Development of Resources and Technologies for Enhancing Rigor, Reproducibility, and Translatability of Animal Models in Biomedical Research (R01) | PAR 23 040

FAQs: NIH ORIP Grant Opportunity PAR 23-040 (R01)

1) What is this funding opportunity (PAR 23-040)?

PAR 23-040 is an NIH grant opportunity using the R01 Research Project Grant mechanism, run through the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP). The focus is on strengthening animal-based biomedical research by funding technologies, tools, and resources that improve the rigor, reproducibility, and translatability of animal studies.

2) What is the main purpose of the program?

The core purpose is to make animal research more reliable from lab to lab and more predictive of human biology. ORIP is looking for work that helps validate animal models and reduces common sources of variability or bias so that animal-model findings are more robust and broadly useful across the NIH portfolio.

3) What kinds of projects are a good fit?

Projects are expected to produce broadly useful, widely adoptable deliverables such as:

• New technology platforms that improve animal study rigor or model validation
• Standardized validation frameworks for animal models
• Shared resources that can be used by many research groups
• Rigorous benchmarking datasets that help compare methods or models across labs
• Tools or resources that directly address common sources of variability or bias in animal experiments

4) Is this opportunity meant for early-stage or exploratory ideas?

Based on the provided information, this FOA is not aimed at very early, exploratory concepts without feasibility evidence. Applications are expected to be hypothesis-driven and supported by strong preliminary data.

5) What does ORIP mean by improving "rigor and reproducibility"?

The listing emphasizes measurable improvements in how animal studies are conducted and validated. Applicants are expected to clearly explain and demonstrate how the proposed approach will strengthen rigor and reproducibility in animal studies (for example, improving consistency across labs or reducing bias), rather than only advancing a single lab's approach or a narrow model system.

6) Does the project need to be broadly applicable, or can it focus on one disease area?

The project should produce something broadly applicable and not be tailored to a single disease area or one lab's model system. The deliverable is expected to be useful across animal-model research communities and across NIH interests, rather than serving a narrow niche.

7) What scope requirements are mentioned for alignment with ORIP's NIH-wide mission?

To fit ORIP's mission, the proposed studies, models, resources, or technologies must go beyond a narrow niche. The listing says they should do at least one of the following:

• Serve the research interests of multiple NIH Institutes and Centers
• Span multiple organ systems
• Apply to diseases and biological processes that affect multiple organ systems

8) What types of applicants are eligible?

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic (U.S.) applicant types, including:

• State, county, and local governments
• Special districts
• Independent school districts
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Federally recognized Tribal governments
• Other Tribal organizations
• Public housing authorities
• Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
• For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
• Small businesses
• Other eligible entities

9) Are specific institution categories called out as eligible?

Yes. The listing explicitly notes eligibility categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and universities, AANAPISI institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.

10) Can foreign organizations apply as the main applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. The listing also states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

11) Are foreign collaborations allowed at all?

Yes. While foreign institutions cannot be the applicant organization, foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. A U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or work components if they meet NIH policy requirements and are appropriately justified within the project.

12) What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 Research Project Grant mechanism.

13) Which NIH office is administering this program?

The program is run through the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP).

14) How is this opportunity categorized in terms of funding type?

The listing describes it as discretionary funding.

15) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.351.

16) When was this funding opportunity created?

The listing states the opportunity was created on 2022-10-28.

17) What is the closing date shown in the listing?

The listed original closing date is 2025-07-05.

18) Is there an award ceiling or a specified number of awards?

Not in the provided listing. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified, which typically means applicants should consult the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance for limits, expectations, and detailed application instructions.

19) What kind of outcomes or deliverables is ORIP expecting?

The funded work is expected to result in real-world implementation of technologies, tools, or resources that can be adopted by many labs and research areas. Examples mentioned include technology platforms, standardized validation frameworks, shared resources, and benchmarking datasets, all aimed at improving validation, comparison, and reproducibility of animal studies.

20) What makes an application strongly aligned with this FOA, based on the listing?

A strong fit is described as a team and project that can (1) show convincing preliminary evidence, (2) present a clear hypothesis-driven plan, and (3) deliver widely adoptable methods or resources that materially improve how animal studies are designed, validated, compared, and reproduced across different labs and research domains.