Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 14 202
Apply for PAR 14 202
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Environmental Contributors to Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21)" 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 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 8, 2014 and posted on May 2, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 26, 2016. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education City or township governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments State governments Small businesses Independent school districts Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Environmental Contributors to Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21) funding opportunity (PAR-14-202) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to push forward early-stage, exploratory research on how environmental factors may influence both the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the way ASD is expressed across individuals. The central goal was twofold: first, to help identify specific environmental contributors that might increase or modify ASD risk, and second, to clarify the biological pathways and mechanisms through which those environmental exposures could affect brain development and other processes implicated in ASD. A key theme running through the announcement is that progress in this area could translate into actionable public health knowledge, meaning findings were expected to be relevant to prevention strategies, risk reduction, or future interventions.
This program used the NIH R21 mechanism, which is specifically meant for exploratory and developmental projects rather than large, fully built-out research programs. In practical terms, that means NIH was explicitly inviting proposals that might be higher-risk or more conceptual, as long as they had the potential to open up new directions, generate critical preliminary evidence, or develop innovative tools and approaches. The FOA emphasized that these projects could lead to breakthroughs, including novel methods, models, analytical strategies, or experimental systems that could later be scaled into larger studies. The award ceiling listed for the opportunity was $200,000, and the FOA stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
A wide range of scientific approaches were encouraged. On the basic science side, applicants could propose mechanistic studies using in vitro systems (for example, cell culture-based approaches) or in vivo model systems to test how specific environmental agents or conditions affect neurodevelopmental pathways relevant to ASD. On the human research side, the FOA allowed both new data collection activities and projects that leverage existing resources, such as previously collected datasets or stored biospecimens from ongoing or completed human studies. This flexibility made the opportunity suitable for teams who wanted to quickly test targeted hypotheses using extant cohorts as well as teams building new pilot data streams to justify future larger-scale work.
The FOA also highlighted particular interest in research that considers gene-environment interplay. Rather than treating environmental and genetic risk as separate topics, NIH signaled that proposals examining their joint contribution to ASD etiology and expression were especially aligned with the program priorities. In that context, strong applications could include designs that evaluate how environmental exposures may interact with genetic susceptibility, influence gene regulation, or affect biological pathways already implicated in ASD.
From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, the program was broadly open to many organization types across the United States, including public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, independent school districts, certain public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, though small businesses were also listed as eligible). The eligibility notes also called out categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and U.S. territories or possessions. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) were not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were also not eligible; however, foreign components, as defined by NIH policy, were allowed.
Key timeline details in the source record show the FOA was posted on May 2, 2014 (created May 8, 2014), with an original and final closing date of August 26, 2016, and it was archived on September 26, 2016. The activity categories referenced included Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services, and the CFDA numbers listed were 93.113 (Environmental Health), 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of ASD research spanning environmental health, mental health, and child development. For full details, NIH pointed applicants to the program page at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-202.html and provided NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Environmental Contributors to Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21) funding opportunity (PAR-14-202)?
PAR-14-202 was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program that supported early-stage, exploratory research focused on how environmental factors may influence autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The opportunity used the NIH R21 mechanism, which is intended for exploratory and developmental projects rather than large, fully developed research programs.
What were the main goals of this funding opportunity?
The program had two central goals: (1) to help identify specific environmental contributors that might increase or modify ASD risk, and (2) to clarify the biological pathways and mechanisms through which environmental exposures could affect brain development and other processes implicated in ASD. A recurring theme was that results could translate into actionable public health knowledge relevant to prevention, risk reduction, or future interventions.
What does it mean that this opportunity used the NIH R21 mechanism?
The R21 mechanism is designed for exploratory and developmental research. In practical terms, NIH was inviting proposals that could be higher-risk, more conceptual, or aimed at generating critical preliminary evidence. The FOA emphasized innovation and the potential to open new research directions, including developing novel methods, models, analytical strategies, or experimental systems that could later support larger studies.
How much funding was available per award?
The award ceiling listed for the opportunity was $200,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What kinds of research topics and approaches were encouraged?
A wide range of scientific approaches were encouraged, including basic and human research aimed at understanding how environmental factors may affect ASD risk or ASD expression across individuals. The FOA described interest in work that could clarify mechanisms and pathways by which exposures influence neurodevelopment and other ASD-relevant processes.
