Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R61 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 24 279

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 279

The NIH funding opportunity PAR-24-279, titled "Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R61 Clinical Trial Required)," supports early-stage, hypothesis-driven clinical trials focused on diseases and conditions in the arthritis, musculoskeletal, and skin portfolio. The award uses the NIH R61 mechanism, which is designed for exploratory clinical testing where investigators need support to generate initial human evidence about an intervention, approach, or strategy. As the title indicates, a clinical trial is required under this announcement, meaning applications must include a study that meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial rather than being strictly observational or preclinical. The program sits within NIH's health research mission and is listed under CFDA 93.846.

This notice is a re-issue of PAR-24-035, and the reason for the re-issue is administrative rather than scientific: it reflects NIH's "Simplifying Review of Research Project Grant Applications" initiative. According to the description, the only substantive edits are in Section V, which covers the application review information. In practical terms, applicants should expect the science and program intent to remain the same as the prior version, while the peer review framework and/or how criteria are organized and scored may be updated to align with NIH's simplified review model. Anyone preparing an application should therefore pay close attention to the revised Section V language to make sure the proposal is structured to match the updated review expectations, even though the underlying program goals and eligibility have not otherwise changed.

A wide range of domestic applicant organizations are eligible. These include state, county, and city or township governments; 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; and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The opportunity also allows applications from public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, along with an "other" category that can capture additional eligible domestic entities.

The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant types that NIH often calls out for emphasis, 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; regional organizations; eligible federal agencies; Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth is intended to ensure that many kinds of institutions, including those serving historically underrepresented or underserved communities, can compete to lead exploratory clinical research in these disease areas.

There are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are explicitly not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. At the same time, the announcement states that foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In NIH terms, that typically means a U.S.-based applicant organization can include certain foreign activities or collaborations as a component of the project when they are well-justified and comply with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot be the direct applicant and a formal non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization cannot serve as the applicant unit.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity issued by the National Institutes of Health. The opportunity was created on 2024-12-09, and the listed closing date is 2026-11-02. An award ceiling is not specified in the provided data, and the number of expected awards is also not listed, so applicants would need to consult the full announcement text for budget expectations, typical award sizes, project periods, and any institute-specific funding constraints. Overall, the key takeaway is that this opportunity is aimed at supporting exploratory, clinical trial-based research in arthritis, musculoskeletal, and skin diseases, with the main update being a change in the peer review section to align with NIH's simplified review policies while leaving the rest of the program intact.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Clinical Trial Grants in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R61 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.846.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 24 279

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