Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes for the Nervous System

The National Institute on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, intends to release a funding opportunity announcement to support the discovery of in vivo chemical probes for the nervous system. This initiative is being developed in collaboration with the National Eye Institute, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute of Mental Health. Together, these institutes aim to advance small molecule discovery and target validation research that can provide new insights into brain disease mechanisms and related biological processes. The purpose of this forecasted program is to encourage the development of chemical probes that can serve as tools to study novel brain targets. Investigators are expected to begin with validated chemical hits and have the necessary bioassays in place to support testing of new analog compounds. The ultimate goal is to accelerate discovery that will inform research related to neurological health, aging, vision, drug use disorders, and mental health conditions. The scope of supported projects will emphasize the identification of new biological targets and the design of small molecules that can help researchers better understand disease-related pathways in the brain. This program is not designed for large-scale clinical trials but instead focuses on fundamental discovery and preclinical probe development. Applicants will need to demonstrate capacity for medicinal chemistry optimization and in vivo testing within relevant models. The funding mechanism is structured as a grant, and no cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, tribal governments and organizations, small businesses, housing authorities, school districts, and multiple types of governmental units at the city, county, state, and special district levels. Additional categories extend eligibility to federal agencies, U.S. territories, community-based and faith-based organizations, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities. This inclusivity reflects the NIH’s intent to encourage collaboration across diverse research sectors. Applications are not being accepted at this time. The official Notice of Funding Opportunity is expected to be published in February 2026, with applications due in June 2026. Award notifications are projected for April 2027, with project start dates aligned to the same month. Since the program is issued through a Program Announcement (PAR), it is expected to recur in future cycles on a regular basis. Applicants are encouraged to begin forming research collaborations well ahead of the official release. For additional details and scientific inquiries, interested applicants may contact Paul G. Grothaus by email at grothausp@mail.nih.gov or by phone at 240-688-6634. NIH has released this advance notice to give the research community sufficient lead time to prepare competitive proposals. While final application forms and requirements will be released with the official NOFO, researchers should plan for standard NIH submission requirements including project narrative, detailed budget, biosketches, and resource sharing plans. The official solicitation will provide further guidance on evaluation criteria, application components, and allowable costs.