Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R21) | PAR 17 192

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 192

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity titled "Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-17-192) is designed to push forward early-stage, high-impact research that improves how medicines are formulated and delivered for children. The central focus is on the practical reality that children are not just small adults: different pediatric age groups often need different dosage forms, strengths, excipients, and delivery approaches to ensure medicines are safe, effective, and actually acceptable for routine use. This announcement is aimed at addressing research gaps that keep pediatric therapies from being optimized for real-world pediatric care, including challenges tied to swallowing, taste, dosing flexibility, caregiver administration, and age-appropriate delivery methods.

The FOA emphasizes exploratory, novel work under the NIH R21 mechanism, meaning it is oriented toward proof-of-concept ideas, feasibility studies, and innovative approaches rather than large, confirmatory development programs. It specifically encourages applicants to bring in concepts and techniques that are new to pediatric formulation development and testing, including methods that are superior to standard practices in the field. In practical terms, this could include developing or adapting new formulation strategies that better accommodate pediatric needs (for example, enabling accurate dosing across weight ranges, improving palatability without compromising stability, or reducing reliance on excipients that may pose higher risks in infants). It also explicitly supports innovation in pediatric drug delivery systems, which can include technologies or device-formulation combinations intended to improve dosing accuracy, adherence, and usability in children across developmental stages.

The eligible applicant pool is broad, reflecting NIH’s intention to attract ideas from academia, industry, government, and community-linked research settings. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible groups and institution types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), 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, non-U.S. (foreign) organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This inclusive eligibility structure is meant to broaden participation and bring diverse perspectives and capabilities into pediatric drug development challenges.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the Health, Income Security and Social Services funding activity area, and it is associated with CFDA number 93.865. The opportunity was created on March 29, 2017, and the original closing date listed is May 7, 2020. The award ceiling shown is $200,000, indicating that projects are expected to remain in the smaller, exploratory scope typical of R21 awards. While the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided data, the structure and language of the announcement make clear that NIH is prioritizing innovative, early-stage projects that can open up new directions or overcome persistent barriers in pediatric formulation and delivery science.

Overall, this FOA is essentially a call for creative, technically sound, and pediatric-centered research that improves both the formulation of medicines (how the drug is prepared into a usable dosage form) and the delivery system (how it is administered to and used by children). The emphasis on acceptability across age groups signals that NIH is not only interested in pharmacotechnical success, but also in the real-world factors that determine whether a pediatric product can be used correctly and consistently by patients and caregivers.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-03-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-07. (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 17 192

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