Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 11 012
Apply for RFA ES 11 012
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers for Oceans and Human Health (P01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 15, 2011 and posted on Sep 15, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 22, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) City or township governments Small businesses 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 governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments County governments For profit organizations other than small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government 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 Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH) (P01) funding opportunity (RFA ES-11-012) was a joint solicitation from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support interdisciplinary research at the intersection of ocean science and human health. The core idea behind the program was to deliberately connect researchers who typically work in separate worlds, specifically ocean scientists and biomedical/public health scientists, so they could tackle ocean-related environmental health questions in a coordinated, center-style structure. The overall purpose was practical as well as scientific: improve understanding of marine processes and ocean systems in ways that can ultimately reduce or prevent public health risks.
A key emphasis of the FOA was on research that links what is happening in the ocean to measurable human exposures and health outcomes. The announcement highlighted several priority areas. One major area was harmful algal bloom (HAB) research, reflecting the public health relevance of marine toxins and bloom dynamics that can affect seafood safety, drinking water in some settings, and respiratory or other exposures in coastal communities. Another major focus was marine pollution, including chemical toxicants and related contaminants, with explicit interest in studying long-term chronic exposures as well as acute exposures. The FOA also called out the influence of global climate change on ocean-related human health outcomes, recognizing that changes in temperature, ocean circulation, storm patterns, and ecosystem dynamics can shift the distribution and intensity of hazards like HABs, pathogens, and contaminant movement. In addition, the opportunity encouraged method development, especially statistical and bioinformatic tools that can connect relatively mature oceanographic models with less-developed human exposure and disease models, which is often a bottleneck in translating ocean observations into public health insight.
The COHH centers were expected to build an environment where collaboration is not just nominal but truly integrated and mutually beneficial. The FOA described the desired team science profile: biomedical researchers such as epidemiologists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, microbiologists, and cell and molecular biologists working side by side with ocean scientists such as biological and physical oceanographers, geochemists, and ecologists. The intent was that each side would inform the other, for example by designing sampling and monitoring strategies that match health-relevant exposure questions, or by shaping health studies using mechanistic understanding of ocean processes that control when and where hazards occur. The unifying goal across these collaborations was to improve knowledge of how the ocean impacts human health, with an applied edge toward risk reduction.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this was a discretionary grant opportunity using the P01 (program project) mechanism, which typically supports multi-project, multi-investigator efforts organized around a central theme. The FOA was posted on September 15, 2011, with an original and current closing date of November 22, 2011, and an archive date of December 23, 2011. The estimated total funding listed was $4.2 million, and the award ceiling was $900,000. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement noted.
Eligibility was broad and included many organization types across academia, government, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including counties, cities, townships, special districts, and independent school districts), tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), small businesses, and other for-profit organizations that are not small businesses. The FOA also explicitly included additional eligible categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Importantly, non-U.S. entities were allowed to apply, and foreign components of U.S. organizations were also permitted, consistent with NIH policy language referenced in the notice.
In practical terms, this FOA was trying to move the field beyond parallel play, where ocean monitoring happens on one track and health research happens on another, and instead fund center-level programs that can translate ocean observations and models into credible exposure assessment, mechanistic understanding, and ultimately better public health decision-making. The full announcement was hosted by NIH, and the provided link pointed to the NIH grants guide page for RFA ES-11-012.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH) (P01) - RFA ES-11-012
1) What is the COHH (P01) funding opportunity (RFA ES-11-012)?
RFA ES-11-012 was a government grant funding opportunity for Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH) using the P01 (program project) mechanism. It was designed to support interdisciplinary, center-style research that connects ocean science with biomedical and public health science to address ocean-related environmental health questions and improve public health risk reduction.
2) Which agencies issued this solicitation?
This was a joint solicitation from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
3) What is the main purpose of the COHH program?
The program aimed to deliberately connect researchers who typically work separately (ocean scientists and biomedical/public health scientists) so they could jointly study how marine processes and ocean systems affect human exposure and health outcomes, with an applied goal of reducing or preventing public health risks.
4) What does a "center-style" structure mean in this context?
The opportunity emphasized coordinated, integrated research organized as a center, rather than isolated projects. The intent was to create an environment where collaboration is truly integrated and mutually beneficial across disciplines.
5) What grant mechanism was used?
The FOA used the P01 (program project) mechanism, which typically supports multi-project, multi-investigator efforts organized around a central theme.
6) What kinds of research topics were emphasized?
The FOA emphasized research that links ocean conditions and processes to measurable human exposures and health outcomes. Priority areas included harmful algal blooms (HABs), marine pollution (chemical toxicants and related contaminants), and the influence of global climate change on ocean-related human health outcomes. The opportunity also encouraged method development to connect ocean models with human exposure and disease models.
7) What was the role of harmful algal bloom (HAB) research in this FOA?
