Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 039
The Comparative Biology of Neurodegeneration (R21) funding opportunity (PAR-17-039) is a National Institutes of Health program from the Department of Health and Human Services that supports exploratory, early-stage research looking at neurodegeneration through a comparative biology lens. The central idea is to study how different animal species handle biological stressors and cellular damage in ways that could either contribute to the development of Alzheimers disease and related neurodegenerative conditions or, importantly, provide resilience against them. Instead of focusing on a single traditional model system, the program encourages researchers to compare species that may differ widely in lifespan, brain aging patterns, stress tolerance, regenerative capacity, or susceptibility to protein aggregation, with the goal of identifying protective mechanisms that might be translated into human health insights.
The scientific scope emphasizes cellular physiology pathways that are strongly tied to neurodegenerative disease risk and progression. Examples highlighted in the opportunity include adaptation to stress, macromolecular damage (such as damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids), proteostasis (the systems that maintain proper protein folding, trafficking, and clearance), and stem cell function and regeneration. Projects might examine how certain species maintain neural function despite high oxidative stress, how they prevent or tolerate the buildup of damaged proteins, or how they repair or replace vulnerable cell populations over time. The R21 mechanism is designed for exploratory work, so it is generally well-suited to high-risk, high-reward ideas, pilot datasets, testing new comparative approaches, or establishing whether unusual species traits can be interrogated with feasible experimental strategies.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant using the NIH R21 exploratory/developmental award mechanism, and it falls under the health funding activity category (CFDA 93.866). The award ceiling listed is $200,000, and the opportunity anticipated around 10 awards, reflecting a relatively selective competition. The original posting date was October 27, 2016, with an original closing date of January 7, 2020, meaning the program as listed corresponds to that time window and applicants would typically need to check whether the announcement has been reissued or replaced by a newer version before preparing a submission.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that commonly apply to NIH funding. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and a wide range of government entities such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts. It also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), tribal organizations that are not federally recognized as governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, along with other entities as described in the announcement’s additional eligibility language.
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at catalyzing new comparative research directions that could clarify why some species show reduced vulnerability to neurodegenerative processes or possess stronger compensatory biology. By focusing on conserved and divergent responses to cellular stress, damage accumulation, protein quality control, and regenerative biology, the program seeks to uncover mechanisms that may inform future therapeutic strategies, biomarkers, or prevention concepts for Alzheimers disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.Apply for PAR 17 039
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Comparative Biology of Neurodegeneration (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 27, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 07, 2020. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Comparative Biology of Neurodegeneration (R21) opportunity (PAR-17-039)?
PAR-17-039 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the Department of Health and Human Services that supports exploratory, early-stage research on neurodegeneration using a comparative biology approach. It uses the NIH R21 exploratory/developmental grant mechanism.
What is the main goal of this program?
The central goal is to understand neurodegeneration by comparing how different animal species respond to biological stressors and cellular damage. The program is interested in both (1) mechanisms that may contribute to Alzheimers disease and related neurodegenerative conditions and (2) resilience mechanisms that protect certain species from neurodegenerative processes.
What does "comparative biology" mean in the context of this grant?
In this program, comparative biology means studying and comparing multiple animal species rather than relying on a single traditional model system. The intent is to leverage differences across species (for example, lifespan, brain aging patterns, stress tolerance, regenerative capacity, or susceptibility to protein aggregation) to identify biological mechanisms that may be informative for human health.
Does the program require using non-traditional or unusual animal species?
The opportunity encourages researchers to look beyond a single traditional model system and to compare species that may differ widely in relevant traits. The emphasis is on comparative approaches that can reveal protective or risk-related mechanisms, including those found in species with unusual resilience or distinctive aging biology.
Which diseases or conditions are most directly relevant to this opportunity?
The opportunity is framed around Alzheimers disease and related neurodegenerative conditions, with a broader focus on neurodegeneration and the biological processes that influence risk and progression.
What scientific topics are emphasized in the scope of this funding opportunity?
The program emphasizes cellular physiology pathways strongly tied to neurodegenerative disease risk and progression. Examples described include adaptation to stress, macromolecular damage (including damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids), proteostasis (systems that maintain protein folding, trafficking, and clearance), and stem cell function and regeneration.
What kinds of research questions might be a fit for this program?
Examples consistent with the described scope include questions such as how certain species maintain neural function under high oxidative stress, how species prevent or tolerate accumulation of damaged proteins, and how species repair or replace vulnerable cell populations over time. The common thread is using species comparisons to identify mechanisms tied to vulnerability or resilience in neurodegeneration.
Is this program intended for early-stage or exploratory projects?
Yes. The R21 mechanism is designed for exploratory, early-stage work, and it is described as well-suited to high-risk, high-reward ideas, pilot datasets, testing new comparative approaches, or establishing feasibility for studying unusual species traits with workable experimental strategies.
What grant mechanism is used for awards under this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 exploratory/developmental award mechanism, described as a discretionary grant mechanism for exploratory research.
What is the funding category or assistance listing associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the health funding activity category and includes CFDA 93.866 as the associated assistance listing identifier in the provided description.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $200,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated around 10 awards, indicating a relatively selective competition.
When was this opportunity originally posted, and what was the original closing date?
The original posting date was October 27, 2016, and the original closing date was January 7, 2020.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
The provided information indicates an original closing date of January 7, 2020. Based on that time window, applicants would typically need to check whether the announcement has been reissued or replaced by a newer version before preparing a submission.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes many organization types that commonly apply for NIH funding, including: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and multiple types of government entities.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible, including 501(c)(3) groups?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (with the stated exclusion that these categories do not include institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories).
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed separately as eligible.
Are universities and colleges eligible applicants?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
Are government entities eligible applicants?
Yes. The eligibility list includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and other government-related entities as described in the announcement.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized as governments.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included in the eligibility list.
What is the broader impact the program is trying to achieve?
The program aims to catalyze new comparative research directions that clarify why some species have reduced vulnerability to neurodegenerative processes or stronger compensatory biology. By studying conserved and divergent responses related to stress, damage accumulation, protein quality control, and regenerative biology, the program seeks to uncover mechanisms that may inform future therapeutic strategies, biomarkers, or prevention concepts for Alzheimers disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Does the opportunity focus more on mechanisms than on specific model systems?
Yes. The description emphasizes identifying mechanisms by comparing species with different traits, rather than focusing on a single traditional model system. The scientific scope is centered on cellular physiology pathways relevant to neurodegeneration.
What types of biological processes are highlighted as especially relevant?
The opportunity highlights processes including stress adaptation, macromolecular damage to DNA/proteins/lipids, proteostasis (protein folding/trafficking/clearance), and stem cell function and regeneration as examples of the kinds of pathways of interest.
Why does the program emphasize resilience in some species?
The program specifically notes interest in species that show resilience against neurodegenerative processes, because protective mechanisms identified through comparative studies may provide insights that could be translated into human health understanding.
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