Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 09 120
Apply for PAR 09 120
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biomedical Research on the International Space Station (BioMed ISS) (UH2/UH3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.209 Contraception and Infertility Research Loan Repayment Program 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.389 National Center for Research Resources 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.838 Lung Diseases Research 93.839 Blood Diseases and Resources Research 93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 17, 2009 and posted on Mar 17, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments County governments Independent school districts Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Biomedical Research on the International Space Station (BioMed ISS) (UH2/UH3) opportunity is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement created in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to expand the use of the International Space Station (ISS) as a National Laboratory for biomedical research. The central idea is to support investigator-initiated projects that take advantage of the ISS environment, especially microgravity and space radiation, to test new and potentially high-impact hypotheses about human biology. While the work is performed in space, the stated goal is practical and Earth-focused: improving understanding of human physiology and developing insights that could benefit human health on Earth in ways that are difficult or impossible to achieve in standard ground-based laboratories.
This program is specifically aimed at innovative biomedical studies at the molecular or cellular level that align with the NIH mission and are feasible to conduct on the ISS. In other words, proposals should not merely be "space-adjacent" or observational, but should clearly justify why the ISS environment is essential for the scientific question being asked. Successful applications are expected to integrate both scientific innovation and the technical realities of space-based experimentation, including constraints on crew time, hardware, sample handling, launch logistics, and return or downlink of data.
The funding mechanism is a two-phase cooperative agreement, using the UH2/UH3 structure. The first phase (UH2) supports milestone-driven, ground-based feasibility and preparatory work. This stage is meant to reduce risk and make the eventual ISS experiment technically and operationally ready. Applicants are expected to define clear scientific and technical milestones that demonstrate readiness for flight, such as validating protocols, confirming assay performance under space-relevant constraints, developing or adapting hardware or sample containment approaches, and demonstrating that the planned methods can deliver interpretable data within the limits of ISS operations.
If the UH2 milestones are achieved, projects may transition to the second phase (UH3), which is the ISS-based experimental phase. The UH3 work covers the activities required to implement the study on orbit, including final preparation for launch, execution of experiments aboard the ISS, and post-flight or post-run analyses once data and/or samples are available on Earth. Importantly, UH3 funding is not automatic; it is issued after an administrative review of eligible UH2 projects that have met the predefined milestones and demonstrated feasibility for conducting the research on the ISS. Applicants must submit the UH2 and UH3 as a single, integrated application, following the specific instructions for each phase in the announcement, and should present a coherent plan showing how the ground work transitions efficiently into flight operations and analysis.
As a cooperative agreement, this opportunity implies substantial programmatic involvement from the NIH (and coordination with NASA resources and processes) compared with a standard grant. While the summary text does not list detailed roles, cooperative agreements typically involve ongoing interaction to ensure that scientific goals remain aligned with operational constraints and that projects are coordinated with ISS planning, safety, integration, and scheduling requirements.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number PAR 09-120. It is a discretionary program using a cooperative agreement instrument, and it falls under education and health-related activity categories. The posted and creation date is March 17, 2009. The original and current closing date shown is September 30, 2011, with an archive date of October 31, 2011, indicating that this particular announcement is historical rather than currently open. The award ceiling listed is $150,000 (as presented in the source data), and awards are described as contingent on the availability of funds and the submission of meritorious applications, with the anticipated number of awards not guaranteed.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants listed include private and public institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and a wide range of government entities (city or township governments, counties, states, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). The eligibility section also explicitly notes additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Native American tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated.
For applicants seeking the full official announcement and detailed application instructions, the additional information link is provided as http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-120.html. The contact information in the listing directs technical access and linking issues to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV, reflecting that this entry is a government-grants listing and that full programmatic questions would typically be addressed in the full FOA text.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BioMed ISS (UH2/UH3) funding opportunity?
