Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 08 183
Apply for PAR 08 183
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Collaborations with National Centers for Biomedical Computing (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 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 93.233 National Center on Sleep Disorders Research 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.397 Cancer Centers Support Grants 93.398 Cancer Research Manpower 93.399 Cancer Control 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.838 Lung Diseases Research 93.839 Blood Diseases and Resources Research 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training 93.879 Medical Library Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 1, 2010 and posted on Jun 24, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2011. (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: For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Private institutions of higher education Special district governments County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Exploratory Collaborations with National Centers for Biomedical Computing (R21) opportunity (PAR-08-183) is an NIH funding announcement designed to spark short, exploratory research projects that directly collaborate with the NIH Roadmap National Centers for Biomedical Computing (NCBCs). The central idea is to bring in individual investigators or small research teams from across the country to work with these national centers, using the NCBCs tools, platforms, and biomedical application "drivers" as a starting point to push the broader biomedical computing ecosystem forward. In practical terms, NIH wanted to see new partnerships form around the NCBC infrastructure so that more researchers could help shape, extend, test, or creatively apply advanced computational methods in biomedicine rather than working in isolation.
The scientific focus is squarely on exploratory biomedical informatics and computational biology. The FOA emphasizes innovation and encourages projects that are high risk but potentially high impact, especially in areas where applicants may not yet have extensive preliminary data or mature prototypes. This is a key feature of the R21 mechanism: it is meant to help teams take credible but early-stage leaps, explore novel directions, or create proof-of-concept demonstrations that could later justify a larger, more sustained research effort. Because of that intent, the announcement explicitly notes that proposals should be distinct from traditional R01-style projects. Long-term, incremental work or projects aimed at expanding knowledge in a well-established area are not a good fit here, and NIH signals that those kinds of applications generally should not be submitted under this R21 call.
From a funding and structure standpoint, this FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) mechanism and is paired with a parallel announcement of the same scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (PAR-08-184). The R21 option is the lighter, more exploratory route, intended to support early ideas and rapid testing. The listing shows an award ceiling of $200,000 (consistent with typical R21 direct cost caps), and it also makes clear that the exact number of awards and the size and duration of each award could vary based on the proposed work, the budgets requested, and the quality and volume of applications NIH receives. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to commit institutional funds as a condition of the award.
Eligibility is broad, reflecting NIHs goal of pulling in diverse expertise and encouraging widespread participation. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and a range of governmental entities such as state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts. The eligibility section also highlights additional categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), US territories or possessions, regional organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, certain federal agencies, and even non-US (foreign) entities. This breadth signals that NIH was interested in attracting computational and biomedical innovation wherever it exists, not only in traditional academic biomedical departments.
The opportunity is listed under a discretionary grant category and spans multiple NIH-related program areas as reflected by the CFDA numbers, covering a wide range of health and research domains. Those include environmental health, oral health, sleep disorders, mental health, drug abuse, technological innovations to improve human health, multiple cancer research categories, cardiovascular/lung/blood research, neuroscience and neurological disorders, and biomedical research and research training, among others. While the FOA is anchored in biomedical computing, the wide CFDA coverage underscores that the computational methods and NCBC collaborations could be applied to many different disease areas and biological or behavioral research problems.
Key dates in the record show it was originally posted on June 24, 2008, with a closing date of September 7, 2011, and an archive date of October 8, 2011. The sponsor agency is the National Institutes of Health. For full details, NIH pointed applicants to the official announcement page (linked in the record), and provided NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact information for access or linking issues. Overall, this FOA can be understood as a time-limited NIH effort to accelerate the development and adoption of biomedical computing capabilities by funding small, bold collaboration projects that plug directly into the NCBC network and help extend the national biomedical computing environment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Exploratory Collaborations with National Centers for Biomedical Computing (R21)" opportunity (PAR-08-183)?
PAR-08-183 is an NIH funding announcement that supports short, exploratory research projects that directly collaborate with the NIH Roadmap National Centers for Biomedical Computing (NCBCs). The goal is to spark new partnerships that use NCBC tools, platforms, and biomedical application "drivers" as a starting point to advance biomedical computing.
What is the main purpose of this funding announcement?
The central purpose is to bring individual investigators or small research teams into direct collaboration with the NCBCs, so they can help shape, extend, test, or creatively apply advanced computational methods in biomedicine using existing NCBC infrastructure rather than working in isolation.
What type of research does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes exploratory biomedical informatics and computational biology, with a strong focus on innovation. It encourages high-risk, high-impact projects, including early-stage ideas that may not yet have extensive preliminary data or fully developed prototypes.
Is this intended for early-stage or proof-of-concept work?
Yes. The R21 mechanism is designed to enable credible early-stage leaps, novel explorations, and proof-of-concept demonstrations that could later justify a larger, sustained research effort.
How is this different from an R01-style project?
This R21 call is not meant for long-term, incremental research or projects that expand knowledge in a well-established area in a traditional R01 manner. The announcement explicitly indicates that those types of applications are generally not a good fit for this R21 opportunity.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) mechanism.
