Innovation Grants to Nurture Initial Translational Efforts (IGNITE): Assay Development and Neurotherapeutic Agent Identification (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Grant supports developing assays to find new therapies for brain and muscle diseases within IGNITE program; doesn't fund clinical trials.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 18, 2025 | October 20, 2025 | February 18, 2026 | June 18, 2026 | October 20, 2026 | February 18, 2027 | June 18, 2027 | October 20, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $499,000 direct costs per year; total direct costs not to exceed $750,000 over up to 3 years (R61/R33 phases combined).
Summary: Supports development and validation of assays and screening to identify potential therapeutic agents for neurological or neuromuscular disorders; clinical trials are not allowed.
Key Information: R61/R33 phased award; clear, quantitative go/no-go milestones are required for transition; both phases must be planned and non-overlapping.
Description
This NIH funding opportunity supports research to develop and validate in vitro, ex vivo, or non-mammalian in vivo assays and conduct iterative screening to identify and characterize potential therapeutic agents for neurological or neuromuscular disorders. The program is part of the IGNITE suite, aiming to advance early-stage translational projects to the point where they can enter later-stage programs such as the NIH Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN).
The grant uses the R61/R33 phased innovation mechanism:
- R61 phase: Focuses on assay development, optimization, standardization, and validation, including pilot screening.
- R33 phase: Supports screening of libraries (small molecules or biologics), confirmation and characterization of hits, and initial assessment of properties relevant to therapy development.
Clinical trials are not permitted under this opportunity. The program is not intended for medicinal chemistry optimization, in vivo proof-of-concept efficacy studies in mammals, or biomarker/device development.
