Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AR 17 005
Apply for RFA AR 17 005
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Building Complex 3-Dimensional in Vitro Human Musculoskeletal and Skin Tissue Models (R43)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.846,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 19, 2016 and posted on Jan 19, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 18, 2016. (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 $225,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity "Building Complex 3-Dimensional in Vitro Human Musculoskeletal and Skin Tissue Models (R43)" is a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I funding call from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically aligned with the mission of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Its central goal is to fund small businesses that can create or significantly advance complex three-dimensional (3-D) lab-grown human tissue models focused on musculoskeletal and skin biology. These models are meant to better reflect real human tissue behavior than traditional 2-D cell culture systems, and to serve as practical alternatives to animal models for studying disease mechanisms and evaluating interventions.
A key emphasis of the announcement is the development of engineered 3-D human tissue or organ-like systems that allow researchers to study normal human physiology and disease pathophysiology in a controlled in vitro environment. The broader motivation is translational: improving the realism and usefulness of preclinical testing so that research can more reliably inform the development of therapies that prevent, treat, or ultimately cure diseases within NIAMS-relevant areas. By supporting improved tissue models, the program aims to reduce reliance on animal testing while also addressing known limitations of animal models in predicting human responses.
The FOA is open only to eligible small businesses and is structured as an R43 Phase I SBIR grant, meaning it is intended to support early-stage feasibility and proof-of-concept work. Projects can either propose entirely new 3-D in vitro models or introduce enabling technologies that solve practical bottlenecks in building such models. In other words, applicants are not limited to building a single tissue construct; they may also focus on platform technologies that make complex tissue modeling more accurate, reproducible, scalable, or functional. The common requirement is that the work must directly contribute to producing complex, useful 3-D human musculoskeletal or skin tissue models suitable for NIAMS-relevant research and development.
A strict responsiveness requirement is that all applications must use human cells in 3-D culture. The announcement explicitly states it is not intended to support research based on non-human cells or animal studies. Applications that do not meet this human-cell, 3-D in vitro focus, or that fall outside NIAMS mission areas, are considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed. This makes the scope narrow but clear: the funded work must be immediately relevant to human musculoskeletal and skin tissue modeling in vitro, not animal model development or non-human experimental systems.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding using a grant mechanism, under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AR-17-005. It is associated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH. The original and current closing date shown is October 18, 2016, and the posting and creation date is January 19, 2016. The award ceiling for Phase I is listed at $225,000. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers included are 93.846, reflecting NIAMS-related federal assistance listings. Overall, the opportunity is designed to catalyze early SBIR-stage innovation that makes human-relevant 3-D musculoskeletal and skin tissue models more achievable and more useful for studying disease and testing potential therapies without relying on animals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Building Complex 3-Dimensional in Vitro Human Musculoskeletal and Skin Tissue Models (R43)."
What type of funding mechanism is this?
This is an NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award using the R43 grant mechanism.
Which agency and institute are offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aligned with the mission of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is to fund small businesses that can create or significantly advance complex three-dimensional (3-D) lab-grown human tissue models focused on musculoskeletal and skin biology. These models are intended to better reflect real human tissue behavior than traditional 2-D cell culture systems and serve as practical alternatives to animal models.
What kinds of tissue models are being sought?
The announcement emphasizes engineered 3-D human tissue or organ-like systems that support the study of normal human physiology and disease pathophysiology in a controlled in vitro environment, specifically in NIAMS-relevant musculoskeletal and skin areas.
Are projects required to use human cells?
Yes. A strict responsiveness requirement is that applications must use human cells in 3-D culture.
Are animal studies or non-human cells allowed under this FOA?
No. The announcement explicitly states it is not intended to support research based on non-human cells or animal studies. Applications that do not meet the human-cell, 3-D in vitro focus are considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
What does "in vitro" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this context, "in vitro" refers to studies performed in a controlled laboratory environment using 3-D cultured human cells and engineered tissue systems, rather than studies conducted in animals.
What does "3-D" mean here, and why is it important?
"3-D" refers to three-dimensional tissue models that are designed to more closely mimic the structure and behavior of real human tissues than conventional 2-D cell culture systems. The program aims to support models that improve human relevance for studying disease mechanisms and evaluating interventions.
Is the FOA focused on feasibility work or later-stage development?
It is focused on early-stage feasibility and proof-of-concept work, consistent with SBIR Phase I (R43).
Who is eligible to apply?
The FOA is open only to eligible small businesses, consistent with SBIR eligibility requirements.
Do applicants have to build a complete tissue model, or can they propose enabling tools?
Applicants may propose entirely new 3-D in vitro models or enabling technologies that address practical bottlenecks in building such models. The work must directly contribute to producing complex, useful 3-D human musculoskeletal or skin tissue models suitable for NIAMS-relevant research and development.
What kinds of bottlenecks or improvements does the FOA highlight?
The FOA allows for platform or enabling technologies intended to make complex tissue modeling more accurate, reproducible, scalable, or functional, as long as the work directly supports complex 3-D human musculoskeletal or skin tissue models.
What is meant by "NIAMS mission areas" in this opportunity?
Based on the announcement description, NIAMS mission alignment here refers to musculoskeletal and skin biology and diseases, with an emphasis on developing human-relevant 3-D in vitro tissue models for studying disease mechanisms and evaluating interventions.
What happens if an application is outside the stated scope?
Applications that do not use human cells in 3-D culture, that rely on animal studies or non-human cells, or that fall outside NIAMS mission areas are considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
What is the broader motivation for funding these models?
The program is motivated by translational needs: improving the realism and usefulness of preclinical testing so research can more reliably inform therapy development in NIAMS-relevant diseases, while reducing reliance on animal testing and addressing limitations of animal models in predicting human responses.
What is the maximum award amount for Phase I under this opportunity?
The award ceiling for Phase I is listed at $225,000.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AR-17-005.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The posting and creation date is January 19, 2016. The original and current closing date shown is October 18, 2016.
Is this opportunity described as discretionary funding?
Yes. It is listed as discretionary funding using a grant mechanism.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number included is 93.846.
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