NINDS Efficacy and Exploratory Clinical Trials (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Required)
Investigator-initiated NINDS clinical trials for neurological disorders and related care across the lifespan, including early/mid exploratory trials and Phase 3 or comparative effectiveness trials, for eligible domestic or foreign applicants without foreign subawards.
⚑ Clinical trial required. · Foreign organizations may apply, but foreign subawards/subcontracts are not allowed; foreign components are allowed. · No awards if the application includes foreign subawards/subcontracts. · Award mechanism is UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement.
This is a clinical-trial NOFO in neurology, centered on biomedical intervention testing rather than the team’s survey, policy, risk-perception, warning, or education-evaluation lines. IPPRA might be adjacent only in a very indirect health-policy sense, but none of the listed researchers’ core programs fit NINDS clinical efficacy trials.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-09-01
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 70 strong | technical depth: substantial; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | peripheral portfolio topic: public_health; signature methods: community engaged, policy analysis; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds applied research; biomedical core — IPPRA health lane is communication/crisis/policy (capped); clinical-trial/biomedical core — IPPRA angle is policy/community (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | funds applied research; deep-tech content |
Description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages applications for investigator-initiated clinical trials to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). These trials must address questions within the mission and research interests of the NINDS and may include studies of small molecules, biologics, devices as well as surgical, behavioral, diet-based, or rehabilitation therapies. Studies addressing neurological diseases and care across the lifespan are highly encouraged. This notice invites both early- and middle-phase exploratory clinical trials as well as later phase confirmatory Phase 3 or comparative effectiveness clinical trials.
Eligibility
Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International CollaborationsNon-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.NIH will no longer issue awards (i.e., new, renewal, or non-competing continuation) to domestic or foreign entities that involve foreign subawards/subcontracts. All NIH-funded research involving foreign subawards/subcontracts must be submitted in response to a NOFO that is specifically designated for funded international collaborations. See NIH Grants Policy Statement 16.8 Collaborative International Research Awards.Applications involving foreign subawards/subcontracts submitted in response to this NOFO will be deemed noncompliant and will not be considered for funding. This policy applies to all monetary international collaborations resulting in foreign subawards/subcontracts, however, it does not preclude unfunded international collaborations or foreign components, funding for foreign consultants, or procurement of unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: National Institutes of Health <Exploratory_Efficacy_Trials@ninds.nih.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · National Institutes of Health conventions SEE AN NIH EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — National Institutes of Health's document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.