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HCN Grants Est. 2026
No. PAR-25-211 · National Institutes of Health
Open

Enhancing Mechanistic Research on Precision Probiotic Therapies (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)

Dealbreakers No cost share required Audit: not stated
Not reimbursement-only
“Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.” — From the announcement

At a glance

This funding opportunity supports innovative mechanistic research on precision probiotic therapies, including studies that identify person-specific features linked to probiotic response and then test those factors for causality. The first phase (R61) supports 1 to 2 years of observational or secondary data analysis studies, and the second phase (R33) supports mechanistic studies in animals or humans; clinical trials aimed at efficacy or effectiveness are not supported. The combined award can last up to 5 years and the budget for both phases cannot exceed $350,000 in direct costs per year. Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofits, universities, governments, tribal entities, faith-based or community-based organizations, for-profit organizations, small businesses, and federal entities; foreign organizations and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, though foreign components are allowed. The notice does not state a cost-share requirement.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Education
  • Health
  • Research & Discovery
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Biomedical & Disease Research
Official description from grants.gov

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to support highly innovative mechanistic research to accelerate precision probiotic interventions using a milestone-driven, biphasic award mechanism, R61/R33 Phased Innovation Award. Specifically, this NOFO solicits applications that will characterize person-specific features affecting probiotic responses to identify subgroups of probiotic responders and to enhance probiotic clinical outcomes. The ultimate goal of this NOFO is to identify, understand, and develop strategies to address barriers in precision probiotic therapies to account for the heterogenicity in humans that causes inconsistent probiotic responses. The first phase, funded by the R61, will providing for up to 2 years to identify unique host biological patterns (e.g., native microbiome, immune system, gender, diet, age, genetic background, lifestyle, and health history) that are correlated with heterogeneity of probiotic clinical effects using observational or secondary data analysis studies. The second phase, funded under the R33, will support studies to assess the ability of the unique patterns determined in the R61 phase to detect the improvement of probiotic responsiveness in rigorously designed mechanistic studies in relevant animal models or in human subjects. The combined R61/R33 should not exceed 5 years. Transition from the R61 to the R33 phase of the award will be administratively reviewed and will be determined based on successful completion of Transition Milestones that need to be clearly specified in the R61 phase application. Support for a single phased award that does not need the R61 Exploratory phase is available in the companion (R33) NOFO, PAR-AT-24-XXX (TEMP-25413).

Who can apply

  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide