Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2011 STAR E1
Apply for EPA G2011 STAR E1
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developing High Throughput Assays for Predictive Modeling of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity Modulated Through the Endocrine System or Pertinent Pathways in Humans and Species Relevant to Ecological Risk Assessment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.509 Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Research Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 28, 2011 and posted on Jan 28, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 5, 2011 Please see the announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on due dates and submission methods.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Please see Section III of the announcement for eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this Science To Achieve Results (STAR) grant opportunity to support research that builds and improves high throughput assay systems capable of predicting reproductive and developmental toxicity. The central idea is to move beyond simply observing harmful outcomes and instead develop faster, more scalable laboratory testing approaches that can help explain how exposure to a chemical, or a mixture of chemicals, can be causally linked to adverse "apical" outcomes, meaning real-world endpoints such as impaired fertility, abnormal development, or other measurable harms relevant to reproduction and development. While the endocrine system is a major focus because endocrine disruption is a well-known driver of developmental and reproductive effects, EPA is also explicitly interested in assays that capture toxicity operating through other relevant biological pathways that can lead to the same kinds of adverse outcomes.
A key emphasis is that the proposed assays should be useful for predictive modeling, not just for producing raw screening signals. In practice, this means applicants are expected to develop or refine assays that generate interpretable biological information that can feed into models connecting molecular or cellular perturbations to organism-level effects. EPA highlights the need to understand causality from exposure to outcome, suggesting interest in approaches that help map the chain of events from an initial biological interaction through intermediate pathway changes to final adverse effects. Assay systems can be designed around mechanisms tied to endocrine signaling or other pathways pertinent to developmental and reproductive toxicity, and they should be relevant to humans and also to species that matter for ecological risk assessment, reflecting EPA's dual mission of protecting human health and the environment.
The solicitation is framed around the need to evaluate many chemicals efficiently, including chemical mixtures, using high throughput methods. High throughput assays generally imply methods that can test large numbers of substances or conditions quickly and comparatively, which is especially important given the large universe of environmental chemicals and the practical limits of time- and resource-intensive traditional testing. By supporting assay development in both human-relevant and ecologically relevant species or systems, the EPA is encouraging tools that can inform regulatory science, chemical prioritization, and risk assessment decisions across multiple contexts, including potential impacts on wildlife populations and ecosystems as well as on human reproductive and developmental health.
Funding is offered under the EPA STAR Research Program (CFDA 66.509) and is categorized as discretionary environmental research support. The agency anticipated making about nine awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $10.8 million. The ceiling for an individual award was $1.2 million, and there was no stated minimum award amount. The opportunity allowed for both grants and cooperative agreements, meaning some projects could involve a more substantial level of EPA involvement or coordination depending on the award structure and the needs of the research program. No cost sharing or matching was required, which reduces the financial barrier for many research institutions and eligible applicants.
A notable feature of this announcement is the inclusion of an early career component in addition to standard awards. EPA indicated that early career projects were eligible under this solicitation, and applicants were directed to consult Section III of the Request for Applications for the exact eligibility rules and definitions. This is important because early career tracks often have specific requirements related to the investigator's career stage, independence, and appointment status, and they may be reviewed with those criteria in mind.
In terms of timing and administrative details, the opportunity was posted on January 28, 2011, with an application closing date of May 5, 2011, and it was later archived on June 4, 2011. EPA pointed applicants to the full announcement for precise submission instructions and due date details, particularly in Section IV, which typically covers application format, submission portals, and deadlines. Contact points were provided for eligibility questions, electronic submission issues, and technical questions, reflecting that EPA expected applicants to engage with the solicitation requirements closely and to align proposed assay development work with the program's predictive modeling and risk assessment objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this EPA STAR grant opportunity focused on?
This EPA Science To Achieve Results (STAR) opportunity supports research to build and improve high throughput assay systems that can predict reproductive and developmental toxicity. The goal is to create faster, scalable laboratory approaches that help explain how exposure to a chemical (or mixtures of chemicals) can be causally linked to adverse real-world outcomes.
What kinds of health or biological outcomes are included under "reproductive and developmental toxicity" in this announcement?
The announcement emphasizes adverse "apical" outcomes, meaning real-world endpoints such as impaired fertility, abnormal development, and other measurable harms relevant to reproduction and development.
What does EPA mean by "apical" outcomes?
"Apical" outcomes are organism-level endpoints that reflect actual adverse effects, such as reduced fertility or developmental abnormalities, rather than only molecular or cellular changes.
Why is EPA emphasizing causality from exposure to outcome?
EPA is looking for approaches that help map the chain of events from an initial biological interaction through intermediate pathway changes to a final adverse effect. This reflects an interest in linking exposure to mechanism and then to organism-level outcomes, rather than only observing harmful effects after they occur.
Is the endocrine system the only mechanism of interest?
No. While endocrine disruption is a major focus due to its well-known role in reproductive and developmental effects, EPA also explicitly invites assays that capture toxicity operating through other relevant biological pathways that can lead to similar adverse outcomes.
What does "high throughput assay" mean in the context of this solicitation?
Are chemical mixtures within the scope of the research?
Yes. The opportunity highlights the need to evaluate many chemicals efficiently, including chemical mixtures, using high throughput methods.
Is the EPA looking for screening assays, predictive tools, or both?
The emphasis is on assays that are useful for predictive modeling, not just assays that produce raw screening signals. Applicants are expected to develop or refine assays that generate interpretable biological information that can feed into models connecting molecular or cellular perturbations to organism-level effects.
What characteristics should the assay systems have to support predictive modeling?
Based on the announcement, assay systems should produce interpretable biological information and help connect perturbations at the molecular or cellular level to adverse apical outcomes. EPA highlights interest in understanding causality and mapping the chain of events from exposure to effect.
Do the assays need to be relevant to humans, ecological species, or both?
EPA encourages assays that are relevant to humans and also to species important for ecological risk assessment. This reflects EPA's dual mission of protecting human health and the environment.
How does this research connect to EPA decision-making?
The solicitation frames these tools as supporting regulatory science, chemical prioritization, and risk assessment decisions across multiple contexts, including potential impacts on wildlife populations and ecosystems as well as human reproductive and developmental health.
What program is funding this opportunity?
Funding is offered under the EPA STAR Research Program (CFDA 66.509) and is categorized as discretionary environmental research support.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making, and what was the total estimated funding?
EPA anticipated making about nine awards with an estimated total funding amount of $10.8 million.
What was the maximum award amount per project?
The ceiling for an individual award was $1.2 million.
Was there a minimum award size stated?
No minimum award amount was stated in the information provided.
What types of funding instruments were available (grant vs cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity allowed for both grants and cooperative agreements. This means some projects could involve a more substantial level of EPA involvement or coordination depending on the award structure and program needs.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated that no cost sharing or matching was required.
Was there an early career option under this solicitation?
Yes. The announcement included an early career component in addition to standard awards. Applicants were directed to consult Section III of the Request for Applications for the exact eligibility rules and definitions for early career projects.
Where were the detailed eligibility requirements described?
Applicants were directed to Section III of the Request for Applications for detailed eligibility rules and definitions (including early career eligibility).
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on January 28, 2011, and the application closing date was May 5, 2011.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on June 4, 2011.
Where would applicants have found submission instructions and formatting requirements?
EPA pointed applicants to the full announcement for precise submission instructions and due date details, particularly in Section IV (which typically covers application format, submission portals, and deadlines).
Were contact points available for questions?
Yes. Contact points were provided for eligibility questions, electronic submission issues, and technical questions, indicating EPA expected applicants to closely follow the solicitation requirements and align proposals with the program objectives.
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