NIH funding for innovative screening approaches and therapies for newborn disorders

By Maha David, Project Officer - GO

NIH is launching two funding opportunities to support research on new screening methods and therapies for conditions already in newborn screening, as well as severe genetic disorders that could benefit from early detection, essential for expanding screening panels. 

Applications are possible through the NIH R01 (PAR-25-265) and R21 (PAR-25-266) grant mechanisms. The R01 activity code is for long-term projects or projects aimed at advancing knowledge in established fields, while the R21 activity code supports exploratory or innovative projects that explore new areas, extend existing discoveries, or generate pilot data for larger studies. 

• R01: the award budget is not limited but must reflect the actual needs of the project. The maximum project period is 5 years. Three deadlines per year are available on February 5, June 5 and October 5 on 2025, 2026 and 2027.  

• R21: the maximum award budget is $275,000 for up to 2 years. Three deadlines per year are available on February 16, June 16 and October 16 on 2025, 2026 and 2027.  

Detailed objectives and specific areas of supported research topics are described in the full notices, PAR-25-265 and PAR-25-266. It is important to carefully read the notice you are interested in before starting the preparation of your proposal. Despite the current situation at the NIH following President Trump's inauguration, foreigners can still submit proposals. The only potential risk at this time is a delay in the evaluation process. 

These funding opportunities align with Priority 4 of the Institut Pasteur's new strategic plan: Health & Diseases at the Extremes of Life - Mother-Child Health 

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you are interested at gointernational[at]pasteur.fr. We will be more than happy to help you understand NIH expectations and prepare your application.