Assay development and screening for discovery of chemical probes, drugs or immunomodulators (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
About
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) solicits applications for identification of small molecules that function to elucidate the biology of disease as chemical probes or function as agonists or antagonists of disease target(s) for therapy or immunotherapy. The NOFO is intended to support discovery research for the identification of validated hits relevant to health-related outcomes of participating NIH Institutes. Stages of discovery research covered by this NOFO include: 1) assay development for specific biological targets and disease mechanisms relevant to the mission of participating NIH Institutes with the intent to screen for small molecule compounds that show potential as probes for use in advancing knowledge about the known targets, identifying new targets, or as pre-therapeutic leads; 2) screen implementation high throughput target-focused approaches or moderate throughput phenotypic- and fragment-based approaches to identify initial screening hits; 3) hit validation, including implementation of secondary assays that are orthogonal to the primary assay, advanced cheminformatics analysis and initial medicinal chemistry inspection to prioritize the hit set, and follow-up assays to characterize mode and mechanism of action of the validated hits; 4) hit-to-lead optimization, including SAR to optimize target engagement, selectivity and to minimize chemical liabilities, ADME, PK and PD studies, and, if appropriate, in vivo mo.
The Assay Development and Screening for Discovery of Chemical Probes, Drugs or Immunomodulators (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) grant, offered through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and participating NIH Institutes, is designed for researchers and organizations seeking to identify and validate small molecules for therapeutic and research applications. This funding opportunity supports discovery research across multiple stages: assay development for biological targets, high-throughput and phenotypic screening implementation, hit validation through secondary assays and cheminformatics analysis, and hit-to-lead optimization including structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, ADME profiling, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characterization. Eligible applicants include HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Researchers should apply if they aim to develop chemical probes to elucidate disease biology, discover drug candidates functioning as agonists or antagonists of disease targets, or identify immunomodulatory compounds. This grant explicitly excludes clinical trial components, making it ideal for pre-clinical discovery and validation phases. Organizations committed to advancing knowledge about disease targets and developing therapeutically relevant compounds should consider this opportunity to secure federal funding for rigorous drug discovery research.
Funding Facts
● Applications openDeadline
September 7, 2026
Who can apply
Last verified July 5, 2026 · Source: Grants.gov
Grant Details
Funding Range
Varies by cycle and project scope
Deadline
2026-09-07
Grant Type
federal
Application Cycle
Annual (Deadline: September 7, 2026)
Best For
Academic institutions, HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, non-profit research organizations, and federal agencies conducting drug discovery and chemical probe development
Eligibility
Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Govern
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for Assay development and screening for discovery of chemical probes, drugs or immunomodulators (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
Eligible applicants include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, and eligible federal government agencies. For a complete and current list of eligible entity types and any specific institutional requirements, visit the official NCI Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on grants.nih.gov.
How much funding does Assay development and screening for discovery of chemical probes, drugs or immunomodulators (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) provide?
The specific funding amounts are not listed in available summary information. Funding typically varies based on the project scope, institution type, and review outcomes. Contact the National Cancer Institute directly or consult the official NOFO on grants.nih.gov for current funding ranges and award expectations for this specific grant cycle.
How do I apply for Assay development and screening for discovery of chemical probes, drugs or immunomodulators (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
Applications are submitted through the NIH grants portal (grants.nih.gov). You will need to prepare a detailed research proposal outlining your assay development, screening strategy, validation approach, and optimization plans. Ensure your institution is registered with the NIH and that all required documentation is submitted before the deadline of September 7, 2026. Review the complete NOFO on grants.nih.gov for specific formatting requirements, review criteria, and submission instructions.
What can Assay development and screening for discovery of chemical probes, drugs or immunomodulators (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding be used for?
Funding supports discovery research across four key stages: (1) assay development for specific biological targets and disease mechanisms; (2) screen implementation using high-throughput or phenotypic/fragment-based approaches; (3) hit validation including secondary assays, cheminformatics analysis, and medicinal chemistry evaluation; and (4) hit-to-lead optimization including SAR studies, ADME profiling, and PK/PD characterization. Note that clinical trials are not permitted under this funding mechanism. Visit grants.nih.gov for the complete scope of allowable expenses and any budget limitations.
Last updated: July 5, 2026