Institute specific interests are briefly described below, whereas more detailed descriptions can be found within the BPN-Biologics funding opportunity announcements. Interested applicants are highly encouraged to contact NIH Scientific/Research staff for more information about this program before submitting an application.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Contact: Mario Skiadopoulos, PhD
NINDS aims to support discovery and development of biologic drugs relevant to its mission. Examples of diseases relevant to the research mission of the NINDS.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Contact: Lorenzo Refolo, PhD
NIA is interested in projects that will provide drug development expertise and infrastructure support to researchers interested in developing new biologics aimed at modifying the behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD), delaying the onset or slowing the progression of AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), other dementias of aging and age-related cognitive decline. Regarding therapeutic approaches, NIA is interested in traditional biotherapeutic modalities such as gene and immunotherapies and other modalities such as genome editing, gene silencing, and PROTAC.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Contact: Qi-Ying Liu, MD, MSci
NIAAA is interested in research aimed to develop pharmaceuticals targeting new molecular sites to provide effective therapy for alcohol use disorder. Recent research has discovered specific genetic variants that may contribute to the risk for alcoholism and/or render individuals with alcohol use disorder responsive to specific therapeutic agent. NIAAA is interested in supporting research to develop pharmaceuticals targeting individuals with identified genotypic and phenotypic characteristics to improve efficacy and safety.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Contact: Hye-Sook Kim, PhD
NCCIH is interested in supporting research on the development of novel biologics from natural products (e.g., venoms and conotoxins) and microbial and microbiome therapies to modulate symptoms on nervous system disorders including pain, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, mild depression, and stress, etc.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Contact: Jason Sousa, PhD
NIDA aims to provide drug development expertise and infrastructure to support addiction researchers interested in developing new biotherapeutics for substance use disorders (SUD). Projects focused on cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana use disorders are of high priority for NIDA because there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for these indications. NIDA will only support projects to develop innovative pharmacological approaches entering the BPN-Biologics at the Discovery stage.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Contact: Enrique Michelotti, PhD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Contact: Zhaoxia Ren, PhD
The NICHD is interested in supporting research aimed to develop novel pharmacotherapies for the treatment of developmental disorders, diseases and conditions in pediatric population.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Contact: Melissa Ghim, PhD
NIDCR is interested in BPN Biologics development for craniofacial disorders and painful disorders of the orofacial region including temporomandibular joint disorders, trigeminal neuropathies, burning mouth syndrome, oral cancer pain, dental pain and other conditions.
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Contact: Tom Greenwell, PhD; Neeraj Agarwal, Ph.D.; Paek Lee, PhD; Tony Gover, Ph.D.
NEI’s interest in BPN Biologics is to develop novel therapies to treat diseases and disorders of the visual system
National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
Contact: William Riley, PhD
BPN-Biologics Staff
Program Director
Dr. Mario SkiadopoulosHealth Program Specialists
Ms. Elena Barnaeva
Ms. Shruthi Thomas
Project ManagerOperations Coordinator
Ms. Natasha Davis