Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 10 181
Apply for PAR 10 181
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Centers of Excellence (U54)" 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 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.867 Vision Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 29, 2010 and posted on Apr 29, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 14, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts 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 Special district governments Private institutions of higher education State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) City or township governments County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR-10-181 supports the creation and operation of Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Centers of Excellence using the U54 Specialized Center Cooperative Agreement mechanism. The central goal of this program is to speed the development of new or improved medical therapeutics that can be used when people are exposed to dangerous chemicals, whether from deliberate attacks (such as terrorism) or from accidental releases tied to industrial production, storage, or transportation. The FOA frames "chemical threats" broadly, covering classic chemical warfare nerve agents like sarin and VX as well as toxic industrial chemicals and pesticides such as cyanide, chlorine, parathion, and sodium fluoroacetate. In other words, the program is aimed at medical countermeasures that could matter in real-world emergencies affecting civilian and military populations.
The research scope is explicitly translational and is intended to move promising ideas along a development pipeline rather than stopping at early discovery. Supported activities can span from target and candidate identification and characterization, to candidate optimization, to demonstrating in vivo efficacy in appropriate models. Where it makes sense for a given therapeutic and where the project is ready, the work can progress as far as Investigational New Drug (IND) submission and even Phase 1 clinical trials. A defining feature is the expectation of a progressive development plan with clear, milestone-driven management, including discrete go/no-go decision points. That milestone structure is meant to keep projects focused on deliverables and to ensure that resources concentrate on candidates that continue to meet performance and feasibility benchmarks as the science advances.
Applicants are expected to build a true center rather than a collection of loosely related projects. Each CounterACT U54 Center of Excellence must include an administrative core and multiple scientifically related research and development subprojects, with additional scientific cores included when they are needed and well justified (for example, shared resources such as specialized assays, animal models, pharmacokinetics, analytical chemistry, biomarkers, or other technical capabilities). The FOA emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and synergy: the application needs to make a convincing case that organizing the work as a coordinated center will create added value, with projects sharing expertise, infrastructure, and resources in ways that improve outcomes compared to independent efforts.
This FOA uses a cooperative agreement (U54), which generally means NIH will have substantial involvement compared to a standard grant mechanism. Programmatic collaboration and oversight are typically tighter under cooperative agreements, aligning with the milestone-driven, translational nature of the work. The announcement notes that it runs in parallel with a companion FOA of the same scientific scope, PAR-10-180, which uses the U01 Research Project Cooperative Agreement mechanism. That parallel structure gives applicants options depending on whether their work is best organized as a multi-project center (U54) or as a different cooperative project configuration (U01).
Funding is described as an average NIH commitment of about $6 million per year across fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013 to support new and/or competing renewal awards, with the actual number of awards and individual award sizes varying based on application quality, scope, duration, and budget needs. The FOA makes clear that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Key dates listed include a posted and creation date of April 29, 2010, and a closing date of September 14, 2012, with an archive date of October 15, 2012. The estimated total funding amount shown is $6,000,000, reflecting the annual average commitment noted in the announcement.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can realistically assemble interdisciplinary biomedical research teams and infrastructure. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities other than universities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and a range of government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, and certain public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). The FOA also explicitly includes various mission-relevant and historically underrepresented institution types and communities, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and tribal governments or organizations (including certain categories beyond federally recognized tribal governments), as well as U.S. territories or possessions. Faith-based and community-based organizations are also listed among eligible applicants, as are eligible federal agencies.
Overall, PAR-10-181 is designed for teams that can operate like an integrated translational development engine: identifying therapeutic candidates against high-consequence chemical exposures, advancing them through optimization and preclinical proof of efficacy, and, when appropriate, pushing toward IND-enabling work and early clinical testing. The center structure, shared cores, and milestone-based go/no-go management are central to the program, reflecting NIH's intent to prioritize coordinated, outcome-driven countermeasure development that can improve national readiness for chemical emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIH PAR-10-181 (CounterACT U54 Research Centers of Excellence)
1) What is PAR-10-181?
PAR-10-181 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports the creation and operation of Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Centers of Excellence. It uses the U54 Specialized Center Cooperative Agreement mechanism.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to accelerate the development of new or improved medical therapeutics that can be used when people are exposed to dangerous chemicals, whether due to deliberate attacks (for example, terrorism) or accidental releases related to industrial production, storage, or transportation.
3) What kinds of chemical threats are included?
The FOA defines chemical threats broadly. It includes classic chemical warfare nerve agents such as sarin and VX, and also toxic industrial chemicals and pesticides such as cyanide, chlorine, parathion, and sodium fluoroacetate.
4) Is this program focused on basic research or translational development?
The scope is explicitly translational. The intent is to move promising therapeutic ideas along a development pipeline rather than stopping at early discovery.
5) What stages of research and development can be supported?
