Exploratory/Developmental Investigations on Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (R21) | PAR 17 333

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 333

The Exploratory/Developmental Investigations on Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (R21) funding opportunity (PAR 17-333) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program designed to support early-stage, innovative research on primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDDs). It is structured as an R21 mechanism, which is generally used for exploratory or developmental projects that test new ideas, generate preliminary data, or open up new directions in a field rather than funding large, mature research programs. The overall intent is to push forward creative, higher-risk concepts that could meaningfully improve how PIDDs are detected, understood at the molecular level, and treated.

The FOA places particular emphasis on ex vivo studies using human specimens, meaning studies performed outside the body on patient-derived samples such as blood, immune cells, tissue, or other clinically obtained biospecimens. Alongside human specimen work, the announcement also highlights research using existing animal models or the creation and validation of new animal models that better capture key features of human primary immunodeficiencies. The science focus is broad but centered on practical and mechanistic advances, including novel clinical strategies for detecting disease, approaches to identify or confirm molecular and genetic causes, and the development of innovative therapies. In plain terms, the program is meant to help researchers connect patient biology and model systems to improved diagnostics and treatment concepts for these often rare and complex immune disorders.

A notable feature of the FOA is its encouragement of studies that leverage existing clinical resources, particularly clinical data and biospecimens already maintained in primary immunodeficiency registries, consortium databases, and repositories. This signals interest in projects that can efficiently answer meaningful questions by using established datasets and sample collections, such as genotype-phenotype analyses, natural history studies, biomarker discovery, immune profiling tied to outcomes, or analyses that identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from specific therapeutic strategies. By calling out registries and consortia, NIH is also implicitly encouraging collaborative, data-driven work that can overcome small sample sizes typical of rare diseases.

In terms of eligibility, the opportunity is open to a wide range of domestic applicant organizations. Eligible applicants include various levels of U.S. government (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. Education-related applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education. The FOA also allows nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, as long as they are not institutions of higher education), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses. The announcement also explicitly lists several institution types as “other eligible applicants,” including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

There are specific restrictions related to non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, “foreign components” are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain types of foreign collaboration or performance sites when justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though a foreign organization cannot be the main applicant.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area, with CFDA numbers 93.855 and 93.856. NIH is the sponsoring agency. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, indicating the upper limit of support under the FOA (as presented in the provided source data). The FOA record shows a creation date of July 21, 2017, and an original closing date of July 16, 2019, which is important for historical context if someone is trying to track the lifecycle of the announcement or locate related reissues or successor opportunities.

Overall, this R21 FOA is aimed at catalyzing new, potentially field-shifting work in primary immunodeficiency research, with a strong preference for studies grounded in human specimens, improved or novel animal models, and analyses that take advantage of existing registry and consortium resources. The emphasis is on innovative approaches that can clarify disease mechanisms, strengthen diagnostic strategies, and lay groundwork for new therapies, especially in a research area where patient numbers can be limited and where shared datasets and biospecimen repositories can substantially accelerate progress.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory/Developmental Investigations on Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855, 93.856.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-07-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-07-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• 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 17 333

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