Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development of Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 24 043

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 043

The Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) funding opportunity (PAR-24-043) is an NIH cooperative agreement designed to help neuroscience researchers move small-molecule therapeutic projects for nervous system disorders from early discovery steps into human clinical testing. It is a reissue of PAR-18-546 and supports projects that aim to generate clinically viable drug candidates by combining the applicant teams scientific expertise in disease biology with the NIH programs translational drug development resources. The overall intent is practical and milestone-driven: take promising chemistry and biology and turn it into an IND-ready candidate, with the option to proceed through Phase I clinical studies.

A key feature of BPN is the division of labor and resources between the awardee institution and NIH-supported development infrastructure. Investigators and their teams remain responsible for the disease- and target-specific work that is uniquely anchored in their labs, such as developing or running specialized assays, validating mechanisms, using proprietary or specialized animal models, and applying other custom research tools tied to the therapeutic hypothesis. At the same time, awardees work collaboratively with NIH-funded consultants and can access NIH contract research organizations (CROs) for many of the standard but resource-intensive drug development functions. These CRO-enabled capabilities include medicinal chemistry support, pharmacokinetics and ADME work, toxicology planning and execution, formulation development, chemical synthesis and scale-up (including GMP manufacturing when needed), and Phase I clinical testing support. In practice, this structure is meant to reduce the typical bottlenecks that prevent academic or small-company neuroscience programs from reaching the clinic.

The program allows entry at two main points depending on project maturity. Projects can start in the Discovery stage, where the emphasis is on optimizing hit or lead compounds through iterative medicinal chemistry and testing to improve potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetic properties, and overall developability. From there, successful projects can transition into the Development stage, where the goal becomes advancing one finalized development candidate through IND-enabling studies, including the toxicology and manufacturing steps required for regulatory submission, and potentially into Phase I first-in-human clinical testing. Alternatively, projects that already have a more advanced candidate can enter directly at the Development stage and follow a shorter path focused on IND-enabling toxicology and Phase I readiness and execution. The FOA is labeled "UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional," reflecting a phased cooperative agreement structure where an initial phase supports earlier work and a later phase supports more advanced development, with clinical trial activities permitted but not mandatory depending on the project and readiness.

Intellectual property terms are another important aspect of the BPN model. Awardee institutions retain their own IP rights, and they also receive assignment of IP rights that arise from work performed by BPN contractors. This matters because it gives the awardee institution control over patent prosecution and downstream licensing negotiations for drug candidates developed with BPN-supported contractor contributions, which can simplify commercialization and partnering decisions later.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants, reflecting the programs aim to pull strong neuroscience ideas from across academia, government, nonprofits, and industry. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city, 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 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 categories. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, US territories or possessions, and non-US (foreign) organizations. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary cooperative agreement in health-related assistance listings (multiple CFDA/assistance numbers are provided in the source data).

Administratively, the opportunitys original closing date listed is 2026-08-18, and it was created on 2023-11-02. While the ceiling amount and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, the structure and description make clear that awardees can combine direct funding for work in their own labs with access to NIH-supported consultants and CRO-based development services. Taken together, the BPN opportunity is best viewed as a translational bridge: it is meant for investigators who have compelling neuroscience targets and early chemical matter (or a more advanced candidate) and need a realistic, resourced pathway to reach IND-enabling studies and potentially first-in-human testing without giving up institutional control of the resulting drug candidates.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development of 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): 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-18. (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.

Apply for PAR 24 043

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