Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 293
The Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network for Biologics (BPN-Biologics) is an NIH cooperative agreement program designed to move biologic-based therapies for nervous system disorders from the late discovery stage into early clinical development. The opportunity, listed as PAR 24 293, supports a structured pipeline that begins at lead optimization and can extend through Phase I clinical testing (with clinical trials being optional under this announcement). In practical terms, the program is meant to help promising biologic therapeutic candidates clear the major technical and translational hurdles that typically block academic and early-stage industry teams from reaching an investigational, clinic-ready product.
A central focus of the FOA is biologic and biotechnology product modalities rather than small molecules. Supported therapeutic approaches include large biologic macromolecules such as proteins, antibodies, and peptides, as well as gene-based therapies using oligonucleotide platforms and viral vectors. The program also explicitly includes cell therapies and newer or emerging modalities, including microbial and microbiome-based therapies. The unifying theme is that the proposed project should be aimed at developing a tangible therapeutic candidate for a disorder of the nervous system, with development plans and evidence that it can be advanced along a product-oriented path rather than remaining purely exploratory research.
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement using the UG3/UH3 phased structure. That setup typically implies milestone-driven progression, where early activities occur in the UG3 phase and, upon meeting clearly defined performance and development milestones, the project transitions to the UH3 phase for more advanced development work. Because this is a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant), NIH program staff and the broader BPN-Biologics infrastructure are expected to be actively involved in the project’s execution, planning, and decision-making. The design signals that applicants should anticipate regular coordination, rigorous go/no-go milestones, and a development plan aligned with regulatory and manufacturing realities.
One of the defining features of BPN-Biologics is the built-in access to specialized development support that most research teams cannot easily assemble on their own. Awardees work alongside NIH-funded consultants and can also leverage NIH contract research organizations (CROs) that have capabilities in areas such as manufacturing and scale-up, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and Phase I clinical testing. This is essentially a translational accelerator: it combines funding with a coordinated network of expertise and operational capacity so that projects can generate the kinds of datasets and materials needed for IND-enabling work and early clinical evaluation, where appropriate.
The FOA also highlights intellectual property terms that are meant to make the program attractive to groups intending to commercialize or partner their assets. Institutions receiving BPN-Biologics awards retain their own IP rights and also gain assignment of IP rights from the BPN-Biologics contractors for biotherapeutic candidates developed within the program. That arrangement is important because it keeps the awardee in control of patent prosecution and licensing discussions, reducing uncertainty about who owns what when contractor-generated data, materials, or candidate improvements are produced as part of the program-supported development activities.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible entities include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants 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, US territories or possessions, and even non-US (foreign) entities. This breadth suggests NIH is aiming to pull strong therapeutic development projects from a wide range of settings, including institutions and regions that are sometimes underrepresented in advanced translational programs.
Administratively, the opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health and falls under a health-focused portfolio reflected by multiple CFDA numbers (93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.866, 93.867). The original closing date listed is 2027-08-18, indicating a multi-year window for submissions under this announcement. While the source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the overall structure and the use of NIH contractors and consultants suggest these projects are intended to be substantial, tightly managed, and aimed at producing development-grade outputs rather than purely academic publications.
Overall, BPN-Biologics is best understood as a milestone-driven NIH partner program for biologics targeting nervous system disorders, providing both funding and coordinated technical infrastructure to push a therapeutic candidate through lead optimization, preclinical development, and potentially into first-in-human testing. The program’s combination of CRO access, active NIH involvement, and applicant-friendly IP control is designed to reduce common translational bottlenecks and make it easier for awardees to carry successful candidates forward into later-stage clinical development and commercialization.Apply for PAR 24 293
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-08-18.
- 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) - Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network for Biologics (BPN-Biologics) (PAR 24 293)
What is the Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network for Biologics (BPN-Biologics)?
BPN-Biologics is an NIH cooperative agreement program designed to advance biologic-based therapies for nervous system disorders from late-stage discovery into early clinical development. It provides a structured, product-oriented development pipeline intended to help teams overcome common technical and translational hurdles on the path to a clinic-ready therapeutic candidate.
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed as PAR 24 293.
What stage of development is this program meant to support?
The program supports a pipeline that begins at lead optimization and can extend through Phase I clinical testing. The goal is to move a promising biologic therapeutic candidate toward an investigational, clinic-ready product rather than keeping the work at an exploratory research stage.
Are clinical trials required under this announcement?
No. Clinical trials are optional under this announcement, even though the program can support activities that extend through Phase I clinical testing.
What kinds of therapies or modalities does BPN-Biologics focus on?
