Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 13 385
Apply for PAR 13 385
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Epigenetic Modification in Gametogenesis and Transgenerational Inheritance (R01)" 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 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 20, 2013 and posted on Nov 5, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 30, 2015. (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: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses County governments City or township governments Independent school districts Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
This NIH grant opportunity, titled "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Epigenetic Modification in Gametogenesis and Transgenerational Inheritance (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-13-385), was designed to fund research that maps and explains how environmental exposures can alter epigenetic programming in reproductive cells and very early embryos, and how those changes might be passed on to offspring. The central goal is to move beyond isolated findings and instead build comprehensive, reference-quality epigenomic resources for male gametes, female gametes, and pre-implantation embryos after exposure to a defined environmental factor or insult. In practical terms, NIH is looking for projects that can generate a well-annotated, broadly useful compendium or atlas of epigenetic changes across key developmental stages, link those changes to specific genes and pathways, and connect them to measurable outcomes in the next generation.
The scientific focus sits squarely in the DOHaD framework, which emphasizes that early-life conditions, including conditions present even before implantation, can shape later health and disease risk. This FOA narrows that lens to epigenetic modification during spermatogenesis and oogenesis and during the earliest stages of embryonic development, because these windows involve extensive epigenetic reprogramming and therefore represent both high vulnerability to environmental disruption and high potential for inherited effects. The opportunity emphasizes exposure to a particular environmental factor or insult, meaning applicants are expected to clearly define the exposure being studied (for example, a chemical, nutritional stressor, endocrine disruptor, psychosocial stress proxy, or other relevant environmental influence) and then systematically evaluate epigenomic consequences during the relevant reproductive and early developmental stages.
A key element NIH highlights is the creation of "comprehensive reference epigenomes" rather than small-scale profiling. That points to generating datasets that are deep, well-controlled, and staged across development, capturing epigenetic states in male and female gametes and in pre-implantation embryos. While the FOA text in the summary does not list specific assays, the intent is consistent with reference epigenome work such as genome-wide DNA methylation mapping, histone modification profiling, chromatin accessibility, small and long noncoding RNA characterization, and other epigenetic marks that regulate gene expression without changing DNA sequence. The envisioned atlas would annotate how these marks change across stages of spermatogenesis and oogenesis and through pre-implantation embryo development following the exposure, and then identify which genes and regulatory regions are affected. Importantly, the FOA also calls for characterization of resulting phenotypes in offspring, signaling that NIH wants applicants to connect molecular epigenetic alterations to biological outcomes, not just descriptive maps. Phenotypes could include developmental measures, metabolic traits, neurobehavioral outcomes, reproductive effects, or other relevant endpoints, depending on the exposure and model.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is an NIH discretionary grant using the R01 mechanism, meaning it supports mature, hypothesis-driven research programs that can produce significant, multi-aim datasets and analyses. The activity category is listed under Health, and the CFDA numbers referenced are 93.113 (Environmental Health) and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research), reflecting the cross-cutting relevance to environmental health sciences and developmental biology. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching. The award ceiling shown in the source data is $250,000, which typically signals a budget cap for direct costs per year or a similar constraint depending on NIH policy and FOA specifics, and applicants would need to align the scope of work with that limit.
Eligibility for this FOA was broad. It included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), small businesses and other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are explicitly listed as eligible), and multiple levels of government such as state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments and school districts. Tribal organizations and tribal governments were included, both federally recognized and other-than-federally-recognized, along with public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities. The FOA also explicitly allowed non-U.S. entities to apply: foreign organizations and foreign institutions were eligible, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations could apply, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement were permitted. The eligibility section also calls out a range of institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, TCCUs, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and regional organizations, underscoring NIH's intent to encourage wide participation.
In terms of timing, the FOA was posted on November 5, 2013, created on November 20, 2013, and had an original and current closing date of January 30, 2015. It was archived on March 2, 2015, meaning it is no longer accepting applications under that specific announcement, though similar topic areas may reappear under newer NIH FOAs. The sponsoring agency was the National Institutes of Health, and the full announcement was available through the NIH grants guide at the link provided in the source material. Contact support in the provided text points to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for technical issues accessing or linking to the announcement.
Overall, the opportunity was essentially a call to build foundational, reference-grade epigenomic maps for reproductive cells and early embryos under environmentally perturbed conditions, paired with gene-level interpretation and offspring phenotype assessment. The expected impact is to create shared resources and mechanistic insight that help the field understand how environmental exposures during gamete formation and the earliest embryonic stages can influence health trajectories and potentially contribute to transgenerational inheritance patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?
