Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 18 033
The Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network (SPAN) to Support Translational Studies for Acute Neuroprotection is an NIH-funded cooperative agreement (U01) designed to push promising stroke neuroprotective therapies closer to clinical readiness by strengthening the evidence generated right before human testing. The core idea is to reduce the common drop-off between encouraging early animal data and disappointing clinical trial results by running more rigorous, clinically relevant, late-stage preclinical studies. The focus is specifically on acute neuroprotectants intended to be given prior to reperfusion or at the time reperfusion occurs, reflecting real-world stroke care where reopening the blocked vessel (for example, via thrombectomy or thrombolysis) is central, but additional therapies may be needed to protect brain tissue and improve long-term recovery.
A defining feature of SPAN is the creation of a coordinated preclinical stroke testing network that can evaluate candidate therapies in parallel, using standardized methods and outcomes that better match what matters clinically. Rather than relying on single-lab findings, the network approach is meant to generate more dependable, reproducible results across sites and models, while also making testing faster and more cost-effective than repeating isolated studies one by one. The program emphasizes experimental designs that include clinically relevant long-term outcomes (not just short-term infarct size or early neurological scores) and that incorporate comorbidities that are common in real patients and often ignored in traditional preclinical work. By embedding these real-world factors into controlled experiments, SPAN aims to clarify whether a neuroprotective intervention truly adds benefit beyond reperfusion alone and whether it can extend the time window in which reperfusion remains beneficial.
The initiative also highlights the use of an adaptive design approach in preclinical testing. In practical terms, that means the network is intended to make data-driven adjustments as evidence accumulates, helping prioritize the most promising therapies and discontinue unpromising ones sooner. The goal is not simply to run more experiments, but to run smarter experiments that can efficiently distinguish which candidates are most likely to translate to patient benefit. This is framed as a translational bridge: late-stage preclinical work that is closer in spirit to the rigor and relevance expected of clinical development, while still being conducted in an experimental, tightly controlled setting.
Administratively, this opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-18-033, within the health research activity category (CFDA 93.853). The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U01), which generally indicates substantial NIH scientific or programmatic involvement compared to a standard research project grant. The opportunity is explicitly labeled “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” signaling that funded activities must remain in the preclinical domain rather than enrolling human participants in interventional clinical studies.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many types of government entities (state, county, city or township, special districts), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations, as well as nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the program draws a firm boundary around foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
In short, SPAN is aimed at building a rigorous, network-based preclinical pipeline to identify which acute neuroprotective therapies truly improve meaningful outcomes when paired with reperfusion, and to do so using study designs and patient-like conditions that increase the odds of successful translation to the clinic, without funding human clinical trials under this specific opportunity.Apply for RFA NS 18 033
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network (SPAN) to Support Translational Studies for Acute Neuroprotection (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-08-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network (SPAN) - Acute Neuroprotection (NIH U01)
What is the SPAN funding opportunity?
The Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network (SPAN) to Support Translational Studies for Acute Neuroprotection is an NIH-funded cooperative agreement (U01) intended to advance promising stroke neuroprotective therapies toward clinical readiness by strengthening late-stage preclinical evidence generated right before human testing.
What problem is SPAN trying to solve?
SPAN is designed to reduce the common drop-off where therapies look encouraging in early animal studies but fail to show benefit in clinical trials. It does this by supporting more rigorous, clinically relevant, late-stage preclinical testing that better predicts whether a candidate is likely to help patients.
What types of therapies are the focus of SPAN?
The focus is on acute neuroprotective therapies for stroke, specifically neuroprotectants intended to be given prior to reperfusion or at the time reperfusion occurs.
How does SPAN relate to reperfusion treatments like thrombectomy or thrombolysis?
SPAN is built around real-world stroke care where reopening the blocked vessel (for example, via thrombectomy or thrombolysis) is central. The network tests whether neuroprotective therapies can add benefit beyond reperfusion alone and whether they can improve long-term recovery outcomes when used alongside reperfusion.
What stage of research does SPAN support?
SPAN supports late-stage preclinical studies intended to act as a translational bridge between earlier animal work and eventual human testing, while remaining in a controlled experimental setting.
Does this opportunity allow clinical trials in humans?
No. The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning funded activities must stay in the preclinical domain and may not enroll human participants in interventional clinical studies under this announcement.
What makes SPAN different from single-lab preclinical studies?
A defining feature is the creation of a coordinated, multi-site preclinical stroke testing network. Candidate therapies can be evaluated in parallel using standardized methods and outcomes, aiming to produce results that are more dependable and reproducible across sites and models than isolated, single-lab studies.
Why does SPAN emphasize standardized methods and outcomes?
Standardization across the network is intended to improve comparability and reproducibility of findings, and to align preclinical outcomes more closely with what matters clinically.
What kinds of outcomes does SPAN want preclinical studies to measure?
SPAN emphasizes clinically relevant long-term outcomes, not only short-term measures such as infarct size or early neurological scores.
Does SPAN encourage using stroke models that include patient-like conditions?
Yes. SPAN emphasizes incorporating comorbidities that are common in real patients and often ignored in traditional preclinical work, with the goal of making the preclinical evidence more clinically relevant.
What is meant by an "adaptive design approach" in SPAN?
In SPAN, an adaptive design approach means the network is intended to make data-driven adjustments as evidence accumulates, helping prioritize the most promising therapies and discontinue unpromising ones sooner.
Is the goal of SPAN to run more experiments or different experiments?
The stated aim is to run smarter, more efficient experiments that can better distinguish which therapy candidates are most likely to translate into meaningful patient benefit, rather than simply increasing the number of experiments.
How does SPAN aim to improve speed or efficiency of testing?
By evaluating candidate therapies in parallel across a coordinated network and using standardized approaches, SPAN aims to make testing faster and more cost-effective than repeating isolated studies one by one.
What is the funding mechanism for SPAN?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U01), which generally indicates substantial NIH scientific or programmatic involvement compared to a standard research project grant.
Which agency is issuing this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for SPAN?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-NS-18-033.
What is the activity category / assistance listing information provided?
The opportunity is within the health research activity category and lists CFDA 93.853.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many government entities, higher education institutions (public and private), nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, tribal governments and tribal organizations, and additional designated institution types and community-based categories described in the announcement.
Are state and local government entities eligible?
Yes. The eligible categories include state, county, city or township governments, special districts, independent school districts, and other listed public authorities.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are included among eligible applicants.
Are nonprofits eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The eligible applicant types include nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations are eligible. The announcement also identifies Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized among additional eligible applicant categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included among the additional eligible applicant categories.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component on the application?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
What is SPAN ultimately trying to produce?
SPAN aims to produce more rigorous, reproducible, and clinically relevant late-stage preclinical evidence to identify which acute neuroprotective therapies truly improve meaningful outcomes when paired with reperfusion, supporting better decisions about which candidates should advance toward clinical readiness.
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