Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 11 326
Apply for PA 11 326
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Gamete Quality in Natural and Assisted Reproduction (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 Sep 1, 2011 and posted on Sep 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Independent school districts City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Special district governments Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- 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) 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:
Gamete Quality in Natural and Assisted Reproduction (R01) is an NIH research grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-11-326) created to push forward high-quality, investigator-driven studies focused on what makes human eggs (oocytes) and sperm healthy, functional, and capable of supporting successful reproduction. It is sponsored by three NIH-related partners: the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). The central theme is gamete quality in both natural conception and assisted reproductive technologies, with a strong emphasis on generating practical, biologically grounded knowledge that can improve how healthy gametes are produced, recognized, and ultimately used in clinical or translational contexts.
A major priority in the announcement is the development, identification, and validation of biomarkers that can reliably measure or predict gamete quality. In real terms, this means research aimed at finding measurable indicators (molecular, cellular, genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, imaging-based, or functional markers) that correlate with outcomes such as fertilization potential, embryo development, implantation success, pregnancy outcomes, and potentially longer-term health. The FOA highlights biomarker validation as especially critical, pointing to a desire for markers that are not just interesting in a laboratory setting but also robust, reproducible, and meaningful across samples, populations, or clinical workflows. This focus aligns with persistent challenges in reproductive medicine where selection of eggs, sperm, or embryos often relies on imperfect proxies, and where better diagnostic tools could reduce uncertainty, improve success rates, and limit unnecessary interventions.
Beyond biomarkers, the opportunity explicitly calls attention to factors that may influence egg and sperm quality across the lifespan and across real-world conditions. Specifically, it identifies nutrition and dietary supplements as areas of interest (reflecting ODS involvement), as well as environmental exposures (reflecting NIEHS involvement). Environmental exposures can include chemical, occupational, or ambient exposures that may affect gametogenesis, gamete maturation, DNA integrity, epigenetic programming, oxidative stress pathways, endocrine signaling, or other mechanisms that shape reproductive potential. The FOA also invites work examining the effects of disease states and aging on gamete quality, which can cover a broad range of conditions, from metabolic and inflammatory disorders to reproductive tract disorders, as well as age-related changes that influence chromosomal stability, mitochondrial function, and other key determinants of gamete competence.
Mechanistically, this R01 opportunity is designed to support substantial, hypothesis-driven projects rather than small pilots, and it sits at the intersection of reproductive biology, andrology, ovarian biology, environmental health science, nutrition science, and translational/clinical research relevant to assisted reproduction. While the summary language is broad, the intent is clear: encourage strong science that explains why gamete quality varies, how to measure it more accurately, and how modifiable factors like diet, supplement use, exposure reduction, or disease management might preserve or improve reproductive outcomes. The emphasis on both female and male gametes signals that projects can focus on one sex or address both, and the mention of natural and assisted reproduction indicates relevance ranging from basic gamete biology to clinical ART settings.
Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH grant using the R01 funding instrument, and it falls under activity categories related to environmental health and child health/human development (CFDA 93.113 and 93.865). The announcement stated there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. It was posted on September 1, 2011, with an original and current closing date of January 7, 2014, and it was archived on February 7, 2014, meaning it is no longer an active application opportunity in that specific posted form, though similar NIH program announcements may appear under updated numbers or successor solicitations.
Eligibility under the FOA was broad and inclusive, spanning public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and other nonprofit structures), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and numerous government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts, and certain housing authorities). It also explicitly included a range of mission-driven institutions and community-based organizations, such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations. Importantly, foreign institutions were eligible to apply, and foreign components of U.S. organizations were allowed consistent with NIH policy, which supports international or multinational research where scientifically justified.
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the official program page was hosted on the NIH grants site under the PA-11-326 listing. The contact notes included directions to reach the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for technical issues accessing or linking to the announcement.
FAQs: Gamete Quality in Natural and Assisted Reproduction (R01) - NIH (PA-11-326)
What is this funding opportunity?
Gamete Quality in Natural and Assisted Reproduction (R01) is an NIH research grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-11-326) that supported investigator-driven research on what makes human eggs (oocytes) and sperm healthy, functional, and capable of supporting successful reproduction in both natural conception and assisted reproductive technologies.
Which funding mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism, intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects rather than small pilot studies.
Who sponsored this FOA within NIH?
The FOA was sponsored by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).
