The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a Notice of Intent to publish a forthcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "CCRP Initiative: Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Therapeutics Discovery and Early-Stage Development (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." This notice serves as a prelude to a formal solicitation of applications, allowing prospective applicants ample time to establish collaborations and design robust, responsive research proposals. The initiative will focus on supporting early-stage development of therapeutic agents aimed at mitigating health consequences of toxic chemical exposure.

The objective of the planned NOFO is to facilitate the advancement of countermeasure therapeutics under the framework of the CounterACT program. This initiative is particularly focused on toxic chemical threats and their associated health risks. Projects supported by this FOA are expected to contribute to the discovery and preclinical development of medical countermeasures that can be deployed in emergency scenarios involving chemical exposures. The program will use a phased cooperative agreement mechanism, specifically the UG3/UH3 structure, which allows for milestone-driven transitions from discovery to early-stage development phases.

This opportunity will be a cooperative agreement, emphasizing close collaboration between the funded investigators and NIH staff. It does not allow for clinical trials, indicating the focus remains on preclinical and early-stage therapeutic development. The CounterACT program reflects a national priority in safeguarding public health against chemical threats, reinforcing the need for innovative, practical solutions to such emerging health challenges.

Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, public and private higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and other for-profit organizations. The notice also alludes to additional eligibility conditions, as outlined in the full NOFO when published.

Key application milestones have been forecasted: the notice is expected to post in early March 2025, with applications due in mid-October 2025. Award announcements are anticipated in June 2026, with project start dates set for July 2026. This long lead time allows applicants to prepare thorough, collaborative, and competitive proposals that align with the CounterACT initiative’s objectives.

At this stage, specific award amounts and the total available funding are not disclosed. However, the phased UG3/UH3 model implies multiple awards with structured funding based on achieving developmental milestones. Additional information and full application instructions will be available upon the official FOA’s publication. Interested applicants should monitor NIH and Grants.gov for updates.