Promoting a Basic Understanding of Chemical Threats to Skin (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The funding opportunity titled CCRP Initiative: Promoting a Basic Understanding of Chemical Threats to Skin is issued by the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with participation from multiple institutes including the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This initiative is part of the broader Chemical Countermeasures Research Program, which focuses on strengthening national preparedness for chemical emergencies by supporting research that advances understanding and treatment of injuries caused by hazardous chemicals. The program emphasizes foundational scientific discovery to inform the development of medical countermeasures for public health threats. The purpose of this opportunity is to support basic research that investigates the pathological mechanisms of skin injuries caused by Chemicals of Concern identified by the U.S. government. These include chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and other hazardous substances. The funding seeks to promote studies that explore molecular, cellular, and immunological processes underlying acute skin injury following a single exposure event. The ultimate goal is to identify therapeutic targets that could lead to broadly effective treatments across multiple chemical threats, enhancing national response capabilities during high-consequence emergencies. Funding is provided through the R01 Research Project Grant mechanism, which supports discrete, specified research projects. Applicants may request up to 300000 dollars per year in direct costs for a project period of up to five years. This results in a maximum potential award of 1500000 dollars over the full project duration. Funds are intended to support research activities such as laboratory studies, data collection, and analysis related to chemical-induced skin injury. Clinical trials are not allowed under this opportunity, although certain human subjects research that does not meet the definition of a clinical trial may be permitted. There is no cost sharing requirement for applicants. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad and includes higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and various levels of government including state, local, and tribal governments. Federal agencies and certain other organizations such as independent school districts and community-based organizations may also apply. However, foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and applications involving foreign subawards or subcontracts are not permitted. Investigators must demonstrate appropriate expertise and resources to conduct the proposed research and are encouraged to provide strong preliminary data or literature support. The application process requires submission through approved electronic systems such as the NIH ASSIST platform, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. Applicants must complete all required registrations, including SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, prior to submission. Applications must adhere strictly to the NIH Application Guide and include required components such as a research plan, budget, and a Data Management and Sharing Plan. Failure to comply with submission requirements may result in the application not being reviewed. Applications will be evaluated through the NIH peer review process based on criteria including significance, innovation, rigor, feasibility, and investigator expertise. Additional considerations include the research environment and the potential impact of the proposed work. Reviewers will assess whether the research addresses important scientific gaps and whether the proposed methods are sound and achievable. Funding decisions will also consider program priorities and the availability of funds. The opportunity follows a recurring annual submission cycle with standard NIH due dates. The earliest submission date is September 4, 2026, with application deadlines on October 5, 2026, October 5, 2027, and October 5, 2028. Review cycles follow each submission, with earliest project start dates typically occurring in July of the following year. The funding opportunity is expected to remain active until its expiration date of November 6, 2028. For inquiries, applicants may contact program staff via email at NIAMS_CCRP@mail.nih.gov or related institute contacts.

Ensure strong preliminary data and rigorous study design; focus on innovation and feasibility; align with chemical threat response priorities