Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 329
Apply for PAR 16 329
- The HHS-NIH11 in the environment, health 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, 93.846, 93.853, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2016 and posted on Jun 14, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 12, 2017. (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 $2,500,000.00 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 Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Centers of Excellence (U54) funding opportunity (PAR 16-329) is a NIH cooperative agreement designed to build and support multi-project research centers focused on developing medical therapeutics for chemical threats. The CounterACT program’s overall mission is to accelerate the discovery and development of new or improved treatments that could be used if people are exposed to dangerous chemicals, whether through a deliberate terrorist incident or an accidental release tied to industrial manufacturing, storage, or transportation. The types of chemical threats covered are broad and include classic chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and pesticides, reflecting real-world hazards that could affect civilian populations as well as emergency responders.
From a research standpoint, the FOA emphasizes translational work that moves from early discovery toward practical candidate therapeutics. Supported activities span target and candidate identification and characterization, optimization of promising candidates, and demonstration of in vivo efficacy in ways that align with the intended eventual use in humans. For groups applying as renewals (renewal U54 applications), the expectations are higher on maturity of deliverables: the work supported under this announcement should end with an optimized lead compound that is ready to move into advanced development, indicating a clear push toward products that can plausibly transition beyond academic proof-of-concept.
The center structure is a defining feature of this opportunity. Applicants are expected to propose a coordinated “center” that includes at least three distinct research projects, backed by an administrative core and a required research education core, with the option to include up to three scientific cores if they add value. The administrative core typically serves as the operational hub, coordinating governance, communication, reporting, and program management across projects and cores. Optional scientific cores are meant to provide shared capabilities that make the center more efficient and coherent, such as specialized chemistry, animal model support, pharmacology, toxicology, biomarker assays, imaging, or other cross-cutting platforms. The research education core underscores that NIH is also investing in workforce development and training related to chemical countermeasure science, helping ensure the field has the expertise needed for long-term preparedness.
A major requirement across the research projects is the use of clear, milestone-driven planning. Each project must include milestones that create discrete “go/no-go” decision points, meaning the center should be built around objective criteria for advancing, redirecting, or stopping lines of work based on data. This milestone approach signals that NIH expects rigorous project management and disciplined progression through a translational pipeline, rather than open-ended exploratory research. In practice, this means applicants need to propose measurable benchmarks (for example, potency or selectivity thresholds, pharmacokinetic targets, safety/tolerability parameters, or efficacy endpoints in relevant animal models) and explain how those benchmarks will govern development decisions as the work proceeds.
Administratively, this FOA is listed as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U54), which generally implies substantial NIH program involvement compared with a standard research grant. The administering agency is NIH (HHS-NIH11), and the activity falls in the environment and health space. The catalog numbers associated with the opportunity include 93.113, 93.846, 93.853, and 93.867. The posted and creation dates are June 14, 2016, and the application closing date shown is September 12, 2017. The award ceiling is listed at $2,500,000, indicating the maximum anticipated annual budget level per award under the announcement (as presented in the source summary).
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations, reflecting NIH’s intent to draw on academic, governmental, nonprofit, and private-sector expertise. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as further clarified in the FOA’s eligibility text.
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at assembling interdisciplinary teams that can operate like a focused development program inside an academic-style center: multiple coordinated projects, shared infrastructure, structured decision-making via milestones, and an explicit goal of delivering candidate therapeutics that can realistically move toward advanced development and, eventually, human use in response to high-consequence chemical exposures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the CounterACT Research Centers of Excellence (U54) funding opportunity?
It is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity (PAR 16-329) to build and support multi-project research centers focused on developing medical therapeutics for chemical threats. The program is part of NIH's Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) initiative.
What is the overall mission of the CounterACT program?
The mission is to accelerate the discovery and development of new or improved treatments that could be used if people are exposed to dangerous chemicals, whether from a deliberate terrorist incident or an accidental release associated with industrial manufacturing, storage, or transportation.
What kinds of chemical threats are covered under this opportunity?
The scope is broad and includes classic chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and pesticides. The intent is to address real-world hazards affecting civilian populations as well as emergency responders.
What type of research does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes translational research that moves from early discovery toward practical candidate therapeutics. Supported activities include target and candidate identification and characterization, optimization of promising candidates, and demonstration of in vivo efficacy aligned with intended eventual human use.
What is the expected end product or deliverable for renewal (renewal U54) applications?
For renewal U54 applications, expectations are higher for maturity of deliverables. Work supported under this announcement is expected to end with an optimized lead compound that is ready to move into advanced development, reflecting a push beyond academic proof-of-concept.
What funding mechanism is used (and what does that imply)?
The mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U54). This generally implies substantial NIH program involvement compared with a standard research grant, consistent with the milestone-driven, translational focus described in the opportunity.
What is the required center structure for an application?
Applicants are expected to propose a coordinated center that includes at least three distinct research projects, an administrative core, and a required research education core. In addition, applicants may include up to three optional scientific cores if they add value.
How many research projects must be included in the proposed center?
The proposed center must include at least three distinct research projects.
What is the role of the Administrative Core?
The administrative core typically serves as the operational hub for the center, coordinating governance, communication, reporting, and overall program management across the projects and cores.
Is a Research Education Core required, and why?
Yes. A research education core is required. It reflects NIH's investment in workforce development and training related to chemical countermeasure science, helping ensure long-term expertise and preparedness in the field.
Are Scientific Cores required?
No. Scientific cores are optional. However, applicants may include up to three scientific cores if they add value to the center by providing shared capabilities that increase efficiency and coherence.
What are examples of functions an optional Scientific Core might provide?
Examples include specialized chemistry, animal model support, pharmacology, toxicology, biomarker assays, imaging, or other cross-cutting platforms that serve multiple projects within the center.
What does "milestone-driven planning" mean in this FOA?
Each research project must include clear milestones that create discrete go/no-go decision points. These milestones provide objective criteria for advancing, redirecting, or stopping lines of work based on data, supporting rigorous project management and disciplined progression through a translational pipeline.
What are "go/no-go" decision points?
They are predefined checkpoints tied to measurable criteria. Based on whether the criteria are met, the project (or a development path) should proceed (go), be redirected, or be stopped (no-go).
What kinds of benchmarks are mentioned as examples of milestones?
The opportunity describes examples such as potency or selectivity thresholds, pharmacokinetic targets, safety/tolerability parameters, and efficacy endpoints in relevant animal models.
Which agency administers this opportunity?
The administering agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), identified as HHS-NIH11 in the provided summary.
What is the program or activity area associated with this opportunity?
The activity is described as being in the environment and health space.
What are the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers associated with this opportunity?
The associated catalog numbers listed are 93.113, 93.846, 93.853, and 93.867.
What is the application deadline shown in the provided information?
The application closing date shown is September 12, 2017.
What are the posted and creation dates listed for this opportunity?
The posted and creation dates are both listed as June 14, 2016.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $2,500,000, described as the maximum anticipated annual budget level per award under the announcement (as presented in the source summary).
Is the funding described as discretionary?
Yes. The FOA is listed as discretionary funding.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as further clarified in the FOA's eligibility text.
Does NIH appear to be encouraging interdisciplinary teams and coordinated programs?
Yes. The opportunity is aimed at assembling interdisciplinary teams that operate like a focused development program inside an academic-style center, using multiple coordinated projects, shared infrastructure, and structured milestone-based decision-making to deliver therapeutics that can realistically move toward advanced development and eventual human use for high-consequence chemical exposures.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 16 329) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT): Optimization of Therapeutic Lead Compounds (U01) Apply for PAR 16 331 Funding Number: PAR 16 331 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT): Identification of Therapeutic Lead Compounds (U01) Apply for PAR 16 330 Funding Number: PAR 16 330 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Enhancing Diversity in Biomedical Data Science (R25) Apply for RFA MD 16 002 Funding Number: RFA MD 16 002 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Collaborative Activities to Expedite Environmental Health Science Research, Translation, and Community Engagement Across EHS Core Centers (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 317 Funding Number: PA 17 317 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 046 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 046 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Collaborative Activities to Expedite Environmental Health Science Research, Translation, and Community Engagement Across EHS Core Centers (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 770 Funding Number: PA 18 770 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 002 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| NIEHS Research Intensive Short Courses and Educational Opportunities (NIEHS RISE) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 20 015 Funding Number: RFA ES 20 015 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2022 Apply for PAS JOR FY22 003 Funding Number: PAS JOR FY22 003 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jordan Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| SBIR E-learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 16 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Preconception Exposure Window and Health of the Offspring (R01) Apply for RFA ES 16 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Transition Award (K01) Apply for PAR 16 360 Funding Number: PAR 16 360 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) (R35) Apply for RFA ES 16 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Environmental Health Cohorts Maintenance and Infrastructure (R24) Apply for RFA ES 16 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 16 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Powering Research through Innovative Methods for mixtures in Epidemiology (PRIME) (R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| NIH Revision Awards for Creating Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER)(R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Summer Research Experiences for Students and Science Teachers (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 055 Funding Number: PA 17 055 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers for Oceans and Human Health 3: Impacts of Climate Change on Oceans and Great Lakes (COHH3) (P01) Apply for RFA ES 16 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $900,000 |
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