The Biomedical Research on the International Space Station (BioMed ISS) (UH2/UH3) opportunity is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement created in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Its purpose is to expand the use of the International Space Station (ISS) as a National Laboratory for biomedical research by supporting investigator-initiated projects that rely on the ISS environment.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program supports biomedical research that uses unique aspects of the ISS environment, especially microgravity and space radiation, to test new and potentially high-impact hypotheses about human biology. Even though experiments occur in space, the stated goal is Earth-focused: improving understanding of human physiology and generating insights that could benefit human health on Earth in ways that are difficult or impossible in standard ground-based labs.
What kinds of studies are a fit for this opportunity?
This opportunity is aimed at innovative biomedical studies at the molecular or cellular level that align with the NIH mission and are feasible to conduct on the ISS. Proposals are expected to go beyond being merely "space-adjacent" or observational and should clearly explain why the ISS environment is essential to answer the scientific question.
Why does the ISS environment matter for proposals under this program?
Applications are expected to justify the need for the ISS environment, particularly microgravity and space radiation, as central to the hypothesis and study design. The program emphasizes research questions that cannot be adequately addressed using traditional ground-based laboratory conditions.
How is the award structured (UH2/UH3)?
The funding mechanism is a two-phase cooperative agreement using the UH2/UH3 structure. UH2 is the first phase focused on milestone-driven, ground-based feasibility and preparatory work. If milestones are achieved, the project may transition to UH3, which covers the ISS-based experimental phase and associated analyses.
What happens during the UH2 phase?
UH2 supports ground-based feasibility and preparatory activities intended to reduce risk and make the eventual ISS experiment technically and operationally ready. Applicants are expected to propose clear scientific and technical milestones that demonstrate readiness for flight.
What kinds of UH2 milestones are expected?
The summary description indicates milestones may include validating protocols, confirming assay performance under space-relevant constraints, developing or adapting hardware or sample containment approaches, and demonstrating that planned methods can produce interpretable data within ISS operational limits.
Is the transition from UH2 to UH3 automatic?
No. UH3 funding is not automatic. It is issued after an administrative review of eligible UH2 projects that have met predefined milestones and demonstrated feasibility for conducting the research on the ISS.
What happens during the UH3 phase?
UH3 is the ISS-based experimental phase. It covers activities needed to implement the study on orbit, including final preparation for launch, execution of experiments aboard the ISS, and post-flight or post-run analyses once data and/or samples are available on Earth.
Do applicants submit separate applications for UH2 and UH3?
No. Applicants must submit UH2 and UH3 as a single, integrated application, following the specific instructions for each phase in the announcement. The application should present a coherent plan showing how the UH2 ground work transitions into flight operations and analysis.
What makes this a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, which implies substantial programmatic involvement from NIH, along with coordination with NASA resources and processes, compared with a standard grant. The summary indicates ongoing interaction to help keep scientific goals aligned with ISS operational constraints and to coordinate with planning, safety, integration, and scheduling requirements.
What operational constraints should applicants consider for ISS-based research?
The program emphasizes that successful applications should integrate scientific innovation with the technical realities of space-based experimentation. Examples of relevant constraints mentioned include crew time, hardware limitations, sample handling, launch logistics, and return or downlink of data.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 09-120.
Is this funding opportunity currently open?
No. Based on the dates provided, this announcement is historical. The original and current closing date shown is September 30, 2011, with an archive date of October 31, 2011.
When was this announcement posted/created?
The posted and creation date shown is March 17, 2009.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the source data is $150,000.
How many awards will be made?
The anticipated number of awards is not guaranteed. Awards are described as contingent on the availability of funds and the submission of meritorious applications.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the provided information.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, including private and public institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and a wide range of government entities (city or township governments, county governments, state governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities).
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are tribal governments and U.S. territories eligible?
Yes. The eligibility section explicitly notes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Where can applicants find the full official announcement and instructions?
The additional information link provided is: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-120.html
Who should be contacted for technical access and linking issues related to the listing?
The contact information provided for technical access and linking issues is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Does the listing provide a program officer or scientific contact for research questions?
The provided information directs technical access and linking issues to the NIH OER webmaster and notes that full programmatic questions would typically be addressed in the full FOA text linked in the listing.
What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is described as falling under education and health-related activity categories.
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