Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 206
The NIH funding opportunity PAR-21-206, titled "Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)," is designed to push promising scientific and engineering advances out of the lab and closer to real-world use. The central idea is to support academic and industry teams working together to translate discoveries into practical methods, tools, devices, or technology-enabled approaches that can improve how diseases are studied and how patients are assessed and cared for. Projects can focus on technologies that strengthen basic research capabilities for understanding disease mechanisms, or on applied research solutions that assess risk, detect disease earlier, prevent illness, improve diagnosis, enable or optimize treatment, and support ongoing disease management.
A major emphasis of the announcement is meeting evolving technology needs across the full continuum of research and care. That includes pre-clinical settings (for example, work that improves how therapies or biomarkers are evaluated before human use), clinical settings (tools that can be deployed in patient-facing environments), and non-clinical settings (such as community-based, field, or public health contexts). The FOA is broad in the sense that it is meant to align with the missions of the participating NIH institutes and centers, and it explicitly allows work in domestic or foreign settings, as long as the proposed technology and its intended impact fit those missions.
This opportunity uses the R01 mechanism, which generally supports well-developed, hypothesis-driven or milestone-driven research programs with clear technical goals and a plan for translation. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means applicants may propose studies that do not include a clinical trial, but they also have the flexibility to include a clinical trial component if it is appropriate for advancing the technology toward real-world use. In practice, that flexibility can accommodate a wide range of maturity levels, from advanced prototype validation and performance benchmarking to clinical feasibility or early effectiveness evaluation, provided the project is structured to produce tangible translational outcomes rather than remaining purely exploratory.
Eligibility is intentionally expansive to encourage diverse partnerships and to bring in organizations that can help technologies move from development into deployment. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), tribal governments and tribal organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, K-12 independent school districts, and higher education institutions (public, state-controlled, and private). The FOA is also open to nonprofit organizations, both with and without 501(c)(3) status, and to for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses). In addition, the announcement highlights "other eligible applicants" such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, this allows academic-industry collaborations to be structured in many ways, including multi-institution consortia and cross-sector partnerships that include community or regional implementation stakeholders.
From an administrative standpoint, the sponsor is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is listed as education and health. The associated CFDA numbers are 93.394 and 93.395. The opportunity was created on March 25, 2021, and the listed original closing date is January 8, 2025. The award ceiling is shown as $499,000, which signals a budget constraint applicants should treat as a hard planning parameter when scoping aims, staffing, engineering builds, validation studies, and any regulatory or clinical activities. The posting does not specify an expected number of awards in the provided source data, so applicants typically need to assume competitive selection and craft a proposal that clearly articulates unmet need, technical innovation, feasibility, validation strategy, and a credible path to real-world adoption.
Overall, this FOA is best read as an invitation to build translation-ready technologies through genuine academic-industrial collaboration, with an emphasis on delivering new capabilities that can measurably improve research workflows or healthcare delivery. Strong applications are likely to be those that define a clear disease- or use-case-driven problem, show why existing tools fall short, present a realistic development and validation plan (often with engineering milestones and performance metrics), and demonstrate that the partnership has the combined expertise to move the technology toward meaningful use in pre-clinical, clinical, or field settings.Apply for PAR 21 206
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394, 93.395.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-08. (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 $499,000.00 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.
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FAQs: NIH PAR-21-206 (R01) Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (Clinical Trial Optional)
What is PAR-21-206?
PAR-21-206 is an NIH funding opportunity titled "Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)." It supports academic and industry teams working together to translate scientific and engineering advances into practical, real-world technologies that improve how diseases are studied and how patients are assessed and cared for.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to move promising discoveries out of the lab and closer to use in real settings by funding translation-ready work that results in practical methods, tools, devices, or technology-enabled approaches. The emphasis is on tangible translational outcomes rather than purely exploratory research.
What kinds of technologies or solutions does the FOA support?
The FOA supports technologies that strengthen basic research capabilities for understanding disease mechanisms and technologies that address applied needs across healthcare and public health. Examples of supported aims include assessing risk, detecting disease earlier, preventing illness, improving diagnosis, enabling or optimizing treatment, and supporting ongoing disease management.
Does the opportunity focus only on clinical healthcare settings?
No. The FOA emphasizes technology needs across the full continuum of research and care, including pre-clinical settings (such as evaluating therapies or biomarkers prior to human use), clinical settings (patient-facing environments), and non-clinical settings (community-based, field, or public health contexts).
Is this opportunity limited to a specific disease area?
