Research Program Award (R35) | RFA NS 17 020

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 17 020

The Research Program Award (R35), offered by the National Institutes of Health through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), is designed to give highly accomplished neuroscience investigators longer-term, more stable funding with fewer constraints than traditional project-by-project grants. The core idea is to support an entire, cohesive research program led by a Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) who has already demonstrated an outstanding track record and clear potential to make major, field-shaping contributions to neuroscience. Rather than focusing narrowly on a single defined project, this mechanism is meant to back the broader direction of a lab or research program and give the investigator room to adjust plans as discoveries emerge.

A defining feature of the R35 is its long duration and built-in flexibility. Awards can support a PD/PI for up to 8 years, creating a level of continuity that is difficult to achieve with shorter grant cycles. The funding level is intended to be commensurate with the investigator's recent NINDS support, meaning it generally reflects the scale of what NINDS has recently funded for that PD/PI rather than introducing an unrelated fixed cap in the opportunity text provided. This stability is specifically meant to encourage ambitious science: investigators are expected to use the flexibility to take bigger intellectual risks, pursue more adventurous or unconventional ideas, break new ground, undertake projects that need a longer runway, and extend prior discoveries into new directions without constantly reshaping aims to fit rigid yearly timelines.

All proposed research must fall squarely within the NINDS mission area. In practical terms, that means the supported program needs to align with NINDS priorities in neurological disorders and stroke-related neuroscience, and it must not primarily fit within the traditional scope of another NIH Institute or Center. The announcement is explicit that work outside the NINDS mission, or work typically supported by a different NIH component, will not be considered under this program. This is important because even strong science can be deemed nonresponsive if it is better aligned with another NIH institute's portfolio.

Eligibility is broad across many organization types, including state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also highlights additional applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as eligible federal agencies and faith-based or community-based organizations. Regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions are also included among eligible applicant types.

The foreign eligibility rules are narrow and worth noting. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply either. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant can include certain foreign activities or collaborations when properly justified and consistent with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot be the primary applicant.

From the source details provided, this is a discretionary grant funding opportunity in the health category (CFDA 93.853) administered by NIH under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-17-020. The opportunity listing indicates an original closing date of 2017-05-07, an expected number of awards of 30, and a creation date of 2017-01-19. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided text. Overall, the R35 NINDS Research Program Award is best understood as a mechanism intended to invest in proven neuroscience leaders by supporting the trajectory of their research programs over a long horizon, enabling bolder and more innovative work while ensuring the science remains tightly aligned with the NINDS mission.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Program Award (R35)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-01-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• 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 RFA NS 17 020

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