Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development of Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 20 122

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 122

The Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) funding opportunity (PAR-20-122) is an NIH cooperative agreement designed to help neuroscience researchers push promising small molecule therapeutics for nervous system disorders far enough along the drug development pipeline to reach first-in-human testing. It is a reissue of PAR-18-546 and focuses specifically on projects where there is a plausible path from early discovery through the key development steps needed for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and, potentially, Phase I clinical evaluation. The overarching goal is to bridge the common gap between academic discovery and industry-grade development by combining investigator-driven biology and disease expertise with access to professional drug development capabilities.

A central feature of BPN is the division of responsibilities and resources. Awardees continue to lead and perform the disease- and target-specific science in their own labs, including building or running relevant assays, using disease models, and applying specialized research tools that are unique to their biology and therapeutic hypothesis. At the same time, projects are supported by collaboration with NIH-funded consultants and can be strengthened through NIH contract research organizations (CROs). These CRO partners provide specialized capabilities that many academic labs do not have in-house, including medicinal chemistry optimization, pharmacokinetics (PK) and related ADME studies, toxicology, formulation development, scale-up and chemical synthesis (including Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMP), and Phase I clinical testing support. In practice, this structure is meant to keep the investigator in control of the scientific direction while providing a realistic operational path to a clinic-ready compound.

The program supports entry at two main points depending on project maturity. Projects can start in a Discovery stage, where the emphasis is on taking early "hit" compounds and optimizing them through medicinal chemistry to improve potency, selectivity, brain exposure as needed, and overall drug-like properties, ultimately aiming to nominate a more advanced development candidate. Projects can also enter at the Development stage, either after completing enough discovery work to justify a candidate or because the investigators already have a strong candidate in hand. Development-stage work is aimed at advancing a single development candidate through IND-enabling toxicology studies and into Phase I clinical testing, with the possibility of progressing faster because earlier discovery optimization has already occurred.

The mechanism is UG3/UH3 (clinical trial optional), which typically reflects a milestone-driven structure where an initial phase supports planning and early execution, and a later phase supports expanded activities once predefined readiness criteria are met. While the notice characterizes clinical testing as optional, the program is explicitly oriented toward making clinical entry feasible, including support for IND-enabling work and Phase I activities when appropriate to the project.

The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health as a discretionary, cooperative agreement. The activity categories listed include education, health, income security, and social services, and the CFDA numbers associated with it span multiple NIH institutes and program areas (93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the cross-institute nature of Blueprint-style initiatives. The source information lists an original closing date of 2023-09-07 and a creation date of 2020-03-03.

A particularly important element for academic and translational teams is intellectual property. Institutions receiving BPN awards retain their own IP rights and also receive assignment of IP rights from BPN contractors for drug candidates developed through the program. This means the awardee institution remains in the driver seat for patent prosecution and licensing negotiations, rather than losing control of downstream commercialization options due to contractor involvement. That feature is meant to make participation more attractive to universities and other organizations that need clear IP positioning to justify translational investment.

Eligibility is broad, spanning many types of domestic applicants and also allowing certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other categories. The announcement also highlights additional eligible groups such as 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (foreign) organizations. Overall, the eligibility language signals an intent to draw strong translational neuroscience projects from a wide range of institutional settings.

In short, BPN PAR-20-122 is built for investigators who have a credible small molecule therapeutic concept for a nervous system disorder and need a structured, milestone-oriented path to refine compounds and complete the specialized development steps required for IND submission and early clinical testing, while keeping their core biology work in-house and maintaining institutional control over resulting IP.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development of Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 20 122

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