Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 10 019
Apply for PAR 10 019
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Exploratory/Developmental Projects in Translational Research (R21)" 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 93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.856 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training 93.867 Vision Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 2, 2009 and posted on Nov 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 1, 2012. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Independent school districts Special district governments Private institutions of higher education.
- 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Exploratory/Developmental Projects in Translational Research (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-10-019) is an NIH discretionary grant program designed to push early-stage, translation-focused studies that could lead to new or improved therapeutics for people acutely exposed to dangerous chemicals. The core aim is practical: reduce death and long-term injury (mortality and morbidity) following sudden exposures, with projects structured to produce convincing preliminary data that can support a later, larger, more comprehensive application to the NIH CounterACT program or other related federal research and development pathways. In other words, this FOA is meant to fund the kind of proof-of-concept work that turns an idea into something credible enough for bigger-scale development.
The chemical threats of interest span several real-world categories rather than being limited to battlefield agents. The announcement explicitly includes classic chemical warfare nerve agents such as sarin and VX, along with toxic industrial chemicals like cyanide and chlorine that could be encountered through accidents or intentional release, and toxic agricultural chemicals such as parathion and sodium fluoroacetate that may be involved in poisonings or misuse. The consistent thread across these examples is that exposures are acute and time-sensitive, and the desired outcome is a therapeutic intervention that can mitigate harm when minutes and hours matter.
NIH is using the Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) mechanism for this FOA. R21s are generally geared toward earlier, higher-uncertainty projects where the goal is to establish feasibility, demonstrate initial effectiveness, refine an approach, or generate key preliminary datasets rather than to complete a full multi-year development program. This fits the translational emphasis here: applicants are expected to propose work that can realistically move toward a usable medical countermeasure, even if it is still at an early stage. The FOA also signals that award size and project duration may vary because proposed studies can differ widely in scientific approach, experimental systems, and cost structure.
On funding level and award count, the FOA does not lock in a fixed number of grants. Instead, NIH indicates that the total dollars awarded and the number of awards will depend on the quality of the applications received, as well as the proposed duration and budget. An award ceiling of $250,000 is listed for the opportunity, reinforcing that this is a smaller, developmental award intended for targeted translational steps rather than full-scale product development.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations that can carry out biomedical and translational research. Eligible applicants include nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including city, county, special district, and independent school districts), tribal governments and tribal organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities), U.S. territories or possessions, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and for-profit entities including small businesses (with some distinctions between small businesses and other for-profit organizations). The FOA also calls out additional eligible organization categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Importantly, there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of receiving the award.
Administratively, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity was posted on November 2, 2009, with an original and current closing date listed as February 1, 2012, and an archive date of March 3, 2012. The CFDA program areas tied to the announcement cover a range of biomedical domains, including Environmental Health (93.113) as well as several NIH research program areas that can intersect with chemical injury and countermeasure development, such as neurosciences and neurological disorders, microbiology and infectious diseases research, and biomedical research and training. For applicants or institutions needing the full text, the FOA points to the NIH Grants Guide posting (PAR-10-019) and provides NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact information for access or linking issues.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted on-ramp into the NIH CounterACT ecosystem: it supports compact, translationally oriented projects aimed at discovering or advancing treatments for acute chemical exposures, with a strong emphasis on producing the early evidence needed to justify and de-risk larger subsequent investments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the CounterACT Exploratory/Developmental Projects in Translational Research (R21) opportunity?
It is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity under the Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) program, using the Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) mechanism. It is designed to support early-stage, translation-focused research aimed at developing new or improved therapeutics for people acutely exposed to dangerous chemicals.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-10-019.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The core goal is practical and patient-centered: reduce death and long-term injury (mortality and morbidity) after sudden, acute chemical exposures by supporting projects that generate convincing preliminary data to justify later, larger-scale development efforts.
What does "translational" mean in the context of this FOA?
Within this opportunity, translational work means studies that can realistically move toward a usable medical countermeasure (a therapeutic intervention) rather than remaining purely conceptual. The expectation is proof-of-concept work that makes an approach credible enough for larger follow-on applications and development pathways.
What kinds of outcomes should an R21 project aim to produce under this FOA?
Projects should be structured to produce preliminary, persuasive evidence of feasibility, initial effectiveness, or other key early data that can support a subsequent, more comprehensive application to the NIH CounterACT program or other related federal research and development pathways.
What types of chemical threats are included in the scope of this opportunity?
The FOA includes multiple real-world categories of acute chemical threats, including:
- Chemical warfare nerve agents (for example, sarin and VX)
- Toxic industrial chemicals (for example, cyanide and chlorine)
- Toxic agricultural chemicals (for example, parathion and sodium fluoroacetate)
The consistent theme is acute, time-sensitive exposure where minutes and hours matter and where a therapeutic intervention could mitigate harm.
Is this opportunity limited to battlefield chemical agents?
No. The announcement explicitly covers chemical warfare nerve agents as well as toxic industrial chemicals and toxic agricultural chemicals that could be involved in accidents, intentional releases, poisonings, or misuse.
What grant mechanism is used for this FOA, and what does that imply?
This FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) mechanism. R21 awards are generally intended for earlier-stage projects where uncertainty is higher and the focus is on establishing feasibility, demonstrating initial effectiveness, refining an approach, or generating key preliminary datasets (rather than completing full multi-year development).
How large can an award be under this opportunity?
The FOA lists an award ceiling of $250,000, reinforcing that the intent is to fund targeted, developmental translational steps rather than full-scale product development.
How many awards will NIH make, and how much total funding is available?
The FOA does not specify a fixed number of grants or a fixed total funding amount. NIH indicates the number of awards and total dollars will depend on application quality as well as proposed budgets and project durations.
Does the FOA specify a single standard project duration?
No. The FOA notes that award size and project duration may vary because projects can differ widely in scientific approach, experimental systems, and cost structure.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organization types that can carry out biomedical and translational research, including:
- Nonprofits (501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status)
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- State and local governments (including city, county, special district, and independent school districts)
- Tribal governments and tribal organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities)
- U.S. territories or possessions
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
- For-profit organizations, including small businesses (with distinctions between small businesses and other for-profit entities)
- Eligible federal agencies
Are specific institution categories encouraged or explicitly included as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, and regional organizations.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of receiving the award.
When was this opportunity posted, and what are the key dates listed?
The opportunity was posted on November 2, 2009. The original and current closing date listed is February 1, 2012. The archive date is March 3, 2012.
What program areas (CFDA) are associated with this announcement?
The FOA references CFDA program areas spanning multiple biomedical domains, including Environmental Health (93.113) and other NIH research areas that may intersect with chemical injury and countermeasure development, such as neurosciences and neurological disorders, microbiology and infectious diseases research, and biomedical research and training.
Where can applicants find the full text of the FOA?
The FOA points to the NIH Grants Guide posting for PAR-10-019 for the full announcement text.
Who should be contacted for issues accessing or linking to the FOA materials?
The FOA provides contact information for the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking issues.
How should this opportunity be understood within the broader NIH CounterACT program?
It is best viewed as an on-ramp into the NIH CounterACT ecosystem: a targeted, early-stage funding path to develop credible proof-of-concept and preliminary translational evidence that can de-risk and support later, larger CounterACT or related federal research and development applications.
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