Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for academic researchers seeking to advance small-molecule drug candidates toward clinical testing with NIH support. Eligible applicants typically include researchers at institutions with NIH funding experience and capacity for drug discovery work. The program provides access to NIH subject matter experts and contract research organizations for medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, formulation, GMP synthesis, and Phase I testing support.
Investigators must have promising small-molecule therapeutic candidates ready for translational development. Biologics are explicitly excluded. Applicants work collaboratively with NIH program staff on scientific and technical project management.
The program uses a phased cooperative agreement mechanism with yearly milestone reviews. Continued funding depends on demonstrated feasibility and progress toward enabling external partners to advance late-stage development.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Key dates
- Jul 7, 2026 Applications open
- Jun 16, 2027 Application deadline in 335 days
- Mar 5, 2028 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
The NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research is interested in continuing to support the BluePrint Neurotherapeutics Network for Small Molecules (BPN-SM)- a program designed to help investigators advance promising small-molecule therapeutics toward clinical testing. The BPN-SM program supports drug discovery and development activities in investigators’ own laboratories while also providing access to NIH-supported subject matter experts and contract research organizations (CROs) with capabilities in medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, formulation development, GMP synthesis, and Phase I clinical testing. By integrating NIH resources with industry-standard expertise, BPN-SM advances investigator-initiated drug discovery while enabling investigators to retain and strengthen their intellectual property while gaining hands-on experience in translational drug development.
The overarching goal of the program is to reduce the risk of scientific and therapy development sufficiently to enable external partners to take on late-stage development and ultimately bring new therapies to patients. In addition, this BPN program is specifically focused on small molecules and excludes biologics, because development, regulatory, and manufacturing considerations for each class of therapeutics differ substantially from each other. It will use a phased cooperative agreement mechanism which will enable the program to support innovative but higher-risk projects, with decisions of continued support being contingent on demonstrated feasibility of yearly milestones. A cooperative agreement framework is proposed because several key aspects of the program will involve collaborative activities between the investigators and NIH program staff, with substantial involvement beyond the normal scope of grant stewardship. The project principal investigator(s) and NIH program staff will work jointly with NIH-supported subject matter experts to coordinate and participate in all scientific and technical management aspects of the project.
Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop competitive projects and establish the cross-disciplinary collaborations necessary for success.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Biographical Sketches
- Institutional Commitment Letter
- Preliminary Data/Evidence of Feasibility
- Letters of Collaboration (if external partners involved)
Program contact
- 👤 Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Team
- 📧 BPNSMNINDS@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.853 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$56,144,651
-
$40,959,789
-
$35,655,349
-
$35,655,116
-
$35,335,145
-
$34,183,297
-
$32,294,153
-
$32,234,840
-
$31,739,294
-
$27,282,286
Top States by Funding
- MA 5 awards $123.9M
- OH 4 awards $112.5M
- CA 4 awards $101.3M
- FL 3 awards $100.3M
- MI 3 awards $85.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.853). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,362,835,459 | |
| 2025 | $2,345,500,401 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Academic researchers with small-molecule drug candidates and institutional capacity for translational research. Your institution must have experience with NIH funding and regulatory compliance.
Are biologics eligible?
No, this program is exclusively for small-molecule therapeutics. Biologics are explicitly excluded due to different development and manufacturing requirements.
How does the phased cooperative agreement work?
NIH funds projects in phases with yearly milestone reviews. Continued support depends on demonstrated feasibility of your drug development progress.
What support does the program provide?
Access to NIH subject matter experts and contract research organizations for medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, formulation, GMP synthesis, and Phase I clinical testing.
When should I start preparing my application?
Begin now. Applications are not currently solicited, but NIH is providing advance notice to allow researchers time to develop competitive projects and establish collaborations.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start building cross-disciplinary collaborations now. Strong partnerships with chemists, pharmacologists, and regulatory experts strengthen competitiveness.
- Document your small-molecule candidate's current development stage and preliminary data. Be specific about feasibility and de-risking strategies.
- Establish clear yearly milestones tied to drug development phases. Phased agreements require concrete, measurable progress targets.
- Engage with potential CRO partners early. Understanding their capabilities helps align your project scope with available NIH-supported resources.
- Plan how you'll retain and strengthen intellectual property. The program values investigator ownership and hands-on translational experience.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without clear, measurable yearly milestones for de-risking your drug candidate. Including biologics or large-molecule therapeutics, which are explicitly ineligible. Underestimating the collaborative commitment required—NIH staff involvement goes beyond typical grant stewardship.
Similar grants
- OPEN Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development of Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Innovation Grants to Nurture Initial Translational Efforts (IGNITE): Neurotherapeutic Agent Characterization and In vivo Efficacy Studies (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NIH Blueprint Initiative: Tools for Germline Gene Editing in the Nervous System — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes for the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health