged.
Letter of Intent Deadlines:
Application Deadlines:
Review and Award Cycles:
All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Eligible applicants include:
Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research are invited to apply. Multiple applications from the same organization are allowed if scientifically distinct.
| Topic | Contact Person(s) & Details |
|---|---|
| General Grants Info | Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov | Phone: 301-480-7075 |
| Application Submission | eRA Service Desk: https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help | 301-402-7469 |
| Scientific/Research (NINDS) | William Daley, Ph.D. | Phone: 301-496-1431 | Email: william.daley@nih.gov |
| Scientific/Research (NIMH) | Leonardo Tonelli, Ph.D. (Basic): 301-443-5288, leonardo.tonelli@nih.gov Douglas Meinecke, Ph.D. (Clinical): 301-443-6767, dmeineck@mail.nih.gov |
| Grants Management (NINDS) | Chief Grants Management Officer, ChiefGrantsManagementOfficer@ninds.nih.gov |
| Grants Management (NIMH) | Rita Sisco: 301-443-2805, siscor@mail.nih.gov Heather Weiss: 301-443-4415, weissh@mail.nih.gov |
For additional contacts, see Section VII. Agency Contacts in the full announcement.