Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 173
Achieving Tissue Robustness Through Harnessing Immune System Plasticity (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 19 173) that supports early-stage, exploratory research aimed at understanding how the immune system adapts, or fails to adapt, in ways that affect dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) health. The central theme is immune system plasticity, meaning the immune system's capacity to dynamically shift its behavior in response to changing conditions such as injury, infection, chronic inflammation, aging, or other internal and external stresses. The FOA is looking for systematic, state-of-the-art research approaches that can reveal why immune responses sometimes protect and maintain tissue function, but other times drive persistent inflammation, tissue breakdown, and impaired healing in DOC contexts.
The scientific goal is to uncover mechanisms that govern the immune system's ability or inability to maintain its normal functional role despite perturbations. In practical terms, applicants are being asked to move beyond descriptive immunology and into mechanistic work that clarifies how immune cells and immune signaling networks transition between beneficial and harmful states over time. This includes understanding the tipping points that push tissues toward degeneration versus repair, and how those tipping points may differ across individuals, disease stages, and the lifespan. The FOA emphasizes that new knowledge from these studies should help enable the development of novel immunomodulatory strategies, with a strong interest in approaches that can be tailored to individual patients. The longer-term vision is personalized, immune-based interventions that intentionally shift the balance away from destructive, chronic inflammatory patterns and toward regenerative or pro-healing responses, improving disease management and tissue resilience.
The funding mechanism is an NIH R21, which is typically used to support innovative, high-impact exploratory projects, often where preliminary data may be limited but the concept is compelling and the approach is well justified. The announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the funded work must not include clinical trial activities as defined by NIH. This generally positions the FOA for basic, translational, preclinical, and mechanistic human-subjects research that does not test interventions in a clinical trial framework. The funding listing includes an award ceiling of $200,000, reflecting the smaller, exploratory nature of the R21 mechanism.
Eligibility is broad and includes many kinds of U.S. organizations and governmental entities, such as state governments, county and city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. It also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The FOA further highlights additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth suggests NIH is encouraging diverse institutional participation, including organizations that can bring unique community connections, specialized scientific capacity, or population-specific insights relevant to DOC health disparities and patient variability.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity falls under the Health funding activity category and lists CFDA numbers 93.121 and 93.846. The source data notes an original closing date of 2022-05-07 and a creation date of 2019-01-29. While those dates indicate the specific posting timeline captured in the source, the core summary of the FOA is that it funds innovative mechanistic research on immune plasticity as a driver of tissue robustness and disease outcomes in dental, oral, and craniofacial systems, with the expectation that findings will lay groundwork for future personalized immunomodulatory therapies that support regeneration and better long-term management across the lifespan.Apply for PAR 19 173
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Achieving Tissue Robustness Through Harnessing Immune System Plasticity (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): 93.121, 93.846.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-05-07. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Achieving Tissue Robustness Through Harnessing Immune System Plasticity (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is PAR 19 173.
What type of grant mechanism is used?
The mechanism is an NIH R21, which is typically used for early-stage, exploratory, and potentially high-impact projects where preliminary data may be limited, as long as the concept and approach are strongly justified.
What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA supports early-stage, exploratory research aimed at understanding immune system plasticity and how the immune system adapts (or fails to adapt) in ways that affect dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) health.
What does "immune system plasticity" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this FOA, immune system plasticity refers to the immune system's ability to dynamically shift its behavior in response to changing conditions such as injury, infection, chronic inflammation, aging, or other internal and external stresses.
Why is the FOA focused on immune system plasticity in DOC (dental, oral, and craniofacial) health?
The FOA highlights that immune responses can have very different outcomes in DOC tissues over time. Sometimes immune activity helps protect tissue and maintain function, while in other cases it can drive persistent inflammation, tissue breakdown, impaired healing, and worse disease outcomes.
What kind of research approaches does NIH want to see?
The FOA calls for systematic, state-of-the-art research approaches designed to uncover mechanisms that explain how immune responses transition between beneficial and harmful states in DOC contexts.
Is descriptive immunology sufficient for this FOA?
No. The FOA specifically emphasizes moving beyond descriptive immunology toward mechanistic work that clarifies how immune cells and immune signaling networks shift over time between protective and destructive patterns.