What is the main scientific focus of the announcement?
The central theme is gamete quality in both natural and assisted reproduction, with an emphasis on practical, biologically grounded knowledge to improve how healthy gametes are produced, recognized, and used in clinical or translational contexts.
What kinds of research topics were emphasized?
The FOA emphasized understanding why gamete quality varies, how to measure it more accurately, and how modifiable factors might preserve or improve reproductive outcomes. It sits at the intersection of reproductive biology, andrology, ovarian biology, environmental health science, nutrition science, and translational or clinical research relevant to assisted reproduction.
Does this opportunity cover both eggs and sperm?
Yes. The FOA explicitly covers both female and male gametes. Projects could focus on one sex or address both.
Is the FOA relevant to natural conception, assisted reproduction, or both?
Both. The announcement highlights relevance across natural conception and assisted reproductive technologies (ART), ranging from basic gamete biology to clinically relevant ART settings.
What was the FOA's priority around biomarkers?
A major priority was the development, identification, and validation of biomarkers that can reliably measure or predict gamete quality.
What does "biomarker" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, biomarkers are measurable indicators that correlate with gamete quality or reproductive outcomes. Examples mentioned include molecular, cellular, genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, imaging-based, or functional markers.
What outcomes were biomarker studies expected to relate to?
The FOA described biomarkers that could correlate with outcomes such as fertilization potential, embryo development, implantation success, pregnancy outcomes, and potentially longer-term health.
Why did the FOA stress biomarker validation?
The FOA highlighted validation as critical, emphasizing a desire for markers that are robust, reproducible, and meaningful across samples, populations, or clinical workflows, rather than markers that are only interesting in a laboratory setting.
Did the FOA encourage research connected to clinical or translational use?
Yes. The emphasis on practical, biologically grounded knowledge and on biomarkers that work across clinical workflows reflects an intent to generate findings that could improve diagnostics and decision-making in clinical or translational contexts, including ART.
What role do nutrition and dietary supplements play in the FOA?
Nutrition and dietary supplements were specifically identified as areas of interest, reflecting the involvement of the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). The FOA encouraged research examining how these factors may influence egg and sperm quality across the lifespan and real-world conditions.
What role do environmental exposures play in the FOA?
Environmental exposures were explicitly highlighted as an area of interest, reflecting the involvement of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The FOA pointed to chemical, occupational, or ambient exposures that may affect gamete-related mechanisms.
What mechanisms or pathways related to environmental exposures were mentioned?
The FOA described exposures that may affect gametogenesis, gamete maturation, DNA integrity, epigenetic programming, oxidative stress pathways, endocrine signaling, and other mechanisms shaping reproductive potential.
Did the FOA include disease and aging as factors that affect gamete quality?
Yes. The FOA invited research on the effects of disease states and aging on gamete quality, including conditions spanning metabolic and inflammatory disorders, reproductive tract disorders, and age-related changes relevant to gamete competence.
What examples of age-related issues in gametes were referenced?
The FOA referenced age-related changes that can influence chromosomal stability, mitochondrial function, and other determinants of gamete competence.
Was this a pilot-style funding opportunity or intended for larger projects?
It was intended to support substantial, hypothesis-driven R01 projects rather than small pilot studies.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Which CFDA numbers were associated with this opportunity?
The FOA was listed under CFDA 93.113 and 93.865, associated with environmental health and child health/human development-related activity categories.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and other nonprofit structures), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and many government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts, and certain housing authorities).
Did the FOA include mission-driven and community-based institutions in eligibility?
Yes. It explicitly included HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Were foreign institutions eligible?
Yes. Foreign institutions were eligible to apply, and foreign components of U.S. organizations were allowed when consistent with NIH policy and scientifically justified.
Which agency administered the program?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the FOA was posted on the NIH grants site under the PA-11-326 listing.
When was the FOA posted?
It was posted on September 1, 2011.
What were the closing dates for this opportunity?
The announcement listed an original and current closing date of January 7, 2014.
Is this FOA still active?
No. It was archived on February 7, 2014, meaning it is no longer an active application opportunity in that specific posted form.
If it is archived, does that mean similar opportunities might exist?
The information provided indicates that while PA-11-326 itself is no longer active, similar NIH program announcements may appear under updated numbers or successor solicitations.
Where were applicants directed for technical issues with the announcement?
The contact notes referenced reaching the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for technical issues accessing or linking to the announcement.
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