Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 25 273

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is PAR-25-273?

PAR-25-273 is an NIH discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." It is administered under CFDA 93.351 and is focused on creating, improving, characterizing, and preserving animal models and related resources that broadly enable biomedical research tied to human health and disease.

What type of funding mechanism is this?

This opportunity uses the NIH R21 exploratory/developmental grant mechanism. R21s are designed to support innovative, early-stage, and potentially high-impact projects that can open new directions, rather than large or mature research programs.

Are clinical trials allowed under this NOFO?

No. Clinical trials are not allowed. Applications must remain in the preclinical space, focused on animal model development and related biological materials or enabling methods.

What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?

The program is intended to strengthen NIH-wide research infrastructure by supporting projects that develop or enhance broadly useful animal models and associated biological materials, and by supporting approaches that improve the rigor, reproducibility, and overall research utility of animal-based studies.

What kinds of projects are a good fit for PAR-25-273?

Projects that fit well generally aim to create, improve, rigorously characterize, or preserve animal models (and related resources) that can be used across multiple areas of biomedical research. Projects may also develop tools and methods that improve how animal models are diagnosed, monitored, managed, or interpreted in ways that reduce confounding factors and improve research quality.

Does the project have to include animal models?

Yes. The announcement states that applications must include animal models as part of the proposed studies. The work should be grounded in animal model development and/or resources directly tied to animal models.

What does "broad applicability across multiple NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs)" mean in practice?

It means the proposed work must be relevant to multiple NIH Institutes or Centers, not mainly to one. The NOFO expects applications to be relevant to multiple body systems or multiple categories of diseases, consistent with the NIH-wide mission of the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP). The project should be framed as generalizable research infrastructure that enables many NIH-supported research areas.

What happens if an application is focused on a single disease or a single NIH Institute or Center?

The NOFO states that applications that are narrowly centered on a single disease area, a highly specific niche, or that are primarily relevant to only one NIH IC are considered nonresponsive. Such applications are expected to be deemed not acceptable and withdrawn, rather than simply receiving a low score.

What types of outputs is NIH looking for?

NIH is looking for outputs such as improved or newly developed animal models, rigorously characterized model systems, preserved resources, animal-model-related biological materials, and enabling technologies that make animal models more valuable and broadly usable for the research community.

What are "animal-model-related biological materials" in this context?

Based on the program description, these are biological resources connected to animal models that help researchers use, validate, preserve, or extend the utility of those models. The opportunity supports the development and preservation of such materials when they improve research utility and broad access to reliable model systems.

Does the NOFO encourage New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)?

Yes. The NOFO explicitly encourages the development and use of NAMs. These generally include innovative approaches that may complement animal studies or improve how animal-related data are generated and interpreted, such as advanced in vitro systems, computational approaches, data-driven methods, or other methodologies that improve efficiency, reproducibility, or translational relevance.

Is this opportunity only about making new animal models?

No. While creating new models is a key theme, the program also supports improving existing models, rigorously characterizing them, preserving them, and developing related tools, materials, and enabling technologies that increase their usefulness and reliability across many research areas.

What is the second major emphasis area described in the opportunity?

A major emphasis is on improving the diagnosis, monitoring, prevention, or control of diseases and conditions in research animals that can confound biomedical research. This includes addressing infectious or endemic colony conditions, subclinical disease, or other animal health issues that can distort experimental outcomes and reduce reproducibility.

Why does NIH care about diagnosis and monitoring of diseases in research animals?

Because hidden or unmanaged health conditions in animal colonies can introduce confounding variables that affect experimental outcomes, undermine reproducibility, and interfere with humane and effective use of models. The program aims to strengthen reliability and research utility by improving health management tools and approaches.

What is the award ceiling for this grant opportunity?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $200,000.

What is the closing date for PAR-25-273?

The original closing date listed is January 7, 2028, reflecting a multi-year window during which NIH expects to accept applications on the relevant due dates associated with the NOFO.

How many awards will NIH make?

The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided information.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?

Yes. The NOFO highlights additional eligible categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, TCCUs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISIs. It also notes faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies among eligible applicant types.

Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply.

Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the project will be carried out in a foreign (non-U.S.) component?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.

Is this opportunity best viewed as disease-specific research funding?

No. The opportunity is best read as an NIH-wide research infrastructure call. It prioritizes animal models, resources, and methods that broadly enable research across multiple disease areas and body systems, rather than a model built mainly to answer one specific disease question.

What makes an application competitive based on the description provided?

Competitive applications are expected to clearly demonstrate wide relevance to multiple NIH IC missions, include credible plans for model/material development and rigorous characterization, and explain how the outputs will improve rigor, reproducibility, and usefulness for a broad segment of the biomedical research community, while staying out of clinical trial territory and avoiding a narrow single-disease/single-institute scope.