Supported activities can span target and candidate identification and characterization, candidate optimization, and demonstrating in vivo efficacy in appropriate models. Where appropriate and when the project is ready, the work can progress as far as Investigational New Drug (IND) submission and even Phase 1 clinical trials.
6) What does the FOA mean by a milestone-driven development plan?
The FOA expects a progressive development plan managed with clear, milestone-driven structure, including discrete go/no-go decision points. This approach is intended to keep projects focused on deliverables and to concentrate resources on candidates that continue to meet performance and feasibility benchmarks as the science advances.
7) What is a U54 Specialized Center Cooperative Agreement in this context?
A U54 is a cooperative agreement designed for multi-component, center-based programs. The FOA notes that cooperative agreements generally involve substantial NIH involvement compared to standard grants, which fits the program's translational focus and milestone-based oversight.
8) How is a U54 center expected to be organized?
Applicants are expected to build a true, coordinated center rather than a set of loosely related projects. Each U54 Center of Excellence must include an administrative core and multiple scientifically related research and development subprojects.
9) Are shared cores allowed or required?
In addition to the required administrative core and multiple subprojects, additional scientific cores may be included when needed and well justified. Examples of shared resources mentioned include specialized assays, animal models, pharmacokinetics, analytical chemistry, biomarkers, or other technical capabilities.
10) What does NIH mean by "synergy" and interdisciplinary collaboration for this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and synergy. The application is expected to make a convincing case that organizing the work as a coordinated center adds value through shared expertise, infrastructure, and resources, improving outcomes compared to independent efforts.
11) How does NIH involvement differ under this cooperative agreement?
The FOA indicates that NIH will have substantial involvement compared to standard grant mechanisms. This is aligned with the milestone-driven, translational nature of the program and suggests tighter programmatic collaboration and oversight.
12) Is there a related or companion funding opportunity?
Yes. The FOA states it runs in parallel with a companion announcement, PAR-10-180, which has the same scientific scope but uses the U01 Research Project Cooperative Agreement mechanism.
13) How should applicants choose between the U54 (PAR-10-181) and the companion U01 (PAR-10-180)?
Based on the FOA description, PAR-10-181 is intended for work best organized as a multi-project center (U54). The parallel U01 option provides an alternative cooperative project configuration for similar scientific goals.
14) What is the estimated funding level?
Funding is described as an average NIH commitment of about $6 million per year across fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013 to support new and/or competing renewal awards. The estimated total funding amount shown is $6,000,000, reflecting the annual average commitment described in the announcement.
15) How many awards will NIH make and how large will each award be?
The FOA notes that the actual number of awards and individual award sizes may vary based on application quality, scope, duration, and budget needs.
16) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities other than universities), and for-profit organizations (including small businesses).
18) Are government entities eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists a range of government entities as eligible applicants, including state governments, county governments, city/township governments, special district governments, and certain public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Eligible federal agencies are also included.
19) Are HBCUs, HSIs, and Tribal/Native-serving organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and tribal governments or organizations (including certain categories beyond federally recognized tribal governments).
20) Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists faith-based and community-based organizations among eligible applicants.
21) Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA indicates that U.S. territories or possessions are included among eligible applicants.
22) What makes a strong fit for this FOA based on the description?
Based on the FOA description, a strong fit is a team that can operate as an integrated, translational development engine: identifying therapeutic candidates for high-consequence chemical exposures, advancing candidates through optimization and preclinical proof of efficacy, and when appropriate pushing toward IND-enabling work and early clinical testing within a coordinated, milestone-driven center structure.
23) What are the key dates listed for PAR-10-181?
Key dates provided include a posted and creation date of April 29, 2010, a closing date of September 14, 2012, and an archive date of October 15, 2012.
24) What is the overall purpose of organizing projects into a center for this program?
The FOA indicates that the center structure (administrative core, multiple related subprojects, and justified shared cores) is intended to drive coordinated, outcome-focused countermeasure development by enabling resource sharing, collaboration, and synergy that improves results compared to separate, independent projects.
25) Does the FOA focus on civilian, military, or both populations?
The description indicates the program is aimed at countermeasures relevant to real-world emergencies affecting both civilian and military populations.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Research and Development for Next Generation Nuclear Physics Accelerator Facilities
Previous opportunity: Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Research Projects (U01)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAR 10 181
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 10 181) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Developmental Pharmacology (R01) Apply for PAR 11 057 Funding Number: PAR 11 057 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Developmental Pharmacology (R03) Apply for PAR 11 058 Funding Number: PAR 11 058 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Developmental Pharmacology (R21) Apply for PAR 11 059 Funding Number: PAR 11 059 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Research Projects (U01) Apply for PAR 11 155 Funding Number: PAR 11 155 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Autism Centers of Excellence Centers (P50) Apply for RFA HD 12 195 Funding Number: RFA HD 12 195 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Autism Centers of Excellence Networks (R01) Apply for RFA HD 12 196 Funding Number: RFA HD 12 196 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAR 10 181", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.