Cellular and Molecular Biology of Complex Brain Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant open #PAR-25-037

Response due Sep 07, 2026 · 00:00 UTC

Summary

This NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA), numbered PAR-25-037, solicits R21 exploratory/developmental research grant applications focused on the cellular and molecular biology of complex brain disorders. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this mechanism. The program is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The opportunity opened in November 2024 and remains open through September 2026, providing an extended multi-cycle submission window.

What they want

Applicants must propose exploratory and developmental research investigating the cellular and molecular underpinnings of complex brain disorders. Work must be strictly non-clinical (no clinical trials permitted). Research should advance mechanistic understanding of brain disorder biology at the cellular and/or molecular level. Applications are submitted through the NIH R21 grant mechanism, which supports novel, high-impact projects that may involve significant risk but have strong potential to open new avenues of investigation.

Technical requirements

Research must focus on cellular and/or molecular biology of complex brain disorders
Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this funding mechanism
Applications must follow the NIH R21 exploratory/developmental research grant format

How they evaluate

Submission: NIH Grants.gov electronic submission portal (standard NIH R21 application package)

Risks & flags

No dollar value or award ceiling disclosed in the provided text — budget constraints unknown
Multi-cycle open window (Nov 2024 – Sep 2026) is standard for NIH program announcements and does not indicate bias, but individual review cycles should be verified against NIH submission calendars

Market context

inferred from NAICS

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services

NAICS 541711

US market size: $2.0T
Typical award: $25K – $50M

Typical buyers

All federal civilianDoDStates

Commonly required

8(a)WOSBSDVOSBPE/PMP

Sector-level estimate — full code lookup not yet in catalog.

Cellular and Molecular Biology of Complex …

Due Sep 07

Onboard ↗