Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 157
The Awards Supporting Cutting-Edge Technologies for Translational Science (ASCETTS) program is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity administered by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) under opportunity number PAR-25-157. It uses the R21 mechanism and is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trials Not Allowed," meaning the proposed work should focus on technology development and related feasibility studies rather than testing interventions in human participants as clinical trials. The overall purpose is to push forward investigator-initiated, highly innovative technologies that tackle persistent barriers, limitations, and bottlenecks in translational science, with a particular emphasis on improving the therapeutic development process. NCATS is aiming for technologies that can materially increase the speed, efficiency, and success rate of moving potential treatments from early ideas toward real-world medical products, aligned with its broader goal of delivering more treatments to more people faster.
This NOFO is designed for early-stage proof-of-concept work that is intentionally high-risk but potentially high-reward. In practical terms, it supports exploratory studies that test whether a bold technical idea is feasible, and it encourages applicants to develop and/or prototype novel tools, platforms, methods, or enabling technologies that could reshape how therapeutic development is done. Competitive projects are expected to do more than incremental improvements; they should either break new ground or extend existing technologies into genuinely new directions or applications. The emphasis is on technologies that can meaningfully improve steps in the therapeutic development pipeline, such as making key processes more predictive, scalable, reproducible, cost-effective, or time-efficient.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also 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.
At the same time, the NOFO draws clear boundaries around foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components may be permitted if they fit NIH's definition of a foreign component under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means certain project activities may occur outside the U.S. under a U.S. applicant organization when well-justified and compliant with NIH policy.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health funding category (CFDA/Assistance Listing 93.350) offered by NIH. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2025-06-19 and a creation date of 2024-12-10. While the provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the core message is that NCATS is looking to invest in enabling technologies at a stage where strong preliminary evidence may be limited, but where the idea is compelling, the technical approach is thoughtful, and the potential downstream impact on translational science and therapeutic development is substantial.Apply for PAR 25 157
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Awards Supporting Cutting-Edge Technologies for Translational Science (ASCETTS) (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" 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 2024-12-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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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ASCETTS (PAR-25-157) Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the ASCETTS program?
The Awards Supporting Cutting-Edge Technologies for Translational Science (ASCETTS) program is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity administered by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). It supports investigator-initiated projects proposing highly innovative technologies intended to overcome persistent barriers, limitations, and bottlenecks in translational science, with a strong emphasis on improving the therapeutic development process.
2) What is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity number is PAR-25-157.
3) Which NIH Institute/Center administers this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at NIH.
4) What grant mechanism does ASCETTS use?
ASCETTS uses the NIH R21 mechanism.
5) Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?
No. The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trials Not Allowed." Proposed work should focus on technology development and related feasibility studies rather than testing interventions in human participants as clinical trials.
6) What is the overall purpose of the program?
The program aims to advance cutting-edge, highly innovative enabling technologies that can materially increase the speed, efficiency, and success rate of moving potential treatments from early ideas toward real-world medical products. This aligns with NCATS' broader goal of delivering more treatments to more people faster.
7) What stage of work is this opportunity designed to support?
This NOFO is designed for early-stage proof-of-concept work. It supports exploratory studies that test whether a bold technical idea is feasible, and it is intentionally high-risk but potentially high-reward.
8) What kinds of projects are considered competitive?
Competitive projects are expected to go beyond incremental improvements. They should either break new ground or extend existing technologies into genuinely new directions or applications, with clear relevance to translational science and therapeutic development.
9) What types of activities or outputs does the program encourage?
The program encourages applicants to develop and/or prototype novel tools, platforms, methods, or enabling technologies that could reshape how therapeutic development is done, supported by feasibility-focused exploratory studies.
10) What aspects of the therapeutic development pipeline does NCATS want to improve?
The emphasis is on technologies that can meaningfully improve steps in the therapeutic development pipeline by making key processes more predictive, scalable, reproducible, cost-effective, or time-efficient.
11) What is meant by "high-risk, high-reward" in this context?
Within the information provided, "high-risk, high-reward" refers to early-stage proof-of-concept efforts where strong preliminary evidence may be limited, but the idea is compelling, the technical approach is thoughtful, and the potential downstream impact on translational science and therapeutic development is substantial.
12) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and government entities, 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
- Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
13) Are any additional applicant categories specifically highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity also highlights eligibility for 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
- U.S. territories or possessions
14) Can foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply.
15) Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component as part of its application?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply.
16) Are any foreign components allowed at all?
Foreign components may be permitted if they fit NIH's definition of a foreign component under the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In general terms (as described in the provided information), this means certain project activities may occur outside the U.S. under a U.S. applicant organization when well-justified and compliant with NIH policy.
17) What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health funding category offered by NIH.
18) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 93.350.
19) What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2025-06-19.
20) When was this opportunity created (as shown in the record)?
The creation date shown is 2024-12-10.
21) Is the award ceiling stated in the provided information?
No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling.
22) Does the provided information say how many awards NIH expects to make?
No. The provided source data does not specify the expected number of awards.
23) What is the main message for applicants, given the limited details on award size and counts?
The core message is that NCATS is looking to invest in enabling technologies at a stage where strong preliminary evidence may be limited, but where the concept is compelling, the technical approach is thoughtful, and the potential downstream impact on translational science and therapeutic development is substantial.
24) Does this opportunity prioritize incremental technology improvements?
No. The opportunity emphasizes that projects should do more than incremental improvements; they should break new ground or extend existing technologies into genuinely new directions or applications.
25) What should applicants keep in mind about project scope given "Clinical Trials Not Allowed"?
Applicants should shape the proposed work around technology development, tool/platform/method prototyping, and feasibility testing, rather than proposing clinical trial testing of interventions in human participants.
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