Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 286

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 286

The Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) funding opportunity (R21, Clinical Trial Optional), listed as PA 18 286 and administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is designed to support early-stage, exploratory bioengineering projects that are not yet ready for large-scale funding but have the potential to open up important new directions in biomedical research. The central aim is to help researchers establish the feasibility of a new technology, technique, or method, particularly when the work is inherently high-risk but could deliver high-impact outcomes. This program is built for situations where preliminary data may be minimal or even absent, as long as the concept is compelling and the approach is well-justified.

A key emphasis of the opportunity is multidisciplinary innovation. Applicants are encouraged to propose research that brings together tools, ideas, or methods across fields to tackle a biomedical challenge in a fresh way. The FOA explicitly welcomes different scientific styles and starting points, including hypothesis-driven studies (testing a specific idea), discovery-driven work (seeking patterns or signals without a single narrow hypothesis), developmental efforts (advancing prototypes, processes, or platforms), and design-directed research (engineering-centered projects focused on building and iterating solutions). In practice, this means a project might focus on proving a new biosensing platform can reliably detect a biomarker, demonstrating a novel imaging or signal-processing method in a biological setting, or validating an unproven bioengineering strategy that could later scale into a larger, more definitive research program.

Because this is an R21 mechanism, the intent is generally to fund shorter, early developmental projects that generate decisive feasibility data and reduce uncertainty. The opportunity is meant to provide the kind of initial evidence that can justify more extensive follow-on studies and future grant applications. The listing includes an award ceiling of $200,000, signaling that budgets are oriented toward pilot work, proof-of-concept studies, initial prototype development, and targeted experiments that clarify whether a new approach is technically and scientifically viable.

The “Clinical Trial Optional” designation indicates that applicants may propose projects that include a clinical trial component if it is appropriate for the stage and goals of the work, but a clinical trial is not required. This flexibility is useful for bioengineering projects that may span from benchtop feasibility through early human evaluation, depending on readiness, risk, and the nature of the proposed technology. Applicants still need to ensure that, if they do include a clinical trial, the design and oversight are appropriate for NIH expectations and human subjects protections.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and a wide range of nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those categories). The FOA also allows for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses to apply, along with “other” applicants as defined by NIH. In addition, the opportunity explicitly highlights expanded eligibility for organizations 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, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This reflects an intent to encourage participation across diverse institutional settings and communities, including those that are often underrepresented in federal research funding.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under activity areas that include education, health, and social services, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.279, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.846, 93.853, 93.865), indicating that multiple NIH institutes or programs may align with the scientific scope depending on the topic. The source information shows a creation date of 2017-11-13 and an original closing date of 2019-01-07, which is important for historical context; anyone interested in applying would need to verify the current status of PA 18 286 (or any active reissued version) and confirm current submission dates and requirements through NIH and Grants.gov.

Overall, this FOA is best suited for teams proposing bold bioengineering ideas that could reshape how a biomedical problem is approached, but where the work still needs an early, focused push to prove feasibility. The strongest applications under this type of announcement typically make a clear case for why the approach is novel and multidisciplinary, why the risk is justified by the potential payoff, what specific feasibility milestones will be achieved within the limited R21 scope and budget, and how the resulting data will position the project for larger future studies and sustained impact.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.846, 93.853, 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-07. (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 PA 18 286

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