The NIH Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) program, led by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is inviting applications for basic research grants focused on chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals affecting the nervous system. The initiative seeks research proposals that explore the mechanisms of toxicity and identify new therapeutic targets to address the impact of chemical threats that may be released deliberately or accidentally into civilian areas. This NOFO (PAR-25-077) reissues PAR-24-030 and does not permit clinical trials; it exclusively funds basic research to advance understanding of toxic chemical interactions with the nervous system.
The program specifically targets research on chemicals classified by the U.S. Government as Chemicals of Concern (CoC), including certain anticoagulants, blood/metabolic agents, cholinergic agents, and convulsants. Research areas may include identifying molecular mechanisms of acute toxicity, developing models (in silico, in vitro, and in vivo) to investigate toxicity pathways, and studying acute effects on the nervous system following single exposure events. The studies should yield insights into acute or chronic neurological outcomes and inform therapeutic interventions for mass civilian exposures. Applications must focus on immediate or short-term effects; chronic environmental or occupational exposures are not covered.
NIH anticipates funding up to four awards, with a total budget of $2 million allocated for FY 2026, pending future appropriations. Each project may request up to $300,000 in direct costs per year, with a maximum project period of three years. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, U.S. state and local governments, Tribal governments, and other entities; however, foreign institutions are ineligible. NIH requires applicants to submit a letter from their institutional biosafety officials confirming safe study conditions, given the hazardous nature of some chemical agents.
Applications must be submitted electronically through NIH's ASSIST system, Grants.gov, or other system-to-system solutions, with a due date of October 17, 2025, for new submissions. The applications are expected to adhere strictly to NIH guidelines on rigor and transparency in experimental design and data reporting. NIH emphasizes thorough justifications for proposed methods, comprehensive data management, and plans to mitigate experimenter bias.
The NIH peer review process will assess applications based on three key factors: the importance of the research, rigor and feasibility of the approach, and expertise of the research team and resources available. Projects should demonstrate a well-defined biological rationale, relevance to the toxicity mechanisms of CoCs, and the capability to yield reliable, reproducible findings. Selected projects will become part of the NIH CounterACT Research Program Network, with required participation in annual network meetings.
