Differential Effects on Homozygous Twin Astronauts Associated with Differences in Exposure to Spaceflight Factors | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a NASA Johnson Space Center grant solicitation released under the broader Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) 2013 NASA Research Announcement (NRA). The specific topic is titled "Differential Effects on Homozygous Twin Astronauts Associated with Differences in Exposure to Spaceflight Factors" (often referred to as the "TWINS" topic) under Funding Opportunity Number NNJ13ZSA002N.

2) What is the main purpose of the TWINS topic?

The TWINS topic supports applied research that advances NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) by using a rare research scenario: identical (homozygous) twin astronauts with different exposure to spaceflight conditions. By comparing outcomes between genetically matched individuals, researchers can better isolate the effects of spaceflight stressors such as microgravity, radiation, confinement, and altered day-night cycles, with the goal of improving astronaut health, safety, and performance.

3) What kinds of spaceflight factors does this research aim to separate or "tease apart"?

Based on the solicitation description, the research emphasis is on differentiating the effects of spaceflight-related stressors including microgravity, radiation, confinement, altered day-night cycles, and other mission factors by leveraging genetically identical twins who differ primarily in spaceflight exposure.

4) How does this opportunity fit within NASA's Human Research Program (HRP)?

This solicitation sits within NASA's HRP and is intended to strengthen the evidence base for countermeasures and operational tools. The twin-comparison approach is highlighted as a way to reduce scientific "noise" from genetic variability, which is a major challenge in human spaceflight biomedical research.

5) What are the major program elements within HRP mentioned in the opportunity?

The opportunity describes six major HRP program elements:

• Space Radiation
• Human Health and Countermeasures
• Exploration Medical Capability
• Behavioral Health and Performance
• Space Human Factors and Habitability
• International Space Station Medical Project

6) What discipline areas can proposals align with?

The announcement notes fourteen supporting discipline areas that proposals may align with:

• Behavioral health
• Bone
• Cardiovascular
• EVA (extravehicular activity)
• Immunology
• Medical capabilities
• Muscle
• Nutrition
• Pharmacology
• Radiation
• Sensorimotor function
• Advanced food technology
• Advanced environmental health
• Space human factors engineering

7) What types of research activities are supported?

The solicitation describes support for applied research intended to produce actionable outputs. Examples mentioned include smaller, focused efforts such as data analysis, and larger efforts such as developing or validating scientific hardware, technologies, or more extensive research activities.

8) What are the expected outcomes or deliverables NASA is looking for?

The opportunity is designed to generate actionable research outputs such as validated countermeasures, improved understanding of spaceflight-induced physiological and behavioral changes, and technologies or analytical tools that can be translated into operational practice for human exploration missions.

9) What award type will NASA use?

Funding is provided as grants. The announcement also notes that NASA reserves the right to select the most appropriate award instrument for proposals chosen under the announcement.

10) What is the typical award size?

Typical award sizes range from under $100,000 per year for smaller, focused efforts (such as data analysis) to roughly $450,000 per year for larger efforts (such as developing or validating scientific hardware, technologies, or more extensive research activities).

11) How much total funding is available?

The amount available depends on the HRP program element and can range from less than $1 million to several million dollars. This scale may allow NASA to fund anywhere from a handful to a dozen or more proposals per element, depending on priorities and proposal quality.

12) How long can the project period be?

Periods of performance may run from one to five years, allowing anything from short, targeted analyses to multi-year projects that build tools, datasets, and validated countermeasures intended for operational use.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that it does not require cost sharing or matching.

14) What is the CFDA number and program category associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 43.003 (Exploration) and is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

15) Is this solicitation considered a broad agency announcement (BAA)?

Yes. It is identified as a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2).

16) Where do applicants find the solicitation and submit proposals?

The opportunity is administered through NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System). The HERO NRA and appendices are posted there, and proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES.

17) Can the opportunity also appear on Grants.gov or FedBizOpps.gov?

Yes, it may be visible on FedBizOpps.gov and/or Grants.gov, but NASA emphasizes that NSPIRES is the authoritative system for the NRA.

18) What is the submission process (one-step or two-step)?

NASA notes that many program elements use a two-step submission process (commonly a notice of intent followed by a full proposal, or a preliminary proposal followed by an invited full proposal). Some elements may use a one-step process depending on the appendix instructions.

19) Is a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?

A notice of intent is requested electronically. The opportunity also notes that proposers are expected to follow the formatting, content, and compliance rules in the solicitation.

20) What happens if a proposal does not follow the formatting or compliance rules?

The announcement states that nonconforming proposals can be deemed noncompliant and handled under the NASA FAR Supplement provisions referenced in the announcement.

21) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The HERO 2013 NRA was planned to be open across an extended window with staggered due dates from late July 2013 through July 2014. This specific opportunity lists a first due date of September 4, 2013, a final closing date of September 4, 2014, and an archive date of September 5, 2014.

22) Can NASA add new elements or amend the opportunity during the open period?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to monitor NSPIRES and subscribe to HEOMD notifications because NASA may add new elements or issue amendments during the open period.

23) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad for U.S. applicants: all categories of U.S. institutions can submit, including universities, nonprofits, companies, and government-affiliated research organizations, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the NRA text.

24) Can the Principal Investigator collaborate with other organizations?

Yes. Principal Investigators are allowed to collaborate with partners across academia, federal laboratories, industry, and state or local government labs. The lead applying organization is responsible for project management and compliance as described in the proposal.

25) Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

NASA highlights a policy for working with non-U.S. organizations on a cooperative basis with no exchange of funds. This means international collaborators may participate, but NASA funding is not typically provided directly to the non-U.S. partner under that arrangement.

26) What is the contracting point of contact?

The contracting officer listed is Dana Altmon Cary at NASA.

27) Who should be contacted for programmatic (technical/HRP) questions?

Programmatic contacts include Mark Shelhamer (HRP Chief Scientist) for HRP-related guidance and Graham Scott at the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) for NSBRI-related coordination.

28) What is NSBRI in the context of this opportunity?

NSBRI is described as a nonprofit organization selected by NASA to advance space biomedical research and countermeasure development using an integrated team approach. It works closely with HRP under a cooperative agreement and is presented as an important partner context within the HERO research ecosystem.

29) Why is the identical-twin comparison considered scientifically valuable here?

The opportunity emphasizes that comparing biological and behavioral changes between genetically matched individuals helps reduce the confounding effects of genetic variability. This can improve the ability to attribute observed differences to spaceflight exposures rather than underlying genetics.

30) What is the overall mission-level goal of the funded research?

The stated goal is to support safer and more reliable human exploration missions by improving the understanding of how spaceflight affects the human body and by developing countermeasures, tools, and technologies that improve astronaut health, safety, and performance.