Innovation Grants to Nurture Initial Translational Efforts (IGNITE): Neurotherapeutic Agent Characterization and In vivo Efficacy Studies (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Summary

The NIH IGNITE program funds early-stage translational research focused on the characterization of neurotherapeutic agents and in vivo efficacy studies. The R61/R33 phased award mechanism supports investigators advancing candidate neurotherapeutics from preclinical characterization toward translational readiness. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this funding opportunity. The opportunity is broadly open through October 2027, allowing multiple submission cycles.

What they want

How they evaluate

Risks & flags

• Extremely long open window (nearly 3 years) suggests a standing/rolling solicitation with multiple submission deadlines — actual per-application deadlines not provided in source text
• Scope is narrowly defined to neurotherapeutic agents only, limiting eligible applicants to a specialized research community
• Clinical trial exclusion ('Not Allowed') restricts a significant class of translational researchers