Were mechanistic/basic science studies allowed (for example, lab-based work)?
Yes. The FOA encouraged mechanistic studies using in vitro systems (such as cell culture-based approaches) and in vivo model systems to test how specific environmental agents or conditions affect neurodevelopmental pathways relevant to ASD.
Was human subjects research allowed?
Yes. On the human research side, the FOA allowed both new data collection activities and projects leveraging existing resources, such as previously collected datasets or stored biospecimens from ongoing or completed human studies.
Could applicants use existing datasets or stored biospecimens instead of collecting new data?
Yes. The FOA explicitly allowed projects that leverage existing resources, including previously collected datasets and stored biospecimens, which supported teams seeking to test targeted hypotheses using extant cohorts.
Could applicants propose new data collection as part of a pilot effort?
Yes. The FOA permitted new data collection activities, which made the opportunity suitable for building pilot data streams intended to justify future larger-scale work.
Did the FOA encourage higher-risk or early-stage ideas?
Yes. NIH emphasized the exploratory nature of R21 projects and explicitly invited proposals that might be higher-risk or more conceptual, as long as they had the potential to generate key preliminary evidence, enable breakthroughs, or establish innovative tools and approaches.
Did the program emphasize gene-environment interplay?
Yes. The FOA highlighted particular interest in research that considers gene-environment interplay, including designs evaluating how environmental exposures may interact with genetic susceptibility, influence gene regulation, or affect biological pathways implicated in ASD.
Who was eligible to apply (in general terms)?
The program was broadly open to many U.S. organization types, including public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, independent school districts, certain public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit organizations. Small businesses were also listed as eligible.
Were minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility notes specifically called out Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs). Faith-based or community-based organizations and U.S. territories or possessions were also referenced.
Were foreign (non-U.S.) institutions eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) were not eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. The eligibility information stated that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed at all under this program?
Yes. While foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible to apply, the FOA indicated that foreign components, as defined by NIH policy, were allowed.
When was PAR-14-202 posted, and when did it close?
Timeline details in the source record indicate the FOA was posted on May 2, 2014 (created May 8, 2014). The original and final closing date was August 26, 2016, and the opportunity was archived on September 26, 2016.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. The source record indicates the FOA closed on August 26, 2016 and was archived on September 26, 2016.
What activity categories were associated with this opportunity?
The activity categories referenced included Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of ASD research spanning environmental health, mental health, and child development.
What CFDA numbers were associated with this program?
The CFDA numbers listed were 93.113 (Environmental Health), 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
Where could applicants find the official FOA details from NIH?
NIH directed applicants to the program page at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-202.html for full details.
Who was listed as a contact for access or linking issues?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts were provided for access or linking issues.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 14 202) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research (P50) Apply for RFA ES 14 010 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| Genetic Susceptibility and Variability of Human Structural Birth Defects (R01) Apply for PA 08 011 Funding Number: PA 08 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Developmental Pharmacology (R03) Apply for PAR 08 215 Funding Number: PAR 08 215 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Developmental Pharmacology (R21) Apply for PAR 08 216 Funding Number: PAR 08 216 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Genetic and Genomic Analysis of Xenopus (R01) Apply for PAR 09 240 Funding Number: PAR 09 240 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Genetic and Genomic Analysis of Xenopus (R21) Apply for PAR 09 241 Funding Number: PAR 09 241 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Research Projects (U01) Apply for PAR 10 180 Funding Number: PAR 10 180 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Centers of Excellence (U54) Apply for PAR 10 181 Funding Number: PAR 10 181 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Developmental Pharmacology (R01) Apply for PAR 11 057 Funding Number: PAR 11 057 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Developmental Pharmacology (R03) Apply for PAR 11 058 Funding Number: PAR 11 058 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Developmental Pharmacology (R21) Apply for PAR 11 059 Funding Number: PAR 11 059 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Research Projects (U01) Apply for PAR 11 155 Funding Number: PAR 11 155 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Autism Centers of Excellence Centers (P50) Apply for RFA HD 12 195 Funding Number: RFA HD 12 195 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Autism Centers of Excellence Networks (R01) Apply for RFA HD 12 196 Funding Number: RFA HD 12 196 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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