Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 22 243

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) - PAR-22-243

What is the Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) funding opportunity?

The Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) program (PAR-22-243) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity that supports multidisciplinary bioengineering projects aimed at advancing biomedical solutions. It is intended to bring together expertise from life sciences and the physical/engineering sciences to address a clearly defined biomedical challenge.

What is the main goal of this program?

The program aims to accelerate real-world progress in biomedical research or clinical practice by supporting projects that integrate and advance promising tools, methods, or techniques. Projects are expected to go beyond proposing new ideas by actively optimizing, validating, translating, or otherwise speeding adoption of bioengineering-enabled solutions for a specific basic, translational, or clinical research problem.

What types of projects or research approaches does BRG support?

This opportunity is intentionally broad and may support several research approaches, including:

• Design-directed projects focused on building or engineering a solution.
• Developmental projects that iterate on and improve an existing technology or approach.
• Discovery-driven projects that use bioengineering methods to uncover new biological insights.
• Hypothesis-driven projects that test defined scientific hypotheses using engineered tools, platforms, or systems.

Across these approaches, the unifying emphasis is on integrative bioengineering and practical outcomes that move a field forward (for example, a better-validated platform, an optimized method, or a translational pathway that accelerates uptake).

What does "integrative bioengineering" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, "integrative bioengineering" refers to a multidisciplinary approach that combines life sciences with physical/engineering sciences in a collaborative way. The project should show cross-disciplinary integration that meaningfully contributes to solving the biomedical challenge, rather than treating disciplines as separate or loosely connected components.

Does this program require teams to be collaborative?

Yes. The core concept is to support small, collaborative teams. The program is designed to bring together complementary expertise across disciplines to address a focused biomedical problem using a multidisciplinary bioengineering approach.

What is the award mechanism for this funding opportunity?

The award mechanism is an NIH R01, which typically supports substantial, multi-year research projects.

Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?

Yes. The funding opportunity is listed as R01 Clinical Trial Optional, meaning applicants may propose either non-clinical-trial research or a clinical trial if it fits the project goals and meets NIH requirements.

What kinds of outcomes does NIH appear to expect from BRG projects?

The opportunity emphasizes outcomes that accelerate progress and adoption, such as integrating, optimizing, validating, translating, or otherwise speeding real-world uptake of tools, methods, or techniques. Examples of aligned outcomes mentioned include a better-validated platform, an optimized method, or a translational pathway that accelerates clinical or research adoption.

Which agency sponsors this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

What are the funding activity categories associated with this opportunity?

The listed funding activity categories are education and health.

Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The program aligns with multiple NIH CFDA numbers: 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, and 93.853. This reflects the cross-cutting nature of bioengineering across NIH institutes and centers.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as expansive and includes a wide range of applicant types, including:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• Tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments)
• Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
• Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories)
• For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
• Small businesses
• Eligible federal agencies
• Regional organizations
• U.S. territories or possessions
• Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations)

Are minority-serving institutions and similar organizations specifically included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types, including:

• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
• Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
• Hispanic-serving Institutions
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
• Faith-based or community-based organizations

Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?

Yes. The information provided states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are included among eligible applicants.

Is this opportunity limited to academic institutions?

No. Eligibility includes many organization types beyond colleges and universities, including various government entities, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, tribal governments and organizations, housing authorities, federal agencies, regional organizations, and foreign organizations.

What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is 2025-09-07.

When was the opportunity record created?

The opportunity record was created on 2022-09-08.

Is there an award ceiling or an expected number of awards listed?

No. The source information does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

How should applicants interpret the missing award ceiling and number of awards?

Because this information is not provided in the source summary, applicants are typically expected to consult the full NIH announcement text and any institute-specific guidance for details such as likely budget expectations and other award-related parameters.

What kind of team or project is this opportunity best suited for?

This opportunity is best suited to teams that can clearly demonstrate cross-disciplinary integration between engineering/physical sciences and life sciences, and that can present a credible plan to refine and validate a tool or technique to accelerate adoption in biomedical research or clinical practice.

Does the program focus only on basic research?

No. The description references projects aimed at a specific basic, translational, or clinical research problem, indicating a wide scope across the research spectrum as long as the project is grounded in integrative bioengineering and practical advancement.

What makes a project a good fit based on the description provided?

A good fit is a project that targets a clearly defined biomedical challenge, uses an integrative bioengineering approach with a small collaborative team, and produces practical outputs that accelerate adoption or impact (such as optimizing, validating, translating, or accelerating use of a technology, platform, method, or technique).