Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 168
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Assay Development and Screening for Discovery of Validated Chemical Hits for Brain Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," funding opportunity number PAR 23-168 (CFDA 93.242). This program supports health-related research aimed at accelerating early-stage drug discovery tools and chemical starting points for brain and psychiatric disorders, specifically through assay creation, optimization, and screening efforts that can identify credible small-molecule "hits" and, in the process, sharpen scientific understanding of disease biology.
The core objective of the announcement is twofold. First, it is intended to drive the discovery and development of novel small molecules that can be used as research tools to study treatment-relevant mechanisms in psychiatric disorders. In practice, that means supporting work that moves beyond broad hypotheses and instead builds concrete experimental platforms (assays) that can reliably measure a biological process or target of interest, then uses those platforms to find chemical matter that modulates that process. Second, the FOA is designed to generate new insight into disease biology, particularly for mechanisms and pathways that are not yet fully validated as drug targets. This emphasis matters because many promising ideas in neuroscience fail to translate due to weak target validation; by funding assay development paired with screening, NIH is encouraging projects that can produce more definitive evidence about whether a biological process is truly "druggable" and relevant to disease.
This opportunity uses the R01 research project grant mechanism and explicitly does not allow clinical trials, so the focus is preclinical and discovery-stage. The expected outcomes are typically enabling assets such as robust, reproducible assays; screening-ready platforms; and validated chemical hits that can serve as starting points for further medicinal chemistry, probe development, or mechanistic studies. The larger aim is to help the field generate tractable chemical tools and clearer biological validation, so future therapeutic development efforts are based on stronger experimental footing.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types across academia, government, nonprofits, and industry. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and additional "other" entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth signals NIH interest in drawing assay and screening innovation from many kinds of research environments, including institutions serving underrepresented communities and international groups with specialized capabilities.
Administratively, the opportunity is managed by the NIH, was created on April 17, 2023, and lists an original closing date of May 7, 2026. The provided source text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which generally means applicants should consult the full FOA for budget guidance, scope expectations, and any institute-specific priorities or review considerations. Overall, the announcement is best understood as NIH support for the practical, experimentally grounded steps that bridge basic neuroscience ideas to credible chemical starting points, while simultaneously producing stronger evidence about which biological mechanisms in psychiatric disorders are worth pursuing as future therapeutic targets.Apply for PAR 23 168
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assay Development and Screening for Discovery of Validated Chemical Hits for Brain Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Assay Development and Screening for Discovery of Validated Chemical Hits for Brain Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PAR 23-168.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.242.
Which agency is offering and managing this grant?
The grant opportunity is offered and managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What grant mechanism does this program use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," indicating the supported work is intended to be preclinical and discovery-stage rather than clinical testing in humans.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to accelerate early-stage drug discovery for brain and psychiatric disorders by supporting assay creation, assay optimization, and screening efforts that can identify credible small-molecule "hits" and strengthen scientific understanding of disease biology.
What kinds of projects is NIH trying to support through this FOA?
Projects that build concrete experimental platforms (assays) capable of reliably measuring a biological process or target of interest, and then use those platforms for screening to find chemical matter that modulates that process. The FOA emphasizes practical, experimentally grounded work that bridges basic neuroscience ideas to credible chemical starting points.
What does "assay development and screening" mean in the context of this program?
Within the scope described, it refers to creating and optimizing assays (experimental tests) and then using those assays in screening efforts to identify small molecules that affect a biological mechanism relevant to brain or psychiatric disorders.
What types of outcomes is NIH expecting from awarded projects?
Expected outcomes are enabling, discovery-stage assets such as robust and reproducible assays, screening-ready platforms, and validated chemical hits that can serve as starting points for further medicinal chemistry, probe development, or mechanistic studies.
What are "validated chemical hits" in this program's context?
They are credible small-molecule starting points identified through screening and supported by evidence from the assays developed and optimized under the project, intended to be useful as research tools and as starting points for downstream development work.
How does this FOA relate to psychiatric disorder research specifically?
The FOA is intended to drive discovery and development of novel small molecules that can be used as research tools to study treatment-relevant mechanisms in psychiatric disorders, while also generating clearer insight into underlying disease biology.
Does this FOA focus only on already well-validated drug targets?
No. It explicitly emphasizes generating new insight into disease biology, including mechanisms and pathways that are not yet fully validated as drug targets. A key theme is strengthening evidence about whether a biological process is truly druggable and relevant to disease.
Why is target validation emphasized in this program description?
The description notes that many promising neuroscience ideas fail to translate due to weak target validation. By funding assay development paired with screening, the program aims to produce more definitive evidence about whether a mechanism is druggable and disease-relevant.
What stage of drug discovery does this opportunity support?
Based on the description, it supports early-stage discovery work: building assays, optimizing them, running screens, and generating validated small-molecule hits and related tools. It is positioned before clinical development.
What kinds of applicant organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and additional "other" entities.
Are institutions serving underrepresented communities included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligible categories including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and also mentions faith-based or community-based organizations.
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. The FOA mentions eligible federal agencies among the eligible applicant categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions in the additional eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
Is industry eligible, including for-profit companies and small businesses?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also separately includes small businesses.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 17, 2023.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is May 7, 2026.
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided source text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
Where should applicants look for budget guidance and institute-specific details?
Because the provided text does not include budget limits, number of awards, or detailed review considerations, applicants are directed (in the description) to consult the full FOA for budget guidance, scope expectations, and any institute-specific priorities or review considerations.
What is the "twofold" objective described for this announcement?
First, to drive discovery and development of novel small molecules as research tools to study treatment-relevant mechanisms in psychiatric disorders through assay development and screening. Second, to generate new insight into disease biology, especially for mechanisms and pathways not yet fully validated as drug targets.
How does this program aim to strengthen future therapeutic development efforts?
By producing robust assays, screening-ready platforms, and validated chemical hits, the program aims to provide tractable chemical tools and stronger experimental validation so later therapeutic development is based on clearer biological evidence.
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