INCLUDE Project: Exploratory/Developmental Research Awards for Down syndrome (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services
At a glance
INCLUDE Project: Exploratory/Developmental Research Awards for Down syndrome (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an open federal grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (Department of Health and Human Services). Applications are due June 15, 2028. Individual awards are listed as up to $200K, with about 5 awards expected and $1M in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts and 10 more. Cost sharing is not required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research) and 15 other listings.
Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.
Key facts
- Posted
- May 12, 2026
- Close date
- Jun 15, 2028
- Archive date
- Aug 14, 2028
- Est. award date
- Sep 1, 2026
- Award floor
- Not specified
- Award ceiling
- $200,000
- Est. total funding
- $1,000,000
- Expected awards
- 5
- Cost sharing
- Not required
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Opportunity category
- Discretionary
Who can apply
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public colleges & universities
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Public & Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status
- Private colleges & universities
- For-profit organizations (not small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Others (see notice)
Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)
Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.
What it funds
Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.
The NIH INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE (INCLUDE) Project seeks to improve health and quality-of-life for individuals with Down syndrome. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites researchers to submit applications for support of new exploratory and developmental research projects that address critical needs for Down syndrome projects, as articulated in the INCLUDE Project objectives. For example, such projects could assess the feasibility of a novel area of investigation or a new experimental system that has the potential to enhance health-related research. Another example could include the unique and innovative use of an existing methodology to explore a new scientific area. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
Assistance Listings
What is an ALN?- 93.121Oral Diseases and Disorders ResearchProgram →
- 93.173Research Related to Deafness and Communication DisordersProgram →
- 93.233National Center on Sleep Disorders ResearchProgram →
- 93.310Trans-NIH Research SupportProgram →
- 93.351Research Infrastructure ProgramsProgram →
- 93.395Cancer Treatment ResearchProgram →
- 93.837Cardiovascular Diseases ResearchProgram →
- 93.838Lung Diseases ResearchProgram →
- 93.839Blood Diseases and Resources ResearchProgram →
- 93.840Translation and Implementation Science Research for Heart, Lung, Blood Diseases, and Sleep DisordersProgram →
- 93.846Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases ResearchProgram →
- 93.855Allergy and Infectious Diseases ResearchProgram →
- 93.865Child Health and Human Development Extramural ResearchProgram →
- 93.866Aging ResearchProgram →
- 93.867Vision ResearchProgram →
- 93.879Medical Library AssistanceProgram →
Reported obligations under ALN 93.121
Historical data · not a predictionAgency contact (as published)
National Institutes of Health
DownSyndromeINCLUDE@mail.nih.gov
301-402-2541
Quick answers
When is the deadline for this opportunity?
According to the official notice, applications are due June 15, 2028. Confirm the deadline and submission time on Grants.gov before applying.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public colleges & universities, Federally recognized tribal governments, Public & Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, Private colleges & universities and 3 more. Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.
How much funding is available through this opportunity?
Per the notice, individual awards are listed as up to $200k, total estimated program funding is $1,000,000 and the agency expects to make about 5 awards.
How do I apply for this opportunity?
Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity RFA-OD-27-003), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.
Related open opportunities
Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.
Change of Recipient Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
National Institutes of Health- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Jul 12, 2027
- Who can apply
- State governments, County governments, City or township governments and 12 more
Successor-in-Interest (Type 6 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
National Institutes of Health- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Jul 17, 2027
- Who can apply
- State governments, County governments, City or township governments and 12 more
INCLUDE Project: Transformative Research Awards for Down syndrome (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institutes of Health- Award range
- Up to $500K
- Closes
- Jun 15, 2028
- Who can apply
- State governments, County governments, City or township governments and 12 more
Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
National Institutes of Health- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Nov 30, 2028
- Who can apply
- State governments, County governments, City or township governments and 12 more
Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institutes of Health- Award range
- Up to $375K
- Closes
- Jan 7, 2028
- Who can apply
- Public colleges & universities, Private colleges & universities and Others (see notice)
NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institutes of Health- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Jan 7, 2028
- Who can apply
- State governments, County governments, City or township governments and 12 more