The central focus is on biologic and biotechnology product modalities rather than small molecules. Supported approaches include large biologic macromolecules such as proteins, antibodies, and peptides, as well as gene-based therapies using oligonucleotide platforms and viral vectors. The program also explicitly includes cell therapies and newer or emerging modalities, including microbial and microbiome-based therapies.
Does this program support small-molecule drug projects?
The FOA emphasizes biologic and biotechnology product modalities rather than small molecules, meaning the program is oriented toward biologics and related modalities.
What types of diseases or indications are targeted?
Projects should be aimed at developing a tangible therapeutic candidate for a disorder of the nervous system.
What is the funding mechanism used by this program?
The program uses a cooperative agreement with a UG3/UH3 phased structure. This is a milestone-driven setup where early activities occur in the UG3 phase and, if defined performance and development milestones are met, the project transitions to the UH3 phase for more advanced development work.
How does a cooperative agreement differ from a standard NIH grant in this program?
Because this is a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant), NIH program staff and the broader BPN-Biologics infrastructure are expected to be actively involved in execution, planning, and decision-making. Applicants should anticipate regular coordination and rigorous go/no-go milestones aligned with regulatory and manufacturing realities.
What kind of support beyond funding does BPN-Biologics provide?
A defining feature is access to specialized development support. Awardees work alongside NIH-funded consultants and can leverage NIH contract research organizations (CROs) with capabilities in areas such as manufacturing and scale-up, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and Phase I clinical testing.
What development activities can the NIH-supported CROs and consultants help with?
Based on the information provided, the available capabilities include manufacturing and scale-up, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and Phase I clinical testing, along with broader consultant support to help advance projects through IND-enabling work and early clinical evaluation where appropriate.
Is BPN-Biologics intended to function like a translational accelerator?
Yes. The program combines funding with coordinated expertise and operational capacity so projects can generate development-grade datasets and materials needed for IND-enabling work and early clinical evaluation when appropriate.
What is the program trying to help applicants overcome?
In practical terms, the program is designed to help promising biologic therapeutic candidates clear major technical and translational hurdles that commonly prevent academic and early-stage industry teams from reaching an investigational, clinic-ready product.
Does the FOA emphasize product-oriented development?
Yes. The unifying theme is that the proposed project should advance a tangible therapeutic candidate for a nervous system disorder with a development plan and evidence supporting a product-oriented path rather than purely exploratory research.
How are milestones used in the UG3/UH3 structure?
The phased structure is described as milestone-driven progression: early development work occurs in the UG3 phase, and progression to the UH3 phase depends on meeting clearly defined performance and development milestones, with go/no-go decision points.
Who owns the intellectual property (IP) developed under BPN-Biologics?
The FOA highlights IP terms intended to support commercialization. Institutions receiving BPN-Biologics awards retain their own IP rights and also gain assignment of IP rights from BPN-Biologics contractors for biotherapeutic candidates developed within the program.
Why are the IP terms significant for commercialization or partnering?
The described arrangement keeps the awardee in control of patent prosecution and licensing discussions, reducing uncertainty about ownership when contractor-generated data, materials, or candidate improvements are produced as part of program-supported development activities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many applicant types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible entities include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other organizations.
Are institutions serving specific communities explicitly included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include eligible federal agencies.
Can organizations in US territories or possessions apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes US territories or possessions as eligible.
Are non-US (foreign) entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates that non-US (foreign) entities are eligible.
Which agency issues this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.866, and 93.867.
What is the listed closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2027-08-18, indicating a multi-year window for submissions under this announcement.
Is there information provided about an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided information does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards.
What kind of outcomes does the program appear to prioritize?
The structure and the use of NIH contractors and consultants suggest projects are intended to be substantial, tightly managed, and aimed at producing development-grade outputs needed for translation (for example, materials and datasets that support IND-enabling work and potential early clinical evaluation), rather than focusing primarily on academic publications.
How should applicants think about planning and coordination under this program?
Applicants should anticipate active NIH involvement, regular coordination, and milestone-based management with rigorous go/no-go decisions. Development plans are expected to align with regulatory and manufacturing realities given the program's clinic-oriented, product development emphasis.
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|---|
| Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 24 295 Funding Number: PAR 24 295 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 296 Funding Number: PAR 24 296 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| CCRP Initiative: NIH Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Translational Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 25 114 Funding Number: PAR 25 114 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 25 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 25 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Transformative Research to Address Health Disparities and Advance Health Equity (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NR 25 003 Funding Number: RFA NR 25 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) Apply for PA 25 424 Funding Number: PA 25 424 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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