Erythroid Lineage Molecular Toolbox (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Erythroid Lineage Molecular Toolbox (R01) funding opportunity?

The Erythroid Lineage Molecular Toolbox (R01) is an NIH Research Project Grant (R01) funding opportunity (PA-07-011) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It supports research projects aimed at building a more complete and usable set of molecular resources ("molecular toolbox") for studying erythroid cells, the lineage that produces red blood cells.

Which NIH Institute runs this program?

This funding opportunity is run by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), an institute within the NIH.

What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?

The FOA focuses on accelerating research on erythroid biology by supporting projects that identify, characterize, and organize key molecular components expressed in erythroid cells across development and differentiation.

What does "erythroid lineage" mean in this context?

In this FOA, "erythroid lineage" refers to the cellular lineage responsible for producing red blood cells, including stages of erythroid development and differentiation.

What is meant by a "molecular toolbox" for erythroid cells?

A "molecular toolbox" refers to organized, usable resources for the field that go beyond raw lists of genes and proteins. The goal is to provide tools, datasets, and reagents that help researchers understand what is expressed in erythroid cells, when it is expressed during development/differentiation, and how those molecular components relate to function and disease phenotypes.

What types of research activities are explicitly highlighted as in scope?

The FOA highlights work such as mapping gene expression across erythroid stages, defining the proteins produced from those genes, and characterizing protein features important to erythroid biology. Examples called out include post-translational modifications and erythroid-specific subcellular localization.

Does the FOA emphasize functional interpretation or only cataloging genes/proteins?

The FOA emphasizes moving beyond catalogs. A major theme is developing resources that help connect genetic information to biological function, including linking gene and protein structure-function relationships to erythroid cell morphology, physiology, and disease phenotypes.

How does this program aim to connect genetics to erythroid biology and disease?

NIDDK describes a long-range objective of unifying genetic information with biological outcomes. The intent is that improved tools and datasets will help researchers interpret how variants or perturbations in erythroid-expressed genes translate into changes in red cell development or function, and ultimately into clinically relevant disorders.

Are reagent and community resource development encouraged?

Yes. The FOA explicitly encourages the creation of reagents and enabling resources that the broader research community can use to study erythroid lineages.

What kinds of reagents or enabling resources are contemplated?

The FOA does not require a single reagent type, but it signals broad interest in tangible tools such as molecular constructs, antibodies, tagged proteins, standardized assays, curated expression datasets, and other broadly applicable community resources that make erythroid biology easier to study.

Are new technologies or methodological innovations allowed under this FOA?

Yes. NIDDK welcomes new technologies that help researchers apply genomic and molecular information in erythroid systems, particularly when the innovation directly improves the ability to study erythroid gene/protein expression and function.

Does the FOA encourage leveraging existing NIDDK-supported resources?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to align with and leverage existing NIDDK-supported resources, specifically referencing the Progenitor Cell Genome Anatomy Projects.

Where does the FOA direct applicants for related existing assets?

The FOA references the Progenitor Cell Genome Anatomy Projects and points investigators to http://www.scgap.org for current assets.

Is synergy with the Progenitor Cell Genome Anatomy Projects considered desirable?

Yes. The announcement indicates that synergy with those ongoing projects is desirable, suggesting that proposed work that complements, extends, or interoperates with existing progenitor cell and genome anatomy efforts may be particularly responsive to program goals.

What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This is an NIH Research Project Grant (R01) funding opportunity, intended for full-scope research or resource-building projects.

Is there a related opportunity using a different NIH mechanism?

Yes. NIDDK notes a parallel announcement of identical scientific scope using the R21 exploratory/developmental mechanism (PA-06-170), creating two entry points: R01 for more established efforts and R21 for earlier-stage exploratory work.

Does the FOA specify a fixed budget size, project period, or number of awards?

No. The FOA states that budget size, project period, and number of awards are not fixed in advance and will vary based on the nature and scope of the proposed research. Total awards and total dollars depend on the volume, quality, duration, and costs of applications received.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic organization types such as for-profit organizations (including small businesses), nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, and multiple levels of government entities. The FOA also includes tribal organizations and tribal governments, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, and foreign institutions.

Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations, including small businesses, are listed as eligible applicants.

Are nonprofit organizations required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?

No. The FOA states that nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status may apply.

Are higher education institutions eligible?

Yes. Both public and private institutions of higher education are eligible to apply.

Are government entities eligible applicants?

Yes. The FOA includes various government entities such as state, county, city/township governments, special districts, independent school districts, and eligible federal agencies.

Are tribal organizations and tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Tribal organizations and tribal governments are listed among eligible applicants.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA states that faith-based or community-based organizations may apply.

Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?

Yes. The opportunity states that foreign institutions are eligible to apply.

When was this opportunity posted and what is its current status?

The program was posted on November 20, 2006. It is archived (archive date October 8, 2009), meaning it is not an active, open solicitation today and primarily serves as a historical reference for the program goals and the types of projects NIDDK sought to support.

Did this FOA have one deadline or multiple receipt dates?

The FOA had multiple receipt dates rather than a single deadline.

Where was the full announcement historically made available?

The full announcement was made available through the NIH Grants Guide (historically at grants.nih.gov).

What support did NIH provide for access or linking issues related to the announcement?

NIH provided standard support contacts through the Office of Extramural Research for access or linking issues.