What are the "tipping points" mentioned in the opportunity summary?
"Tipping points" refer to the kinds of transitions that push tissues toward degeneration versus repair, including how and when immune activity shifts from supporting healing to driving chronic inflammation and tissue damage.
Does the FOA consider differences across people and life stages?
Yes. The FOA notes that tipping points and immune transitions may differ across individuals, disease stages, and the lifespan, and encourages research that helps explain that variability.
What is meant by "tissue robustness" in this funding opportunity?
Based on the provided description, tissue robustness relates to the ability of DOC tissues to maintain function and resilience despite stressors (such as injury, infection, chronic inflammation, or aging), influenced by how effectively the immune system adapts.
What are the expected longer-term impacts of research funded under this FOA?
The FOA describes a longer-term vision where new mechanistic knowledge helps enable novel immunomodulatory strategies, with strong interest in approaches that can be tailored to individual patients. The aim is to shift immune responses away from destructive chronic inflammation and toward regenerative or pro-healing responses to improve long-term disease management and tissue resilience.
Does this FOA support personalized or patient-tailored approaches?
Yes. The FOA explicitly expresses strong interest in immunomodulatory approaches that can be tailored to individual patients, aligning with a longer-term goal of personalized, immune-based interventions.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed", meaning the funded work must not include clinical trial activities as defined by NIH.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what kinds of studies does this FOA generally position itself for?
Based on the description provided, the FOA is positioned for basic, translational, preclinical, and mechanistic human-subjects research so long as the work does not test interventions in a clinical trial framework.
What is the award ceiling for this R21 opportunity?
The funding listing includes an award ceiling of $200,000, consistent with the exploratory nature of the R21 mechanism.
What is the funding activity category?
The opportunity is listed under the Health funding activity category.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.121 and 93.846.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations and entities, including:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- 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
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- U.S. territories or possessions
- Regional organizations
- Eligible agencies of the federal government
- Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations)
Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicant categories including:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly mentions faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible categories.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
What is the central problem this FOA is trying to address?
The FOA is centered on understanding why immune responses in DOC systems sometimes support healing and tissue maintenance, but other times lead to persistent inflammation, tissue damage, and impaired repair, and what mechanisms govern those shifts.
What kinds of conditions or stressors are specifically mentioned as relevant to immune plasticity?
The FOA description mentions immune adaptation in response to conditions such as injury, infection, chronic inflammation, aging, and other internal or external stresses.
What do applicants need to emphasize scientifically, based on the summary provided?
Applicants are being asked to focus on mechanisms and transitions over time, including how immune cells and signaling networks move between protective and harmful states, and how those transitions relate to repair versus degeneration in DOC tissues.
What dates are associated with this opportunity in the provided information?
The source data notes a creation date of 2019-01-29 and an original closing date of 2022-05-07.
Do the dates provided indicate the timeline of the specific posting captured in the source?
Yes. The information provided indicates those dates reflect the timeline captured in the source for this specific posting.
In plain terms, what is NIH hoping to get out of this R21 program?
NIH is looking for innovative exploratory projects that reveal how immune function shifts in DOC tissues under stress, why those shifts sometimes become harmful, and how that knowledge can lay the groundwork for future immune-based, personalized strategies to improve healing, regeneration, and long-term tissue resilience.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 19 173) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Achieving Tissue Robustness Through Harnessing Immune System Plasticity (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 172 Funding Number: PAR 19 172 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| High Quality Human Reference Genomes (HQRG) (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HG 19 002 Funding Number: RFA HG 19 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Secondary Data Analysis to Examine Long-Term and/or Potential Cross-Over Effects of Prevention Interventions: What are the Benefits for Preventing Mental Health Disorders? (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 20 110 Funding Number: RFA MH 20 110 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Centers for Medical Countermeasures Against Radiation Consortium (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AI 19 012 Funding Number: RFA AI 19 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics: Courses (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 185 Funding Number: PAR 19 185 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Stakeholders Meeting on USAID/PEPFAR Strategic Plan for Strengthening Indigenous Partnerships Apply for 720611 LOCAL PARTNER STRATEGY MEETING Funding Number: 720611 LOCAL PARTNER STRATEGY MEETING Agency: Zambia USAID-Lusaka Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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