Awards Supporting Cutting-Edge Technologies for Translational Science (ASCETTS) (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) invites applications for the Awards Supporting Cutting-Edge Technologies for Translational Science (ASCETTS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to foster investigator-initiated development of highly innovative technologies to address barriers, limitations, or bottlenecks in translational science particularly for therapeutic development. This program will support the early-stage proof of concept, high-risk and potentially high-reward studies for feasibility and exploratory technology development, which can transform or significantly improve the efficiency of therapeutic development to achieve NCATS ultimate goals - more treatments to all people more quickly. The research proposed should be for the development of technology that can break new ground or extend present technology toward new directions or novel applications. With this initiative, we expect to support the development and/or prototyping of new technologies that will lead to improved efficiency in the therapeutic development pipeline.

Program Details

National Institutes of Health is a federal agency that offers the Awards Supporting Cutting-Edge Technologies for Translational Science (ASCETTS) (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) grant program to support eligible programs and projects. This funding opportunity is available nationally and is administered by National Institutes of Health through Grants.gov. Organizations seeking funding for eligible programs and projects should review the details below and confirm their eligibility before preparing an application.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, government agencies and municipalities, educational institutions, and for-profit businesses. Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply and to review the full program guidelines before submission. Because eligibility rules and funding priorities can change between cycles, applicants should always confirm the current requirements with National Institutes of Health or on Grants.gov before investing time in an application.

Funding and Timeline

Applications are due by June 18, 2026. Applicants should allow sufficient time to gather required documentation, including organizational information, project descriptions, budgets, and supporting materials as specified in the program guidelines. Submitting a complete application well ahead of the deadline reduces the risk of disqualification on technical or administrative grounds.

Program Focus

This grant supports eligible programs and projects. This grant is associated with NAICS industry classifications: 541714, 621111, 621112, 622. Organizations operating in these sectors are encouraged to review eligibility. Funded projects are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with the program's stated objectives. Grant recipients may be required to submit progress reports and final evaluations as a condition of the award, and to retain records for audit and compliance purposes.

How to Apply

Eligible organizations can apply through Grants.gov. Create a free organization profile on GrantRegister to see whether this grant matches your organization's NAICS code, entity type, location, and focus area, and to receive a weekly digest of every open grant you qualify for.

GrantRegister maintains a complete, authoritative registry of US federal, state, and foundation grant opportunities — matched automatically to your organization profile and delivered every Monday.

Eligibility

• Funded by NIH

Award details

Applications close on June 18, 2026.

Categories

Not categorized