Initiative: NIH Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Basic Research on Chemical Threats that Affect the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for basic research on chemical threats that affect the nervous system, supported by the NIH CounterACT (Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats) program. Eligible applicants include domestic for-profit companies, small businesses, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, and tribal organizations. The research must focus on developing countermeasures, diagnostics, or understanding mechanisms of chemical toxicity affecting neurological function—excluding clinical trials. Geographic scope is limited to the United States. Supported activities include laboratory research, mechanistic studies, and translational work aimed at advancing defense against chemical threats to human health.
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Program description
This announcement invites applications for basic research projects on chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and pesticides that have primary or secondary effects on the nervous system. Chemical threats are toxic compounds that could be used in a terrorist attack or accidentally released from industrial production, storage, or shipping. Projects supported by this NOFO are expected to generate data that elucidate mechanisms of toxicity of these agents, possible new manifestations of toxic exposures, and potential new targets for therapeutic development.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 Federal application form
- Research narrative (typically 15 pages for R01)
- Specific aims (1 page summary of research goals)
- Research strategy (background, significance, innovation, approach, impact)
- Budget and budget justification
- Biosketch of principal investigator and key personnel (NIH format)
- Letters of support from collaborating institutions
- Compliance documentation (DACA, foreign components, vertebrate animals, human subjects if applicable)
- Institutional commitment and cost-sharing documentation
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
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
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$56,144,651
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$40,959,789
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$35,655,349
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$35,655,116
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$35,335,145
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$34,183,297
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$32,294,153
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$32,234,840
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$31,739,294
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$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 R01 grant?
Domestic organizations including universities, nonprofits, companies, state/local governments, and tribal entities can apply. Individual researchers should apply through their institutional affiliation.
Are clinical trials allowed?
No. This R01 explicitly excludes clinical trial applications. The focus is on basic research mechanisms and preclinical countermeasure development.
What research activities are supported?
Basic research on mechanisms of chemical toxicity, development of diagnostic tools, identification of therapeutic targets, and translational research leading to medical countermeasures against chemical threats to the nervous system.
What is the typical funding range?
R01 grants from NIH typically award $250,000–$500,000+ in direct costs annually, but actual amounts vary based on review panel assessment and available funding.
When is the application deadline?
The fixed deadline is October 16, 2026. Applications open November 1, 2024. Check grants.nih.gov for any reopen dates.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Frame your research question around mechanisms of chemical toxicity in the nervous system; the review panel will prioritize high-quality basic science addressing a gap in understanding or countermeasure development.
- Clearly explain how your findings could advance development of medical countermeasures, diagnostics, or treatment strategies—even basic research must have a clear path to applied benefit.
- Use preliminary data and published literature to establish feasibility and significance; NIH R01s require strong evidence you can execute the proposed work.
- Budget realistically for personnel, equipment, and supplies; NIH reviewers scrutinize bloated budgets, so justify every major expense.
- Coordinate with your institution's research administration early—NIH submissions require institutional sign-off, compliance documentation, and careful budget justification that can take weeks.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often fail to establish a clear link between their basic research findings and practical countermeasure development, resulting in reviews that question relevance to the CCRP mission. Proposals that include any clinical trial components are automatically out of scope and rejected. Many researchers underestimate the competitive strength of NIH applications by submitting weak preliminary data or overstating feasibility without addressing specific technical risks.
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