Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 18 003
This NIH funding opportunity, issued under the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, supports R01 research projects aimed at advancing how scientists study the smallest blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in the central nervous system (CNS), including the retina. The Blueprint is a partnership across 14 NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices meant to speed up neuroscience discovery and ultimately reduce the burden of neurological disorders. In practical terms, the FOA is looking for proposals that either build new technologies and research tools, pursue novel mechanistic biology, or combine both approaches in a single integrated project, as long as the work is tightly focused on CNS small blood and lymphatic vessels in both health and disease and considers biology across the lifespan.
A major emphasis is on developing and improving tools that can image, profile, and map CNS microvasculature and lymphatic vessels with better resolution, specificity, and usefulness to the field. This can include approaches that make it easier to visualize vessels in intact tissue, measure how they function in real time, distinguish vessel subtypes or regional differences, or generate detailed maps of vessel organization and molecular identity. Alongside technology development, the FOA also prioritizes studies that explain why these vessels vary by region and structure (heterogeneity), how their functional properties differ across CNS locations, and what biological mechanisms drive that variation. The announcement highlights interest in understanding why certain vessel populations may be more vulnerable to injury than others, how vascular and lymphatic features influence disease processes, how they participate in repair and recovery, and how they respond to therapeutic interventions.
In terms of study design, the FOA welcomes preclinical research using in vitro systems and/or animal models that are specifically relevant to CNS small blood and lymphatic vessels. Projects can focus purely on preclinical work or incorporate pilot human studies, particularly when human data help validate a new tool, confirm a mechanistic insight, or establish feasibility for future larger-scale clinical investigations. Overall, the scope is meant to be translationally informative without requiring full clinical trials, with an emphasis on generating broadly enabling methods and credible biological understanding that can be applied across multiple neurological conditions.
Administrative details in the source information indicate this is a discretionary NIH grant mechanism (R01) under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-18-003, created on 2017-09-18 with an original closing date of 2017-12-11. The listed award ceiling is $400,000. Multiple CFDA program numbers are associated with the announcement (93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.350, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the cross-institute Blueprint structure and the broad relevance of vascular and lymphatic biology to many neurological research areas.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic applicants such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also includes federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The FOA explicitly notes additional eligible applicants including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health.
Taken together, the opportunity is essentially a call for ambitious, neuroscience-relevant vascular and lymphatic research that either creates new ways to see and measure CNS microvessels and lymphatic vessels or uses innovative approaches to explain how and why these vessel systems differ across CNS regions, change over the lifespan, contribute to disease vulnerability and progression, and respond to injury, repair, and treatment.Apply for RFA NS 18 003
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Approaches or Technologies to Investigate Regional, Structural and Functional Heterogeneity of CNS Small Blood and Lymphatic Vessels (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.350, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-09-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-12-11. (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 $400,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this NIH funding opportunity focused on?
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) supports R01 research projects that advance how scientists study the smallest blood vessels (microvasculature) and lymphatic vessels in the central nervous system (CNS), including the retina. The goal is to generate enabling tools and/or new biological understanding about CNS small blood and lymphatic vessels in health and disease, with attention to biology across the lifespan.
2) Which NIH program is issuing this FOA?
The FOA is issued under the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, a partnership across 14 NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices designed to accelerate neuroscience discovery and reduce the burden of neurological disorders.
3) What is the grant mechanism for this opportunity?
The mechanism is an NIH R01 (Research Project Grant), and the opportunity is described as a discretionary NIH grant mechanism.
4) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is RFA-NS-18-003.
5) What kinds of projects are encouraged?
The FOA seeks proposals that do at least one of the following, as long as the work is tightly focused on CNS small blood and lymphatic vessels:
- Build new technologies and research tools
- Pursue novel mechanistic biology
- Combine tool/technology development with mechanistic studies in a single integrated project
6) Are technology-development projects a priority?
Yes. A major emphasis is on developing and improving tools that can image, profile, and map CNS microvasculature and lymphatic vessels with better resolution, specificity, and overall usefulness to the field.
7) What tool capabilities does the FOA highlight?
Examples of desired capabilities include methods that:
- Visualize vessels in intact tissue
- Measure vessel function in real time
- Distinguish vessel subtypes and regional differences
- Create detailed maps of vessel organization and molecular identity
8) What biological questions does the FOA prioritize?
