Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 325
Apply for PAR 16 325
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biophysical and Biomechanical Aspects of Embryonic Development (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 10, 2016 and posted on Jun 10, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 19, 2018. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Biophysical and Biomechanical Aspects of Embryonic Development (R01) funding opportunity (PAR-16-325) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant solicitation designed to push the field of developmental biology further into the physical sciences, with a specific focus on the physics and mechanics that shape embryonic development. The central idea is to support hypothesis-driven research that explains how mechanical forces, tissue material properties, and physical constraints help guide vertebrate embryos as they form organs and body structures. A major motivation behind the announcement is that many birth defects and developmental disorders are not fully understood through genetics and molecular signaling alone, and that understanding tissue mechanics can reveal missing pieces of why development sometimes goes off track.
Projects responsive to this announcement are expected to generate new, critical information about tissue mechanics in vertebrate development, meaning proposals should be framed around clear biological or biophysical hypotheses rather than purely descriptive tool-building. NIH is explicitly encouraging investigators to bring in fresh concepts and approaches that are not yet widely used in developmental tissue mechanics, including methods borrowed or adapted from engineering, physics, materials science, quantitative imaging, computational modeling, and advanced measurement science. The FOA also emphasizes the use of newly developed techniques that are demonstrably better than standard approaches in the field, which can include improved ways to measure forces in living tissues, quantify mechanical properties over time, map stresses and strains during morphogenesis, or integrate mechanical readouts with cellular behaviors such as migration, proliferation, differentiation, and pattern formation. While technology development can be part of a project, the expectation is that the technology is tied directly to a biological question and enables discoveries that would not be possible with older methods.
Because this is an R01 mechanism, applicants are expected to propose a substantial, well-supported research plan, and the announcement makes a point of requiring sufficient preliminary data. In practical terms, that means an application should already show convincing evidence that the proposed direction is feasible, that any new tools or technological components are likely to work as intended, and that the team can execute the plan. This requirement signals that the FOA is not meant for very early, speculative concepts without data, but rather for research programs that are ready to move into rigorous testing and discovery with a solid foundation.
Eligibility is broad and covers many types of organizations, reflecting NIHs interest in interdisciplinary teams and diverse institutional settings. Eligible applicants include federal recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations, state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, with the note that additional eligibility clarifications may apply as described in the full FOA. This wide eligibility makes it possible for engineering groups, medical schools, biology departments, research institutes, and industry partners to participate, as long as the proposed work aligns with NIH requirements and the scientific goals of the announcement.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant funding instrument under the NIH R01 framework. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.865 (and also listed 93.865 again in the source data), indicating the NIH program area under which the award is administered. The posting and creation date for the FOA was June 10, 2016, and the listed closing date was September 19, 2018, which means this specific solicitation window has passed, although similar NIH program interests may continue under newer announcements. The source data lists an award ceiling of $500,000, which generally indicates the maximum funding level referenced for this opportunity, though actual budgets in NIH R01s can depend on program rules, project needs, and institute policies.
Overall, this FOA is aimed at research that explains embryonic development through the lens of mechanics and physics, connects those mechanical insights to normal vertebrate morphogenesis and to the origins of developmental disorders, and does so using strong hypotheses, robust preliminary evidence, and methods that meaningfully advance beyond the current state of the art.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the focus of the "Biophysical and Biomechanical Aspects of Embryonic Development (R01)" opportunity (PAR-16-325)?
This NIH (HHS) funding opportunity supports hypothesis-driven research that explains how physics and mechanics shape vertebrate embryonic development. The emphasis is on how mechanical forces, tissue material properties, and physical constraints guide embryos as they form organs and body structures.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What grant mechanism is used for this program?
The funding mechanism is an NIH R01 research project grant, meaning applicants are expected to propose a substantial, well-supported research plan.
What does NIH mean by "hypothesis-driven" in this FOA?
Applications are expected to be framed around clear biological or biophysical hypotheses about tissue mechanics in vertebrate development. The FOA is not aimed at purely descriptive studies or tool-building that is disconnected from a focused biological question.
Why is NIH emphasizing biomechanics and physics in embryonic development?
A stated motivation is that many birth defects and developmental disorders are not fully explained by genetics and molecular signaling alone. Understanding tissue mechanics may reveal missing pieces of why development sometimes goes off track.
What kinds of scientific questions are considered responsive?
Projects are expected to generate new, critical information about tissue mechanics in vertebrate development, such as how forces, material properties, stresses, strains, and physical constraints relate to morphogenesis and to cellular behaviors like migration, proliferation, differentiation, and pattern formation.
Does the FOA allow technology development or tool-building?
Technology development can be included, but it is expected to be directly tied to a biological question and to enable discoveries that would not be possible using older or standard methods. The FOA stresses that projects should not be purely descriptive tool-building efforts.
What types of approaches and disciplines does NIH encourage for this program?
The FOA explicitly encourages fresh concepts and approaches not yet widely used in developmental tissue mechanics, including methods borrowed or adapted from engineering, physics, materials science, quantitative imaging, computational modeling, and advanced measurement science.
What kinds of methods are examples of the "improved techniques" highlighted in the FOA?
Examples mentioned include improved ways to measure forces in living tissues, quantify mechanical properties over time, map stresses and strains during morphogenesis, and integrate mechanical readouts with cellular behaviors.
Is preliminary data required for an R01 application under this opportunity?
Yes. The announcement emphasizes the need for sufficient preliminary data to show feasibility, support the proposed direction, and provide evidence that any new tools or technological components are likely to work as intended.
Is this funding opportunity intended for very early-stage, highly speculative ideas?
No. The FOA signals that it is not meant for very early, speculative concepts without data. It is intended for research programs that are ready to move into rigorous testing and discovery with a solid foundation.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations; state and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA notes that additional eligibility clarifications may apply in the full announcement.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also includes small businesses, subject to any additional clarifications in the full FOA.
What is the funding instrument and how is the opportunity categorized?
The opportunity uses a grant funding instrument under the NIH R01 framework and is categorized as discretionary funding.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.865 (noted as appearing twice in the source data).
When was this FOA posted and when did it close?
The posting/creation date listed is June 10, 2016, and the closing date listed is September 19, 2018.
Is this specific solicitation window still open?
No. Based on the listed closing date (September 19, 2018), the application window for this specific FOA has passed, although similar NIH interests may continue under newer announcements.
What is the maximum award amount mentioned for this opportunity?
The source data lists an award ceiling of $500,000. This generally reflects the maximum funding level referenced for this opportunity, though actual R01 budgets can depend on program rules, project needs, and institute policies.
Does the FOA specify what kind of embryo or organism is in scope?
Yes. The FOA specifically emphasizes vertebrate embryos and vertebrate development.
What is the main scientific outcome NIH wants from funded projects?
NIH is looking for research that explains embryonic development through mechanics and physics, connects mechanical insights to normal vertebrate morphogenesis and to developmental disorders, and does so with strong hypotheses, robust preliminary evidence, and methods that meaningfully advance beyond the current state of the art.
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