Pilot Projects Investigating Understudied G Protein-Coupled Receptors, Ion Channels, and Protein Kinases (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA RM 19 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 19 011

This funding opportunity, RFA-RM-19-011, is an NIH Common Fund grant designed to push research forward on a set of "understudied" but potentially high-impact drug targets: non-olfactory G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels, and protein kinases that fall under the Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG) program. The core idea is to support small, focused pilot projects that go beyond what the IDG Centers can do on their own and that make practical use of IDG-generated tools, datasets, and experimental approaches. By doing this, NIH is trying to accelerate early-stage biological understanding of these proteins, especially in ways that connect protein function to human disease mechanisms and help the broader research community see the value of the IDG resource ecosystem.

The projects supported under this announcement are expected to generate new, incremental data and/or research tools around one or more IDG-eligible understudied proteins. That might include producing evidence of biochemical activity, mapping signaling pathways, identifying cellular phenotypes, developing or validating assays, testing perturbations in cell or animal models, or otherwise building a clearer functional picture that can move the target from "known to exist" toward "understood well enough to pursue therapeutically." A major emphasis is placed on validating and demonstrating the utility of IDG outputs, meaning applicants are encouraged to leverage IDG reagents, data, and platforms and then extend them with additional experiments that create usable, shareable knowledge for the community.

This FOA uses the NIH R03 mechanism, which is meant for short, limited-scope studies that can quickly establish feasibility or produce a discrete set of results that justify larger follow-on projects. The announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so the work must stay on the preclinical or non-clinical side (for example, laboratory, computational, or model-system studies rather than interventional studies in humans). The overall programmatic goal aligns with the broader IDG mission: catalyzing research in neglected areas of biology that still have strong potential to affect human health. In practical terms, IDG aims to (1) identify phenotypes in biochemical, cellular, or animal contexts for these understudied proteins, (2) enable further investigation by supplying tools and reagents, and (3) build and maintain a mineable knowledge base that makes the resulting information findable and reusable.

On the administrative side, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health area (CFDA 93.310) administered by the National Institutes of Health. The listed award ceiling is $100,000, consistent with the small pilot nature of an R03. The original closing date shown is 2019-10-28, and the opportunity record was created on 2019-07-10, which signals that the text provided describes a past deadline cycle rather than an open, ongoing solicitation.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories often emphasized by NIH, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws clear boundaries around foreign participation: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations or foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicants, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant could potentially include certain justified international elements within the project while remaining compliant with NIH policy.

Taken together, the opportunity is essentially a targeted, small-budget NIH pilot grant meant to deepen functional understanding of neglected druggable proteins, strengthen the evidence base linking them to disease biology, and amplify the impact of the IDG program by encouraging researchers to use and validate IDG resources while producing new data and tools the community can build on.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pilot Projects Investigating Understudied G Protein-Coupled Receptors, Ion Channels, and Protein Kinases (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-07-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-10-28. (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 $100,000.00 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 RFA RM 19 011

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