NIH IGNITE Program (NINDS) — Innovation Grants to Nurture Initial Translational Efforts

NIH IGNITE at NINDS funds early-stage neurotherapeutic development and serves as a feeder into the Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network for small molecules and biologics. It is a phased translational program, not a general-purpose NIH research grant. The program runs through three active R61/R33 calls covering assay development and agent identification, model systems development and validation, and agent characterization with in vivo efficacy studies. The combined award can reach $750,000 in direct costs over three years, with no more than $499,000 in any single year, and the work moves from an exploratory R61 phase into an R33 transition phase. Review runs through the NINDS Scientific Review Branch rather than CSR, which keeps the process close to the program's translational scope. The fit is strongest for teams with a clear biological rationale, a concrete translational path, and enough early evidence to support milestone-gated development. The record allows U.S.-based for-profit, nonprofit, university, and research-organization applicants, while individuals are not eligible, so the strongest applications are ones that can show readiness for staged neurotherapeutic advancement.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.