In Vivo Synaptic Function in Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 18 760

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 760

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity titled "In Vivo Synaptic Function in Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-760) supports early-stage, exploratory research focused on synapses in living systems. The central goal is to improve understanding of synaptic structure and function in vivo in the context of Alzheimers disease and related dementias (often grouped as ADRD). A second major emphasis is method development: the opportunity encourages advances in tools and approaches that make it possible to measure, visualize, or otherwise characterize synaptic changes in living animal models and in humans. Because it uses the NIH R21 mechanism, it is geared toward innovative, higher-risk ideas that can generate strong preliminary data and open new lines of investigation rather than large, long-term projects.

The scientific scope is specifically about synaptic biology as it can be observed or quantified in vivo, meaning within the intact brain or nervous system rather than only in isolated tissue or cell culture. Projects may focus on how synapses are altered during disease progression, how synaptic integrity relates to cognition and behavior, or how synaptic dysfunction links to known pathological features of ADRD. A key point is that the announcement explicitly aims to push forward the development and refinement of methods for studying synapses, including technologies and analytical strategies that can be applied in animal models and, where feasible, translated to human research. The title and description signal an interest in approaches that can bridge basic neuroscience and translational neuroscience by enabling synaptic readouts that are relevant to disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

This opportunity is "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which means applications must not propose an NIH-defined clinical trial. In practice, that typically rules out studies where human participants are prospectively assigned to an intervention to evaluate effects on health-related or behavioral outcomes. Applicants can still often work with human data or biospecimens and may be able to include observational or methodological work involving humans, but they must design the research so it does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial. Anyone considering human involvement would need to align the study design with the FOA limitations and NIH guidance on what constitutes a clinical trial.

Administratively, the program is a discretionary grant in the health funding category under CFDA number 93.866, and it is run by the NIH. The award ceiling listed is $200,000, indicating the maximum amount that can be requested under the terms shown in the source data. The funding opportunity was created on April 18, 2018, and the original closing date shown is January 7, 2021, which reflects the due date information captured in the listing (applicants would typically confirm current receipt dates and any reissuance or replacement announcements on the NIH and grants.gov pages).

A wide range of organizations are eligible to apply. Beyond common applicant types such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing/Indian housing authorities, eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. It also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), as well as an "Others" category that can capture additional eligible entity types depending on NIH policy and the specific FOA language.

The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicants and institution types that NIH is explicitly welcoming, 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), and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities. It further notes eligibility for eligible agencies of the federal government, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply where NIH policy allows. Taken together, the eligibility language is broad and inclusive, signaling NIH interest in attracting diverse applicants and cross-sector teams capable of innovating in synaptic measurement and ADRD-relevant neuroscience.

In plain terms, this R21 opportunity is designed for research teams that want to tackle the hard problem of measuring synapses in living brains and connecting those measures to Alzheimers and related dementias. Competitive projects would typically combine novelty (new ways to see or quantify synapses, new biomarkers, new imaging/recording/analytic pipelines, or new translational bridges from animal models to humans) with a clear argument for why synaptic readouts matter for understanding disease mechanisms, staging, or future therapeutic development, all while staying firmly outside the boundaries of a clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "In Vivo Synaptic Function in Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias (R21 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): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (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 $200,000.00 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 PAR 18 760

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