Is there a related R01 opportunity with the same scientific scope?
Yes. The FOA is paired with a parallel announcement of the same scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (PAR-08-184).
What role do the National Centers for Biomedical Computing (NCBCs) play in proposed projects?
Projects must directly collaborate with the NCBCs and are expected to use NCBC tools, platforms, and biomedical application "drivers" as a starting point for the exploratory work and for broader impact on the biomedical computing ecosystem.
What is the award ceiling for this R21 opportunity?
The listing shows an award ceiling of $200,000, consistent with typical R21 direct cost caps.
How many awards will NIH make, and what will the award sizes and durations be?
The record indicates that the number of awards, as well as the size and duration of each award, could vary depending on the proposed work, budgets requested, and the quality and volume of applications NIH receives.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants do not have to commit institutional funds as a condition of receiving an award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and governmental entities such as state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts.
Are specialized institution types included in the eligible applicant categories?
Yes. The eligibility section specifically highlights categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other institution types identified in the record.
Are tribal governments eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility information includes tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized).
Are US territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. US territories or possessions are included among the eligible applicant categories in the record.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are listed among eligible applicant categories.
Can non-US (foreign) entities apply?
Yes. The eligibility section includes non-US (foreign) entities.
What is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The sponsor agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is listed under a discretionary grant category.
What program areas or health domains does this opportunity relate to?
The record indicates the opportunity spans multiple NIH-related program areas (as reflected by the CFDA numbers). Examples listed include environmental health, oral health, sleep disorders, mental health, drug abuse, technological innovations to improve human health, multiple cancer research categories, cardiovascular/lung/blood research, neuroscience and neurological disorders, and biomedical research and research training.
Does the FOA restrict projects to a single disease area?
No. While the FOA is anchored in biomedical computing, the wide CFDA coverage suggests that NCBC-enabled computational approaches could be applied across many disease areas and biological or behavioral research problems.
When was this opportunity posted, and when did it close?
The record shows it was originally posted on June 24, 2008, with a closing date of September 7, 2011.
When was the opportunity archived?
The record lists an archive date of October 8, 2011.
Where were applicants directed for full details?
NIH directed applicants to the official announcement page linked in the record for full details.
Who was listed as a contact for access or linking issues?
The record references NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact information for access or linking issues.
What is the overall intent of the FOA in the larger biomedical computing landscape?
The FOA is described as a time-limited NIH effort to accelerate the development and adoption of biomedical computing capabilities by funding small, bold collaboration projects that plug directly into the NCBC network and help extend the national biomedical computing environment.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Environment Health
Next opportunity: Collaborations with National Centers for Biomedical Computing (R01)
Previous opportunity: Novel Lentiviral Models of HIV Neuropathogenesis (R21)
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 08 183) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Collaborations with National Centers for Biomedical Computing (R01) Apply for PAR 08 184 Funding Number: PAR 08 184 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Metals in Medicine (R01) Apply for PA 08 251 Funding Number: PA 08 251 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities (R21) Apply for PAR 07 345 Funding Number: PAR 07 345 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology Initiative (SBIR R43/R44) Apply for PAR 07 160 Funding Number: PAR 07 160 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology Initiative (STTR R41/R42) Apply for PAR 07 161 Funding Number: PAR 07 161 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Research Initiative Program, Basic/Biomedical Sciences (R01) Apply for PAR 07 239 Funding Number: PAR 07 239 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R01) Apply for PAR 09 218 Funding Number: PAR 09 218 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploratory Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R21) Apply for PAR 09 219 Funding Number: PAR 09 219 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42) Apply for RFA ES 09 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 09 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Environmental Influences during Windows of Susceptibility in Breast Cancer Risk (U01) Apply for RFA ES 09 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 09 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Coordinating Center for the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (U01) Apply for RFA ES 09 010 Funding Number: RFA ES 09 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Limited Competition Continuation of Studies on Early Environmental Exposures and Human Puberty (U01) Apply for RFA ES 09 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 09 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| Enabling Technologies in DNA Repair Research (R21) Apply for PAR 10 016 Funding Number: PAR 10 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Limited Competition for the Global Research Initiative Program, Basic/Biomedical Sciences (R01) Apply for PAR 10 278 Funding Number: PAR 10 278 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Deepwater Horizon Disaster Research Consortia Health Impacts and Community Resiliency (U19) Apply for RFA ES 11 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 11 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42) Apply for RFA ES 10 010 Funding Number: RFA ES 10 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovative Bioavailability Assays to Assess the Effectiveness of Contaminated Sediment Remediation (R01) Apply for RFA ES 11 005 Funding Number: RFA ES 11 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Limited Competition Fogarty International Research Collaboration Basic Biomedical (FIRCA BB) Research Award (R03) Apply for PAR 11 037 Funding Number: PAR 11 037 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Senior Fellows (Parent F33) Apply for PA 11 114 Funding Number: PA 11 114 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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