Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 184
This grant opportunity, titled "Research on Bat Immunology (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-184), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program in the health funding category (CFDA 93.855). It uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for exploratory, early-stage, or proof-of-concept research projects that can open up new directions rather than fund large, long-term programs. As the title states, clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, meaning the supported work is focused on preclinical, basic, and mechanistic research rather than testing interventions in humans.
The core purpose of the announcement is to fund research that builds a clearer picture of how bat immune systems work at both the cellular and molecular levels. The FOA is specifically aimed at characterizing the components of bat immunity and understanding protective immune mechanisms, including both innate immunity (the rapid, first-line defenses such as interferon signaling, pattern-recognition pathways, inflammatory responses, and antiviral restriction factors) and adaptive immunity (such as T cell and B cell responses, antibody development, immune memory, and antigen presentation). The emphasis is on bat species that have the potential to host zoonotic pathogens that can spill over into humans, reflecting the public health importance of bats as reservoirs for several virus families and the need to understand why bats can often carry pathogens with limited disease while still enabling transmission risks.
In practical terms, the research supported by this FOA would be expected to generate foundational immunology knowledge and tools relevant to bats, such as identifying key immune cell types and subsets, mapping immune gene expression and regulation, defining signaling pathways involved in antiviral defense, and clarifying how bats balance antiviral responses with inflammation control. Studies could also focus on comparative immunology, for example by contrasting immune features across different bat species, or by comparing bat immune responses to those of other mammals to identify mechanisms that might explain bat tolerance to infection or their capacity to host viruses. The overall public health rationale is that understanding bat immune protection and tolerance can improve scientific understanding of zoonotic emergence and potentially inform future strategies for prevention, surveillance, and countermeasure development, even though this particular FOA does not support human clinical testing.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant 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), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations are permitted to apply.
Key administrative details provided in the source include an original closing date of 2022-03-15 and a creation date of 2021-03-18. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data. Overall, this opportunity is best understood as an NIH-supported, non-clinical, exploratory research grant focused on advancing the science of bat immunology to better understand immune mechanisms relevant to zoonotic infections and human health risk.Apply for PAR 21 184
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research on Bat Immunology (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): 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-15. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Research on Bat Immunology (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-21-184.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program.
What funding category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is in the health funding category.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 93.855.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the R21 mechanism.
What is an R21 intended to support?
Based on the description provided, an R21 is typically intended for exploratory, early-stage, or proof-of-concept research that can open up new directions, rather than supporting large or long-term research programs.
Are clinical trials allowed under this announcement?
No. The announcement explicitly states Clinical Trial Not Allowed, meaning supported work should be preclinical, basic, and mechanistic rather than testing interventions in humans.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to fund research that develops a clearer understanding of how bat immune systems work at both the cellular and molecular levels.
What specific areas of bat immunity are emphasized?
The FOA emphasizes both:
- Innate immunity (rapid, first-line defenses), and
- Adaptive immunity (such as T and B cell responses and immune memory).
What examples of innate immunity topics are mentioned?
Examples include interferon signaling, pattern-recognition pathways, inflammatory responses, and antiviral restriction factors.
What examples of adaptive immunity topics are mentioned?
Examples include T cell and B cell responses, antibody development, immune memory, and antigen presentation.
Which bat species are of greatest interest for this FOA?
The emphasis is on bat species with the potential to host zoonotic pathogens that can spill over into humans.
Why is bat immunology a public health priority in this announcement?
The rationale provided is that bats serve as reservoirs for several virus families, and understanding why bats can often carry pathogens with limited disease while still enabling transmission risks can improve scientific understanding of zoonotic emergence and human health risk.
What kinds of research outputs or deliverables are implied by the description?
The description suggests foundational knowledge and tool-building relevant to bats, such as:
- Identifying key immune cell types and subsets
- Mapping immune gene expression and regulation
- Defining signaling pathways involved in antiviral defense
- Clarifying how bats balance antiviral responses with inflammation control
Does the FOA support comparative immunology studies?
Yes. The description notes that studies could include comparative immunology, such as comparing immune features across different bat species or comparing bat immune responses with those of other mammals.
What broader scientific question does comparative work aim to address?
Comparative work is framed as a way to identify mechanisms that might explain bat tolerance to infection or their capacity to host viruses.
Does this FOA support research that directly tests interventions in humans?
No. The announcement states clinical trials are not allowed, and it is positioned around preclinical, basic, and mechanistic research rather than human testing.
Even if clinical trials are not supported, what is the stated longer-term value of this research?
The description indicates that improved understanding of bat immune protection and tolerance can inform future strategies for prevention, surveillance, and countermeasure development, even though this specific FOA does not support human clinical testing.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes a wide range of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including government entities, educational institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations.
Are U.S. government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, special district governments, and other specified government-related entities.
Are educational institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and independent school districts.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and also explicitly include Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, as well as other Native American tribal organizations.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (with the exclusion note in the provided text related to institutions of higher education in those categories as specified).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses and also includes small businesses.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations as additional eligible applicant types.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly lists U.S. territories or possessions as eligible.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA permits non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations are allowed to apply.
Does the FOA mention eligibility for minority-serving institutions?
Yes. It explicitly highlights several types, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISI institutions.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA lists eligible federal agencies among the highlighted additional eligible applicant types.
Is the award ceiling provided?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided information.
Is the expected number of awards provided?
No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided information.
What is the creation date listed for this opportunity?
The creation date provided is 2021-03-18.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is 2022-03-15.
In one sentence, how should this opportunity be summarized?
It is an NIH R21 funding opportunity supporting non-clinical, exploratory research to advance bat immunology and improve understanding of immune mechanisms relevant to zoonotic infection risk and public health.
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