Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Funding for innovative research to develop and improve animal models, related biological materials, and technologies for studies relevant to human health and disease, aligned with NIH-wide mission.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 16, 2025 (New) | July 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | September 7, 2025 (AIDS) | October 16, 2025 (New) | November 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | January 7, 2026 (AIDS) | Additional standard NIH dates through January 2028
Funding Amounts: Up to $200,000 direct costs per year; max $275,000 direct costs over 2 years; project period up to 2 years
Summary: Supports innovative research to develop, improve, characterize, and preserve animal models and related biological materials or technologies for studies relevant to human health and disease, with broad applicability across NIH Institutes and Centers.
Key Information: Applications focused on a single disease or only relevant to one NIH Institute/Center are not eligible and will be withdrawn.
Description
This opportunity supports exploratory and developmental research (R21 mechanism) to advance the development, improvement, characterization, and preservation of animal models and related biological materials, technologies, and new approach methodologies (NAMs) for biomedical research relevant to human health and disease. Projects may also address the diagnosis and control of diseases that could confound or interfere with animal use in research.
The program is administered by the NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) and is intended to have broad applicability across multiple NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs). Proposals must include animal models and address multiple body systems or categories of diseases. Applications focused on a single disease, a single research area, or only relevant to one NIH IC are not eligible and will be withdrawn.
Examples of suitable projects include:
- Development or characterization of new or improved genetically modified animal models relevant to multiple organ systems.
- Animal models for microbiome, epigenetic, or stem cell research with broad relevance.
- Novel technologies for animal model production, validation, or preservation.
- Informatics and AI tools for deep phenotyping in animal models.
- Development of NAMs (in vitro, in chemico, in silico) that complement animal research, provided animal-origin components are predominant.
Projects must not propose clinical trials.
