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

Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) (PAR-24-043) FAQs

What is the Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) funding opportunity (PAR-24-043)?

BPN (PAR-24-043) is an NIH cooperative agreement designed to help neuroscience researchers advance small-molecule therapeutic projects for nervous system disorders from early discovery into human clinical testing. It is a reissue of PAR-18-546 and is structured to be practical and milestone-driven, with the goal of producing clinically viable, IND-ready drug candidates and (optionally) supporting Phase I clinical studies.

What kinds of projects does BPN support?

BPN supports small-molecule therapeutic projects aimed at treating disorders of the nervous system. The program is focused on translating promising chemistry and biology into a development candidate that is ready for IND-enabling studies and, when appropriate, first-in-human Phase I clinical testing.

What is the main goal of the program?

The main goal is to move a small-molecule project from early discovery steps to an IND-ready candidate by combining an applicant teams disease biology expertise with NIH-supported translational drug development resources. If a project reaches readiness, the program also allows progression into Phase I clinical testing.

How is BPN different from a standard NIH research grant?

BPN is a cooperative agreement, meaning the work is collaborative and milestone-driven, with a defined division of roles between the awardee team and NIH-supported development infrastructure. Awardees conduct specialized, hypothesis-anchored work in their labs, while many standard drug development functions can be supported through NIH-funded consultants and NIH contract research organizations (CROs).

What does "cooperative agreement" mean here in practical terms?

In practical terms, it means the awardee institution conducts key disease- and target-specific scientific work, while also working collaboratively with NIH-supported resources for many development activities. The intent is to reduce common bottlenecks and create a realistic pathway to IND-enabling studies and potential Phase I testing.

What responsibilities stay with the awardee institution and research team?

The awardee team remains responsible for the disease- and target-specific work that is uniquely anchored in their labs. Examples described include developing or running specialized assays, validating mechanisms, using proprietary or specialized animal models, and applying other custom research tools tied to the therapeutic hypothesis.

What development resources can awardees access through NIH-supported infrastructure?

Awardees can collaborate with NIH-funded consultants and access NIH contract research organizations (CROs) for many standard but resource-intensive drug development functions. The described CRO-enabled capabilities include medicinal chemistry support, pharmacokinetics and ADME, toxicology planning and execution, formulation development, chemical synthesis and scale-up (including GMP manufacturing when needed), and Phase I clinical testing support.

What is meant by "milestone-driven" in this program?

The program is designed around practical development progress, where projects advance through defined stages (Discovery and Development) toward a clinically viable candidate. Progression is framed as dependent on successfully achieving development objectives such as optimization in Discovery and IND-enabling readiness in Development.

What are the main entry points into the program?

BPN allows entry at two main points based on project maturity: (1) entry at the Discovery stage for projects optimizing hits/leads, or (2) direct entry at the Development stage for projects that already have a more advanced candidate and are ready to focus on IND-enabling work and Phase I readiness.

What happens during the Discovery stage?

During Discovery, the emphasis is on optimizing hit or lead compounds through iterative medicinal chemistry and testing to improve potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetic properties, and overall developability. Successful projects may transition from Discovery into the Development stage.

What happens during the Development stage?

During Development, the goal is to advance a finalized development candidate through IND-enabling studies. This includes toxicology and manufacturing steps required for regulatory submission and can extend (when appropriate) to Phase I first-in-human clinical testing support.

Can a project start directly in the Development stage?

Yes. Projects with 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.

Does this funding opportunity require a clinical trial?

No. The FOA is labeled "UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional," meaning clinical trial activities are allowed but not mandatory. Phase I clinical studies may be supported when a project reaches appropriate readiness.

What does "UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional" indicate?

It indicates a phased cooperative agreement structure where an initial phase supports earlier work and a later phase supports more advanced development. Clinical trial activities are permitted within this structure but are not required for every project.

How does BPN help address common translational bottlenecks?

The structure is meant to reduce typical barriers faced by academic or small-company neuroscience programs by combining direct funding for work in the awardees labs with access to NIH-supported consultants and CRO-based development services for standard development tasks like ADME/PK, toxicology, formulation, manufacturing scale-up, and Phase I support.

What intellectual property (IP) rights do awardees retain?

Awardee institutions retain their own intellectual property rights. In addition, awardee institutions receive assignment of IP rights that arise from work performed by BPN contractors, which can simplify patent prosecution and downstream licensing negotiations.

Why does assignment of contractor-generated IP matter?

Because it gives the awardee institution control over patent prosecution and downstream licensing negotiations for drug candidates developed with contractor contributions. This can make commercialization and partnering decisions more straightforward later.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many applicant types, including: 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 (including small businesses and for-profits other than small businesses); and other categories described in the opportunity.

Are institutions serving specific communities explicitly included as eligible?

Yes. The FOA 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, and other specified groups.

Are federal agencies eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes eligible federal agencies.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible groups.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights U.S. territories or possessions as eligible.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights non-U.S. (foreign) organizations as eligible.

Which agency sponsors this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized as a discretionary cooperative agreement in health-related assistance listings, with multiple CFDA/assistance numbers referenced in the source data.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is 2026-08-18.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2023-11-02.

Is the maximum award amount (ceiling) provided?

No. The ceiling amount is not specified in the provided source data.

Is the expected number of awards provided?

No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source data.

What types of support can awardees combine under BPN?

Based on the provided description, awardees can combine direct funding for work performed in their own labs with access to NIH-supported consultants and CRO-based development services supporting standard drug development activities, up to IND-enabling work and (optionally) Phase I clinical testing.

What is the overall value proposition of BPN for translational neuroscience teams?

BPN is positioned as a translational bridge for investigators with compelling neuroscience targets and early chemical matter (or a more advanced candidate) who need a resourced pathway to reach IND-enabling studies and potentially first-in-human testing while maintaining institutional control of the resulting drug candidates.