HAB research was highlighted as a major priority area due to its public health relevance. The FOA pointed to concerns such as marine toxins, bloom dynamics, seafood safety impacts, possible implications for drinking water in some settings, and respiratory or other exposures for coastal communities.
8) What does the FOA say about marine pollution research?
Marine pollution was another major focus, including chemical toxicants and related contaminants. The FOA explicitly expressed interest in studying both long-term chronic exposures and acute exposures.
9) How did climate change fit into the program priorities?
The FOA called out the influence of global climate change on ocean-related human health outcomes. It noted that changes in temperature, ocean circulation, storm patterns, and ecosystem dynamics can shift the distribution and intensity of hazards such as HABs, pathogens, and contaminant movement.
10) What kind of method development did the FOA encourage?
The opportunity encouraged method development, especially statistical and bioinformatic tools that can connect relatively mature oceanographic models with less-developed human exposure and disease models. This was framed as a common bottleneck in translating ocean observations into actionable public health insight.
11) What does "linking ocean conditions to measurable human exposures and health outcomes" mean here?
In this FOA, the emphasis was on making a clear connection between what is happening in the ocean (processes, hazards, transport, blooms, contaminants, changing climate-driven conditions) and measurable exposure pathways and health outcomes in humans, rather than studying ocean processes or health endpoints in isolation.
12) What kinds of disciplines and researchers were expected to collaborate?
The FOA described a team science model bringing biomedical and public health researchers (such as epidemiologists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, microbiologists, and cell and molecular biologists) together with ocean scientists (such as biological and physical oceanographers, geochemists, and ecologists).
13) How was collaboration expected to work in practice?
The intent was for each discipline to shape the other. Examples described in the FOA included designing sampling and monitoring strategies that match health-relevant exposure questions, and designing health studies informed by mechanistic understanding of ocean processes that determine when and where hazards occur.
14) What was the unifying goal across the collaborations?
The unifying goal was to improve knowledge of how the ocean impacts human health, with an applied emphasis on risk reduction.
15) What was the estimated total funding for this opportunity?
The FOA listed an estimated total funding amount of $4.2 million.
16) What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling listed in the opportunity was $900,000.
17) Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was noted in the information provided.
18) When was the FOA posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on September 15, 2011. The original and current closing date was November 22, 2011. The archive date was December 23, 2011.
19) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included public and private institutions of higher education; state and local governments (including counties, cities, townships, special districts, and independent school districts); tribal governments and tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); small businesses; and other for-profit organizations that are not small businesses.
20) Were specific institution types explicitly included?
Yes. The FOA explicitly included categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
21) Could non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities were allowed to apply, and foreign components of U.S. organizations were also permitted, consistent with the NIH policy language referenced in the notice.
22) Was this a mandatory or discretionary grant program?
The opportunity was described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
23) What was the practical problem this FOA was trying to solve?
The FOA aimed to move the field beyond "parallel play" where ocean monitoring and health research proceed separately. Instead, it sought center-level programs that translate ocean observations and models into credible exposure assessment and mechanistic understanding that can support better public health decision-making.
24) Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted by NIH, with a link pointing to the NIH grants guide page for RFA ES-11-012.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment Health
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Previous opportunity: Fall 2012 EPA Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships For Graduate Environmental Study
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|---|
| Oceans, Great Lakes and Human Health (R01) Apply for RFA ES 11 013 Funding Number: RFA ES 11 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
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| Novel Technologies for Rapid and Sensitive Biomonitoring in Humans (SBIR R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 12 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 12 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Limited Competition Planning Grants for Hubs of Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOHealth) (P20) Apply for RFA TW 12 001 Funding Number: RFA TW 12 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| SBIR E learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (SBIR R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 12 005 Funding Number: RFA ES 12 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Development Award (K22) Apply for PA 12 188 Funding Number: PA 12 188 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Transgenerational Inheritance in Mammals After Environmental Exposure (TIME) (R21) Apply for RFA ES 12 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 12 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Environmental Influences on the Microbiome (R21) Apply for RFA ES 12 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 12 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Novel Assays for Screening the Effects of Chemical Toxicants on Cell Differentiation (SBIR R43) Apply for RFA ES 13 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) Core Centers (P30) Apply for RFA ES 13 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Land Use Change and Disease Emergence Apply for RFI 486 13 00002 Funding Number: RFI 486 13 00002 Agency: Thailand USAID Bangkok Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21) Apply for PAR 13 136 Funding Number: PAR 13 136 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Twin Cities Clean Cities Initiative in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) NOI Not a Request for Proposals Apply for P13AP00046 Funding Number: P13AP00046 Agency: National Park Service Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $128,000 |
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| Research Linking Environmental Exposure to Alzheimers Disease (R01) Apply for RFA ES 13 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Research Linking Environmental Exposure to Neurodegenerative Disease (R21) Apply for RFA ES 13 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (SBIR R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 13 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Role of Environmental Exposures in the Development of Autoimmune Disease (R21) Apply for RFA ES 13 011 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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