National Institutes of Health · United States

Development of Models, New Approach Methodologies, and Biological Materials… (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Full title in the source: Development of Models, New Approach Methodologies, and Biological Materials for Studying Human Health and Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Forecast — expected to open 16 Dec 2027

National Institutes of Health expects to make 15 awards of $190,000 – $500,000 each. This is a forecast: the funder has announced the opportunity but it is not open yet; posting is expected around 16 Dec 2027 and the estimated deadline is 16 Feb 2028. Eligible applicant types include nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities and 12 more.

Deadline: Estimated 16 Feb 2028 (not yet confirmed)
Opens: 16 Dec 2027
Grant amount: $190,000 – $500,000 per project
Funding rate: No mandatory cost sharing stated; funding percentage not stated
Expected awards: 15
Cost sharing: Not required
Likely applicant types: Non-profits, Universities & research, Public bodies, SMEs / start-ups, Companies From source categories or programme rules; the call decides.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Reference: PAR-29-002
Assistance listing: 93.351 Research Infrastructure Programs
Last checked: 15 Nov 2026

Open the official call ↗

About this call

This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) encourages innovative research to develop, characterize, improve or preserve research models and model related biological materials, and to develop or improve technologies, including new approach methodologies (NAMs), for studies relevant to human health and diseases. This NOFO also seeks projects aimed at improving the identification and control of factors that could confound or interfere with the use of research models in biomedical research. The proposed project must have broad applicability to multiple NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs) to align with the NIH-wide mission of the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP). The proposed studies must include research model(s) or NAM(s) and must explore multiple body systems or multiple categories of diseases affecting multiple body systems. Applications that develop models focused on a specific disease, a narrow area of research, or a single body system, or propose studies primarily relevant to a single NIH IC will be considered not acceptable to this NOFO.

Who can apply

Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Special district governments
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Small businesses
Private institutions of higher education
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Independent school districts
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
State governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
City or township governments
County governments
For profit organizations other than small businesses
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Topics

Health

How to apply

Read the full notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) linked from the official page: eligibility, cost sharing and evaluation criteria.
Make sure your organisation has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID (UEI); registration can take several weeks.
For NIH: the organisation and the principal investigator also need eRA Commons accounts; applications are usually submitted through Grants.gov (for example with ASSIST).
Prepare the required forms, narrative, budget and attachments exactly as the NOFO specifies.
Submit before the deadline and keep the tracking number. Check for amendments before you submit.

From the call text

Who can apply: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Company stage: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Single applicant or consortium: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Where applicants must be based: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Where to apply: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Contact

Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) · ORIPDCM@mail.nih.gov · 301-435-0744

Where these facts come from

Fact	Value	How we know	Taken from the source
Deadline	16 February 2028	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Amount per applicant	$190,000 – $500,000	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Total budget	Unknown — not stated in the source we hold	unknown	—
Funding rate	No mandatory cost sharing stated; funding percentage not stated	read from the official text	15 Nov 2026
Who can apply	Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Special district governments; Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Small businesses; Private…	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Where to apply	Unknown — not stated in the source we hold	unknown	—

Official sources

Official call page

Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 15 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.