Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 167

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 167

The NIH grant opportunity "Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (PAR-21-167) is a discretionary research grant designed to support early-stage, innovative projects that strengthen the biomedical research ecosystem by improving the research tools scientists rely on. The main purpose is to fund the development, refinement, and characterization of animal models, associated biological materials, and enabling technologies that can be used to study human health and disease more effectively. In addition to model development, the announcement also prioritizes work that improves the diagnosis, prevention, and control of diseases that can compromise or disrupt the use of animals in biomedical studies, since outbreaks and poorly controlled infections can undermine reproducibility, animal welfare, and the reliability of experimental findings.

A central requirement of this FOA is that proposed projects must align with the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) trans-NIH mission, meaning the outcomes should be broadly useful across multiple NIH Institutes or Centers rather than narrowly tailored to a single institute's disease area. In practice, applicants need to show that the tools or models they create will be widely applicable to many research communities and can support diverse downstream studies. Related to that, the science proposed must either investigate multiple body systems or focus on diseases that affect multiple body systems. Applications that mainly build a model for one specific disease area, or that are primarily relevant to only one NIH Institute or Center, are considered nonresponsive and will not be accepted under this particular announcement.

The funding mechanism is the NIH R21, which is typically used to support exploratory and developmental research. This FOA explicitly does not allow clinical trials. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, indicating that budgets are expected to be modest and focused on proof-of-concept, feasibility, or key early validation work rather than large-scale, long-term development. The opportunity falls under CFDA 93.351 and is administered by the National Institutes of Health.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations 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; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also highlights several institution types and community-based categories as eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is restricted in a way that is common for NIH opportunities focused on U.S. research infrastructure. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which generally means a U.S. applicant may include a clearly justified portion of the work being performed outside the U.S. when it is necessary for the project and appropriately overseen and documented.

Key timing and administrative details included in the source information are an original closing date of 2025-01-07 and a creation date of 2021-03-17. Overall, the opportunity is best suited for applicants proposing broadly enabling animal-model or animal-material advances, cross-cutting technologies, or colony health and disease-control solutions that can improve rigor and reliability across many areas of NIH-funded biomedical research, rather than projects aimed at a single narrow disease model or one institute-specific research agenda.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21 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): 93.351.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for PAR 21 167

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: