Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 226

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 226

The grant opportunity "Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement designed specifically for small businesses that want to build practical, research-ready technologies for laboratory animal programs. It uses the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) mechanism, meaning projects are expected to involve a formal partnership between a small business concern and a research institution, with the goal of moving an idea from early feasibility work into a more developed product or system that can be used in real animal research settings. The funding instrument is a grant under activity codes R41 (Phase I) and R42 (Phase II), which typically map to early proof-of-concept development followed by more advanced development and validation work. Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, so the focus stays on tool/device development for animal research facilities and animal model support rather than human testing.

The core purpose of the program is to stimulate the creation of novel tools and devices that make animal research safer, more humane, and more efficient. The FOA emphasizes innovations that improve the handling of laboratory animals, reduce stress and risk during routine procedures, streamline or modernize the day-to-day management of animal facilities, and improve the quality or reproducibility of experiments that rely on animal models. In practical terms, the NIH is signaling interest in technologies that directly benefit animal welfare while also strengthening the facility infrastructure and environmental conditions that underlie good biomedical and bio-behavioral research. The end goal is not just incremental upgrades, but solutions that meaningfully improve how animals are housed, monitored, transported, restrained, enriched, or otherwise supported throughout their use in research, as well as tools that help facilities maintain high standards with fewer bottlenecks and less variability.

This opportunity is categorized as discretionary federal funding in the health area and is associated with CFDA number 93.351. The sponsoring agency is the NIH, and the funding opportunity number is PAR-21-226. While the summary provided does not list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, it clearly frames the scope: device and tool development that supports animal care and facility operations in ways that ultimately benefit the scientific enterprise. Applications should be oriented toward tangible deliverables, such as prototypes, engineered systems, software-enabled devices, monitoring platforms, automation tools, or facility-support equipment that can be realistically adopted by animal research programs.

Eligibility is restricted to small businesses, consistent with the STTR program rules. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. However, the FOA notes that "foreign components" may be allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. applicant might be permitted to include certain well-justified elements of the project that occur outside the United States, subject to NIH policies and approvals. The announcement was created on April 30, 2021, and the original closing date listed is January 6, 2025, which is the key deadline reference in the provided information.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at bridging real-world operational needs in animal research environments with the innovation capacity of small businesses working alongside research partners. It supports projects that can improve animal well-being and husbandry outcomes, modernize facility practices and infrastructure, and strengthen the reliability and efficiency of animal-based experiments, while staying clearly outside the realm of human clinical trial activity.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R41/R42 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): 93.351.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-04-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

Apply for PAR 21 226

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