Alongside technology development, the FOA prioritizes studies that explain:
- Why CNS small blood and lymphatic vessels vary by region and structure (heterogeneity)
- How functional properties differ across CNS locations
- What mechanisms drive regional and structural variation
9) Does the FOA mention vulnerability to injury and disease relevance?
Yes. The announcement highlights interest in why certain vessel populations may be more vulnerable to injury than others, how vascular and lymphatic features influence disease processes, how they participate in repair and recovery, and how they respond to therapeutic interventions.
10) Is the retina included in the CNS scope for this FOA?
Yes. The scope explicitly includes the CNS, including the retina.
11) Does the FOA require work across the lifespan?
The FOA notes that proposed work should consider biology across the lifespan, meaning applicants should account for how these vessel systems may differ or change across life stages in health and disease.
12) What types of study models are welcomed?
The FOA welcomes preclinical research using in vitro systems and/or animal models that are specifically relevant to CNS small blood and lymphatic vessels.
13) Are human studies allowed?
Yes. Projects may incorporate pilot human studies, particularly when human data help validate a new tool, confirm a mechanistic insight, or establish feasibility for future larger-scale clinical investigations.
14) Does this opportunity require clinical trials?
No. The scope is intended to be translationally informative without requiring full clinical trials. The emphasis is on broadly enabling methods and credible biological understanding applicable across multiple neurological conditions.
15) What is meant by "translationally informative" in this context?
Based on the description provided, "translationally informative" refers to research that can inform future applications to human health and neurological disease (for example, by validating tools or mechanisms with human data) without requiring that the project itself be a full-scale clinical trial.
16) What is the listed award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $400,000.
17) When was this FOA created and what was the original closing date?
Administrative details list the FOA as created on 2017-09-18, with an original closing date of 2017-12-11.
18) Who is the awarding agency?
The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
19) Why are multiple CFDA program numbers associated with this opportunity?
Multiple CFDA numbers are listed (93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.350, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the cross-institute NIH Blueprint structure and the broad relevance of vascular and lymphatic biology to many neurological research areas.
20) Which applicant organizations are eligible?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants, such as:
- State, county, and local governments
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Special district governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Eligible federal agencies
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories or possessions
- Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations)
21) Are specific types of higher-education institutions and community organizations explicitly included?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes additional eligible applicants including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and faith-based or community-based organizations.
22) Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility section explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
23) What is the central scientific theme of the projects sought?
The core theme is ambitious, neuroscience-relevant vascular and lymphatic research focused on CNS small blood and lymphatic vessels, aimed at either creating new ways to see and measure these vessels or using innovative approaches to explain heterogeneity, lifespan changes, disease vulnerability and progression, and responses to injury, repair, and treatment.
24) Can a single project combine technology development and mechanistic biology?
Yes. The FOA explicitly allows proposals that combine both approaches in a single integrated project, as long as the focus remains tightly on CNS small blood and lymphatic vessels in health and disease.
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| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 007 Funding Number: PAR 18 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 017 Funding Number: PAR 18 017 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 206 Funding Number: PAR 18 206 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 488 Funding Number: PA 18 488 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Centers of Excellence (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 657 Funding Number: PAR 18 657 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Research on the Health of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Populations (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 728 Funding Number: PA 18 728 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on the Health of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 729 Funding Number: PA 18 729 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (R25) Apply for RFA NS 19 007 Funding Number: RFA NS 19 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00) Apply for RFA NS 19 011 Funding Number: RFA NS 19 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition: Restoring Research Resources Lost or Damaged Due to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria (R24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA OD 18 102 Funding Number: RFA OD 18 102 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies and Approaches in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 19 012 Funding Number: RFA OD 19 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 090 Funding Number: PA 19 090 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 089 Funding Number: PA 19 089 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 087 Funding Number: PA 19 087 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 086 Funding Number: PA 19 086 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition: NeuroImaging Tools and Resources Collaboratory (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA EB 18 004 Funding Number: RFA EB 18 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HEALthy BCD) (Collaborative R34- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 029 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 134 Funding Number: PAR 19 134 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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