Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 21 045

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 045

The NIH funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Required)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-045) supports early-stage, hypothesis-driven clinical trials focused on diseases and conditions within the mission area of arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, and skin diseases. As an R21 mechanism, it is designed for exploratory or developmental projects that need a clinical trial to generate initial evidence, refine an approach, establish feasibility, or produce proof-of-concept results that can justify larger, later-stage trials or expanded research programs. The key takeaway in the title is "Clinical Trial Required," meaning the proposed work must include a clinical trial component rather than being purely observational or preclinical.

This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding activity area, and it is associated with CFDA number 93.846. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, signaling that projects are expected to be relatively focused and limited in scope compared with larger NIH clinical trial mechanisms. The program is run under the National Institutes of Health. The original closing date shown is 2023-11-03, and the opportunity record indicates it was created on 2020-11-13.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, and special district governments, as well as independent school districts. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education may apply. Tribal participation is supported through eligibility for federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, along with tribally controlled colleges and universities. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education. For-profit entities other than small businesses are eligible, and small businesses are also explicitly listed as eligible, along with "other" applicants as defined in the full announcement.

The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant categories, emphasizing inclusion of a wide range of institution types and community-based partners. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible agencies of the federal government; regional organizations; and U.S. territories or possessions. This suggests NIH is open to applications that leverage diverse institutional settings and partnerships, including organizations with strong community reach and those serving populations that may be disproportionately affected by these conditions or historically underrepresented in clinical research.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In practical terms, this usually means a U.S.-based applicant can include certain well-justified international elements (for example, a specific performance site, collaboration, or resource) when it is essential to the project and meets NIH policy requirements, but a foreign institution cannot be the primary applicant and the overall application must remain anchored in an eligible domestic applicant organization.

Overall, PAR-21-045 is aimed at enabling smaller, tightly designed clinical trials that test interventions, strategies, or approaches relevant to arthritis, musculoskeletal, or skin diseases, with enough structure and rigor to produce interpretable early clinical evidence while staying within the limited scale typical of an R21. Applicants considering this opportunity would generally need to be ready to propose a real clinical trial (not just planning work), align the project with NIH clinical trial and human subjects requirements, and fit the scope and budget expectations indicated by the $200,000 ceiling.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.846.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-11-03. (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 21 045

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