Limited Competition: Exploratory CTSA Collaborative Innovation Awards (R21) | PAR 16 343

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 343

The Limited Competition: Exploratory CTSA Collaborative Innovation Awards (R21) funding opportunity (PAR 16-343) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant designed to spark highly innovative, early-stage collaborative research within the NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program. It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for exploratory work, meaning the emphasis is on testing bold ideas and generating early evidence rather than delivering a fully mature, large-scale program. The central goal is to assess the utility and feasibility of proposed innovations that could strengthen clinical and translational science, especially innovations that benefit or leverage CTSA program capabilities and partnerships.

This FOA sits within the health funding activity category (CFDA 93.350) and targets projects that are collaborative by design, encouraging teams to work across disciplines, institutions, or CTSA hubs to explore new approaches, tools, methods, or models that could improve translational research processes and outcomes. Because it is explicitly framed as exploratory, applicants are generally expected to propose conceptually strong, high-impact ideas that can be meaningfully evaluated within a limited scope and timeframe, producing actionable findings about whether the innovation works in practice, is scalable, or is worth further investment.

The award ceiling listed is $200,000, indicating a relatively modest budget consistent with feasibility testing, prototyping, pilot data generation, or limited demonstrations of an approach. The FOA was created on June 23, 2016, and the original closing date is shown as January 24, 2018, which signals that this specific posting is historical; applicants interested in similar opportunities would typically look for a current reissue, related CTSA innovation announcements, or other NCATS/NIH mechanisms that support pilot and collaborative translational research.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types commonly permitted under NIH grant programs, including 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as 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, and U.S. territories or possessions, reinforcing that a wide range of domestic entities can participate.

At the same time, the FOA draws clear lines around non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign elements in the project when scientifically justified and compliant with NIH rules, even though a foreign institution cannot serve as the primary applicant.

In practical terms, this opportunity supports small, collaborative, high-risk/high-reward translational science experiments that are meant to quickly determine whether a novel idea is workable and valuable within the CTSA ecosystem. Competitive projects under such an FOA typically make a strong case for innovation, explain the collaboration structure and why it is essential, define what "feasibility" and "utility" mean for the proposed innovation, and present clear, measurable milestones that can be achieved within the R21 budget and scope.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: Exploratory CTSA Collaborative Innovation Awards (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.350.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-06-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (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 16 343

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