The opportunity is titled "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Epigenetic Modification in Gametogenesis and Transgenerational Inheritance (R01)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-13-385.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to support research that maps and explains how a defined environmental exposure can alter epigenetic programming in male and female reproductive cells (gametes) and very early embryos, and how those changes may be passed to offspring. A central goal is to move beyond isolated findings by creating comprehensive, reference-quality epigenomic resources (an atlas/compendium) that are broadly useful to the field.
What scientific framework does this FOA emphasize?
This FOA is rooted in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework, which emphasizes that early-life conditions, including those present before implantation, can shape later health and disease risk.
Which developmental windows are the focus of the research?
The focus is on epigenetic modification during spermatogenesis (male gamete development), oogenesis (female gamete development), and the earliest stages of embryonic development (pre-implantation embryos), because these windows involve extensive epigenetic reprogramming and may be especially vulnerable to environmental disruption and potential inherited effects.
What does NIH mean by "comprehensive reference epigenomes" in this context?
It indicates an expectation for deep, well-controlled, stage-resolved datasets across development (male gametes, female gametes, and pre-implantation embryos) after exposure to a defined environmental factor. The aim is a reference-quality compendium/atlas rather than limited, small-scale profiling.
Does the FOA require applicants to study a specific type of environmental exposure?
No single exposure is mandated, but applicants are expected to clearly define the particular environmental factor or insult being studied and to systematically evaluate epigenomic consequences during relevant reproductive and early developmental stages. Examples mentioned include chemicals, nutritional stressors, endocrine disruptors, and psychosocial stress proxies, among other relevant environmental influences.
What kinds of epigenetic data are envisioned for the atlas?
While the summary does not list required assays, it aligns with reference epigenome-style work such as genome-wide DNA methylation mapping, histone modification profiling, chromatin accessibility, small and long noncoding RNA characterization, and other epigenetic marks that regulate gene expression without changing DNA sequence.
What is NIH expecting applicants to produce as deliverables?
NIH is looking for a well-annotated, broadly useful compendium/atlas of epigenetic changes across key developmental stages following a defined exposure, including annotation of affected genes and regulatory regions and interpretation in terms of genes and pathways.
Is this FOA intended for purely descriptive epigenomic mapping projects?
No. In addition to building reference-grade epigenomic resources, the FOA emphasizes connecting epigenetic alterations to measurable phenotypes in offspring, indicating a preference for projects that link molecular changes to biological outcomes.
What kinds of offspring phenotypes are within scope?
The FOA indicates phenotypes could include developmental measures, metabolic traits, neurobehavioral outcomes, reproductive effects, or other relevant endpoints, depending on the exposure and model used.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This is an NIH discretionary grant using the R01 mechanism, which typically supports mature, hypothesis-driven research programs capable of producing significant multi-aim datasets and analyses.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed under Health.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The CFDA numbers referenced are 93.113 (Environmental Health) and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling shown in the source data is $250,000. This commonly signals a budget cap (often in direct costs per year or a similar constraint depending on NIH policy and FOA specifics), and applicants would need to align the project scope with that limit.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), small businesses, and other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are explicitly listed as eligible). Multiple levels of government are included (state, county, city/township, special district governments, and school districts), as well as tribal organizations and tribal governments (federally recognized and other-than-federally-recognized), public housing authorities, and Indian housing authorities.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) applicants eligible?
Yes. Foreign organizations and foreign institutions were eligible, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations could apply, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) were permitted.
Does the FOA encourage participation from specific institution types?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly calls out a range of institution types, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, TCCUs, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and regional organizations, signaling an intent to encourage wide participation.
When was this FOA posted and when did it close?
It was posted on November 5, 2013, created on November 20, 2013, and had an original and current closing date of January 30, 2015.
Is this funding opportunity still accepting applications?
No. It was archived on March 2, 2015, which means it is no longer accepting applications under that specific announcement, even though similar topic areas may appear in newer NIH funding opportunities.
Which agency sponsored this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency was the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Where was the full announcement made available?
The full announcement was available through the NIH grants guide at the link provided in the source material.
Who is listed for technical help with accessing or linking to the announcement?
The contact support mentioned in the provided text points to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for technical issues accessing or linking to the announcement.
What is the overall research impact this FOA is aiming for?
The intended impact is to create shared, foundational resources and mechanistic insight into how environmental exposures during gamete formation and the earliest embryonic stages can influence health trajectories and may contribute to transgenerational inheritance patterns.
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