The announcement is described as broad and intended to align with the missions of participating NIH institutes and centers. Projects need to fit within those missions, but the provided information does not restrict the FOA to a single disease area.
What funding mechanism does PAR-21-206 use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which typically supports well-developed, hypothesis-driven or milestone-driven research programs with clear technical goals and a plan for translation.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for applicants?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means applicants may propose projects without a clinical trial, but they may also include a clinical trial component if it is appropriate to advance the technology toward real-world use. This flexibility can support a range of maturity levels, from advanced prototype validation and benchmarking through clinical feasibility or early effectiveness evaluation.
What types of project maturity levels appear to fit this FOA?
Based on the description, projects can range from advanced prototype validation and performance benchmarking to clinical feasibility or early effectiveness evaluation, as long as the work is structured around translation and produces tangible outcomes rather than remaining purely exploratory.
Are academic-industry partnerships required?
The FOA is centered on academic-industrial collaboration. The goal is to combine capabilities so that technologies can move from development toward deployment, and the program is framed as support for academic and industry teams working together.
Who is the sponsor of this opportunity?
The sponsor is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding instrument and activity category?
The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is listed as education and health.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA numbers are 93.394 and 93.395.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 25, 2021.
What is the listed closing date?
The listed original closing date is January 8, 2025.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is shown as $499,000. Applicants should treat this as a key budget constraint when scoping aims, staffing, engineering builds, validation studies, and any regulatory or clinical activities.
Does the posting state how many awards NIH expects to make?
No. The provided source data does not specify an expected number of awards, so applicants should assume a competitive selection process and focus on clearly presenting need, innovation, feasibility, validation, and a credible path to adoption.
Can projects be conducted outside the United States?
Yes. The FOA explicitly allows work in domestic or foreign settings, as long as the proposed technology and intended impact fit the missions of the participating NIH institutes and centers.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is expansive and includes U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, K-12 independent school districts, and higher education institutions (public, state-controlled, and private).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible both with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations are eligible, including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and other special categories included in eligibility?
Yes. The announcement highlights other eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and more.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed among the "other eligible applicants" in the provided information.
Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are included among the "other eligible applicants" described in the opportunity summary.
Are U.S. territories or non-U.S. entities eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. territories or possessions and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Can an application involve multiple institutions or a consortium?
Yes. The description indicates collaborations can be structured in many ways, including multi-institution consortia and cross-sector partnerships that can include community or regional implementation stakeholders.
What is NIH looking for in a strong application, based on this description?
Strong applications are likely to define a clear disease- or use-case-driven problem, explain why existing tools fall short, present a realistic development and validation plan with engineering milestones and performance metrics, and show that the partnership has the combined expertise to move the technology toward meaningful use in pre-clinical, clinical, or field settings.
What types of outcomes does NIH appear to prioritize here?
The FOA prioritizes translation-ready outcomes, meaning new or improved capabilities that can measurably improve research workflows or healthcare delivery, and that are supported by credible validation strategies and a path toward real-world adoption.
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| Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 166 Funding Number: PAR 21 166 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $499,000 |
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| Multidisciplinary Treatment Approaches to End the HIV Epidemic (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AI 21 024 Funding Number: RFA AI 21 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition Coordinating Center for the HIV/AIDS and Substance Use Cohorts Program (U24 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 002 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Emergency Award: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research on COVID-19 Consortium (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 213 Funding Number: PAR 21 213 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for Substance Use Disorders (SUD) drug discovery and development (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 019 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for Substance Use Disorders (SUD) drug discovery and development (R41/R42 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 021 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers on Telehealth Research for Cancer-Related Care (P50 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 21 029 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mobile Health Solutions to rectify digital inequality in communities affected by drug addiction (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 22 001 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exercise and Nutrition Interventions to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO) in Cancer Survivors Consortium (U01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 21 031 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 031 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $875,000 |
| Pilot Health Services and Economic Research on the Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use Disorders (R34 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 21 180 Funding Number: PA 21 180 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanistic Studies on the Impact of Social Inequality on the Substance Use Trajectory (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 007 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanistic studies on the impact of social inequality on the substance use trajectory (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 22 005 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Mechanistic Studies on the Impact of Social Inequality on the Substance Use Trajectory (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for RFA DA 22 024 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanistic Studies on the Impact of Social Inequality on the Substance Use Trajectory (R21 - Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for RFA DA 22 030 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Assessing the Effects of Cannabinoids on HIV-Associated Persistent Inflammation (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 22 012 Funding Number: RFA DA 22 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| The Early Detection Research Network: Data Management and Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 21 034 Funding Number: RFA CA 21 034 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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