Innovation Grants to Nurture Initial Translational Efforts (IGNITE): Assay Development and Neurotherapeutic Agent Identification (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The NIH’s Innovation Grants to Nurture Initial Translational Efforts (IGNITE) program, under funding opportunity PAR-25-059, invites applications to develop assays and identify potential neurotherapeutic agents through in vitro or ex vivo screening for neurological and neuromuscular disorders. This initiative aims to foster early-stage research that could advance projects to eligibility for NIH’s Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) or similar translational programs. As this is a non-clinical opportunity, clinical trials are not permitted. Projects should focus on creating robust assays and screening processes that can identify, characterize, and validate compounds or biological agents as therapeutic candidates. The R61 phase funds assay development and early screening, while the R33 phase supports further refinement and validation of promising agents. Both phases are intended to help researchers advance preclinical drug discovery, paving the way for future therapeutic development. A broad range of entities are eligible, including nonprofits, higher education institutions, for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses), tribal governments, local and state governments, and community-based organizations. Minority-serving institutions, such as Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), are also encouraged to apply. While foreign institutions cannot apply as primary applicants, foreign components can be included in applications led by U.S.-based entities. This program offers a maximum of $750,000 in funding per project, and cost-sharing is not required, making it accessible to various research institutions. The deadline for application submission is October 20, 2027, with the opportunity to be archived on November 25, 2027. For full application guidelines, applicants should refer to the NIH announcement and may contact NIH Grants Information for further assistance. This grant is suitable for researchers focused on assay development and neurotherapeutic screening, with potential to impact drug discovery for neurological conditions.