The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP), invites applications under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-25-076. This initiative focuses on developing resources, tools, and technologies that advance rigor, reproducibility, and translatability in animal model research within biomedical studies. These research project grants (R01) should be hypothesis-driven and supported by preliminary data. Proposed studies must address broad biomedical research needs, be relevant to multiple NIH Institutes and Centers, or explore multi-system diseases to support ORIP’s NIH-wide mission. Suitable projects should demonstrate the potential to enhance the rigor of animal studies across a variety of fields.

The funding program seeks to address gaps identified during ORIP's “Validation of Animal Models and Tools for Biomedical Research” workshop, which highlighted needs such as systematic phenotyping of models, advanced genetic technologies, and integrative screening across diverse animal organisms. Eligible research projects may include high-efficiency gene editing, biosensors, high-resolution imaging, AI-driven data integration, and humanized model development, among other innovative technologies. Importantly, projects that focus on specific diseases or areas relevant to only one NIH Institute or Center will be deemed ineligible.

Applications are unrestricted in budget size, though projects requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year must obtain ORIP approval six weeks prior to submission. Awards may cover a period of up to five years. All applicants must comply with NIH’s policies on data management and sharing, as well as registration requirements with SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. These registrations, which can take up to six weeks, must be complete prior to application submission.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, tribal governments, and various local and state entities, among others. International organizations and components outside the U.S. are ineligible to apply, though foreign components in partnership with U.S. organizations may participate. The NIH encourages applications from institutions serving underrepresented communities, such as Hispanic-serving institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Applications will undergo a two-level review process, beginning with scientific merit assessment by the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and concluding with advisory council review. Key evaluation criteria include the significance of research for advancing current knowledge, innovation, rigor, feasibility, and the adequacy of expertise and resources. Additionally, peer reviewers will consider aspects such as human subjects protection, vertebrate animal involvement, and biohazard controls if applicable. Final funding decisions will depend on scientific merit, funding availability, and alignment with NIH priorities.

The first application due date is February 5, 2025, with subsequent cycles following NIH standard deadlines. Earliest start dates for funded projects will be in December 2025. Potential applicants are advised to consult NIH staff regarding responsiveness to the funding announcement. For additional information and assistance, applicants may reach out to NIH’s eRA Service Desk, ORIP Scientific contacts, or Grants.gov support.