OpenFederal grantOpen to for-profit businessesPAR-25-442

Expanding the Target Landscape by Drugging the Undruggable (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of HealthCloses Feb 17, 2028(492 days left)

Does this fit your business?

This is an NIH exploratory research grant (R21) for early-stage projects on methods or agents that selectively modulate 'undruggable' target classes in hard-to-treat human diseases. It fits biotech and life-science research organizations, including small businesses, universities, and nonprofits; it is not for companies outside health research, and clinical trials are not allowed. Award amounts are not published.

Best for
Biotech and life-science small businesses doing early-stage drug-discovery research, Universities and academic research labs, Nonprofits with a research mission, State, local, or tribal government research programs
Not for
Businesses outside biotech and life sciences with no research operation, Organizations planning clinical trials (not allowed under this NOFO), Foreign entities or U.S. organizations with foreign components
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Healthcare & BiotechMatches your industry (clinical)
82
Strong Match
Technology & SoftwareCurrently accepting applications
68
Good Match
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to agriculture & farming
54
Possible Match
Arts & CultureLimit: Nothing in this notice points to arts & culture
54
Possible Match
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
Education & TrainingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to education & training
54
Possible Match
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Nothing in this notice points to energy & clean tech
54
Possible Match
Environment & ConservationLimit: Nothing in this notice points to environment & conservation
54
Possible Match
Finance & BankingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to finance & banking
54
Possible Match
Food & BeverageLimit: Nothing in this notice points to food & beverage
54
Possible Match
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Nothing in this notice points to housing & real estate
54
Possible Match
ManufacturingLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: Nothing in this notice points to social services & nonprofit
54
Possible Match
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
Research, R&D
Who can apply
Small businesses, For-profit companies, Nonprofits, State and local governments, Tribal governments and organizations, Colleges and universities, Other applicants (see eligibility)

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is February 17, 2028, and the notice was posted June 16, 2025.
Who can apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include private and public institutions of higher education, small businesses, other for-profit organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, state, county, city, and special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and Native American tribal governments and organizations. Foreign entities, foreign components of U.S. organizations, and foreign components as defined by NIH are not eligible. Clinical trials are not allowed under this notice.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
The facts do not say. Small businesses are eligible, but the notice does not publish rules for sole proprietors or single-member LLCs specifically, so check the full NOFO or NIH policy before assuming you qualify.
Can a nonprofit apply?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are both listed as eligible applicants.

Summary

NIH R21 exploratory grants for early-stage research on methods or agents that selectively modulate 'undruggable' target classes in intractable human diseases. Eligible applicants include universities, nonprofits, state/local/tribal governments, small businesses, and other for-profit firms; foreign entities are excluded. Clinical trials not allowed.

About this grant

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to solicit applications for exploratory and early-stage projects that focus on undruggable target classes within intractable human disease. Applicants will identify a human disease relevant undruggable target class and develop a method or agent that is selective for one or more targets within that target class. This NOFO is intended to jumpstart research that demonstrates innovative strategies to modulate targets that cannot be addressed by established therapeutic types, furthering the development of methods and/or agents selective for undruggable target classes.

Who can apply

Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Health
  • Science
  • Biotechnology

Program contact

National Institutes of Healthgrantsinfo@nih.gov301-402-2541

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