Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 19 149

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 149

The Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) program is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity designed to support early-stage, engineering-driven projects that are still in the exploratory or proof-of-concept phase. It uses the R21 grant mechanism and is specifically labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants must not propose clinical trials under this announcement. The central aim is to help researchers demonstrate the feasibility and likely usefulness of new bioengineering capabilities, or meaningful improvements to existing tools, methods, devices, or systems, where the work could substantially improve how biomedical and health-related research or care is performed.

This opportunity focuses on bioengineering solutions that move the needle on practical performance and real-world utility. Competitive projects are expected to show potential to improve at least one major dimension such as quality, speed, efficacy, ease of operation, cost, or accessibility. In practice, that can include developing new instrumentation, sensors, imaging or diagnostic technologies, computational or data-driven engineering approaches, improved biomaterials or drug delivery concepts (as enabling technologies rather than trials), microfluidic or lab-on-a-chip systems, assistive technologies, or workflow-enabling platforms that make research or clinical care more efficient and reachable. The scope is broad across the biomedical pipeline, spanning basic biomedical research, pre-clinical research, and clinically relevant research settings, as well as innovations that improve clinical care delivery or increase access to healthcare solutions. The common thread is that the work should be engineering-oriented and geared toward creating or refining a capability that can be used to solve concrete biomedical or healthcare problems.

The funding opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a standard grant instrument. The published award ceiling is $200,000, indicating an upper limit on award size (often interpreted as a cap on direct costs per year or per project depending on NIH-specific instructions in the full FOA). While the source listing does not provide complete details on project duration or the exact number of awards expected, R21 grants are generally intended for shorter, high-risk/high-reward exploratory efforts where preliminary data may be limited but the concept is compelling and testable. The intention is typically to generate feasibility data, prototypes, validation results, or other milestones that position the project for a larger follow-on grant or translational pathway.

Eligibility is intentionally expansive and includes a wide range of organizations that can contribute to bioengineering innovation. Eligible applicants include state, county, 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 other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In addition, the FOA highlights other eligible applicant types, 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 even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility reflects NIH interest in drawing strong engineering ideas from diverse institutional settings, including community-facing organizations and institutions serving underrepresented populations, as well as international collaborators where appropriate.

Administratively, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number PAR-19-149 and was created on 2019-01-08. The source data lists an original closing date of 2022-01-07, which suggests that this specific posting may have had an endpoint or a scheduled expiration; applicants would normally confirm the current status and any reissued or active versions of the FOA through NIH and Grants.gov before preparing a submission. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399), reflecting that participating NIH institutes or centers may support projects aligned with their specific missions across biomedical and health domains.

In short, this program is aimed at funding early, engineering-heavy bioinnovation that can convincingly show it will enable better biomedical research or healthcare delivery, with clear emphasis on feasibility and practical gains like faster performance, lower cost, improved usability, or expanded access, while explicitly excluding clinical trial proposals under this particular R21 announcement.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (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): 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-07. (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 19 149

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