Deep Sequencing and Haplotype Profiling of Mental Disorders (Collaborative R01) | Apply Online

FAQs: Deep Sequencing and Haplotype Profiling of Mental Disorders (Collaborative R01) - PAR-08-199

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled Deep Sequencing and Haplotype Profiling of Mental Disorders (Collaborative R01), with FOA number PAR-08-199.

Which agency and institute lead this opportunity?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program led by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

What is the overall purpose of PAR-08-199?

The FOA was designed to push psychiatric genetics beyond broad association signals and toward more biologically and clinically informative detail by using higher-resolution genomic interrogation (deep sequencing and haplotype profiling). It emphasizes clarifying how genomic function, genomic structure, and environmental factors may interact in mental disorders.

What does the FOA mean by "disaggregating" a disorder?

Rather than treating a diagnosis as a single uniform entity, the FOA encourages studies that break a disorder into more finite and measurable components of risk. The stated goal is to identify meaningful subtypes, pathways, or risk architectures that could eventually support genomic medicine and new ways of understanding psychiatric illness.

What kinds of scientific impact does the FOA anticipate?

The announcement explicitly frames the opportunity as supporting work that could be incremental or genuinely paradigm-shifting, including efforts that introduce evolutionary insights or fundamentally new models for understanding psychiatric illness.

What research approaches are encouraged?

The FOA encourages large-scale designs and innovative analytic strategies that capitalize on deep sequencing and haplotype profiling. It contemplates both cost-effective whole genome analysis approaches and more targeted but intensive sequencing of candidate genes and genomic regions.

Does the FOA allow whole genome approaches, or only targeted sequencing?

Both are in scope based on the description provided: applicants could propose cost-effective whole genome analysis approaches, or more targeted but intensive sequencing of candidate genes and genomic regions.

Are family-based studies allowed under this FOA?

Yes. The FOA includes family-based studies, such as pedigrees that can help track inherited segments and rare variants.

Are studies of unrelated individuals allowed (case series or case-control)?

Yes. The FOA also includes studies of unrelated cases, including case series or case-control frameworks, as long as the design is powerful and appropriate for the genetic architecture being tested.

What is haplotype analysis, and why is it emphasized here?

Haplotype analysis refers to methods that analyze combinations of variants inherited together. The FOA highlights this because haplotypes can capture risk signals that single-variant tests might miss and can improve localization of functional alleles.

Does the FOA support methods development?

Yes. It explicitly welcomes development of new analytical methods, reflecting the need for statistical and computational innovation to interpret deep sequencing datasets for complex psychiatric traits.

What grant mechanism is used?

The opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism and is labeled a Collaborative R01.

What does "Collaborative R01" imply?

Based on the description provided, the "Collaborative R01" label signals an expectation of teamwork and coordinated efforts that may involve multiple investigators, sites, or disciplines.

What is the activity category?

The activity category is listed as Health.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity specifies no cost sharing or matching requirement, consistent with typical NIH research project grants.

When was this funding opportunity originally posted?

The record indicates it was originally posted on July 24, 2008.

What are the key dates mentioned for closing or archiving?

The record mentions an original closing date of September 7, 2011, and also lists later system dates, including a "current closing date" shown as January 7, 2010 and an archive date of February 7, 2010. The description notes that NIH postings can be updated or archived over time, which can lead to multiple dates appearing in the record.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic and non-domestic organization types commonly participating in NIH research. Examples listed include state, county, city, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); independent school districts; and public housing authorities (including Indian housing authorities).

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations.

Are minority-serving institutions included in the eligibility list?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities.

Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes faith-based and community-based organizations.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes eligible federal agencies.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions.

Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?

Yes. Foreign (non-U.S.) entities are listed as eligible, which the description notes is notable for international collaborations in genetics and genomics.

Where could applicants find the full announcement or get help with access issues?

The full announcement was hosted through NIH grants policy and funding opportunity pages (with an additional information link provided in the source). Assistance for access or linking issues was routed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact.

What types of outcomes or advances is the FOA trying to catalyze?

Overall, the opportunity aimed to catalyze ambitious sequencing-driven and haplotype-focused research programs that can break complex psychiatric diagnoses into more precise genetic risk components, while also advancing the analytic tools and frameworks needed to interpret genomic data at scale.