Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development of Disorders of the Nervous System (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you have a promising neurological drug compound and want NIH funding plus free access to medicinal chemists, toxicologists, and Phase I trial infrastructure to move it to the clinic, this is built for you.
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What this is
This NIH program supports neuroscience researchers advancing small molecule drug candidates from discovery or development stage toward the clinic. Projects receive funding for internal research plus access to NIH-funded experts and contract services (medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, GMP synthesis, Phase I trials). Awardees retain full IP control and assignment rights from contractors. The program is designed for investigators ready to move beyond basic research into translational development, with a pathway to IND-enabling studies and human testing.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, private and public universities, small businesses, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, Native American tribal governments, and other entity types listed. Solo founders and small teams can apply through appropriate organizational structure; geography is U.S.-focused given NIH funding source.
Eligible applicant types
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Small businesses
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- City or township governments
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- Special district governments
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Independent school districts
- State governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Private institutions of higher education
Full description — from the agency
The Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) invites applications from neuroscience investigators seeking support to advance their small molecule drug discovery and development projects into the clinic. Participants in the BPN are responsible for conducting all studies that involve disease- or target-specific assays, models, and other research tools and receive funding for all activities to be conducted in their own laboratories. In addition, applicants will collaborate with NIH-funded consultants and can augment their project with NIH contract research organizations (CROs) that specialize in medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, formulations development, chemical synthesis including under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Phase I clinical testing. Projects can enter either at the Discovery stage, to optimize promising hit compounds through medicinal chemistry to the Development stage, to advance a single development candidate through Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling toxicology studies and phase I clinical testing. Alternatively, projects can enter at the Development stage and progress in a shorter period to IND enabling toxicology studies and phase I clinical testing. BPN awardee Institutions retain their assignment of IP rights and gain assignment of IP rights from the BPN contractors (and thereby control the patent prosecution and licensing negotiations) for drug candidates developed in this program.
Topics: small molecule drug discovery · nervous system disorders · neuroscience · clinical translation · IND enabling · drug development · phase I trials
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.