Innovation Grants to Nurture Initial Translational Efforts (IGNITE): Development and Validation of Model Systems to Facilitate Neurotherapeutic Discovery (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This grant supports creating and validating animal models and tissue systems mimicking neurological disorders to advance neurotherapeutic discovery.
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 mechanism).
Summary: Supports development and validation of animal models and ex vivo systems that closely mimic neurological or neuromuscular disorders to advance neurotherapeutic discovery.
Key Information: Clinical trials are not allowed; clear, quantitative milestones for R61/R33 transition are required.
Description
This NIH opportunity funds the development and validation of animal models and human/animal tissue ex vivo systems that recapitulate the phenotypic and physiological characteristics of defined neurological or neuromuscular disorders. The goal is to significantly improve the translational relevance of these models, enabling more effective preclinical testing and facilitating future neurotherapeutic development. The program is part of the IGNITE suite, focused on the exploratory and early stages of drug discovery, and uses the R61/R33 phased innovation award mechanism.
Projects should result in models that provide feasible and meaningful assessments of efficacy following therapeutic intervention, with endpoints relevant to both preclinical and clinical settings. Both the creation of new models and the validation of existing ones are supported, provided the work represents a significant advance over current models.
