Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 08 011
Apply for PA 08 011
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Genetic Susceptibility and Variability of Human Structural Birth Defects (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 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Oct 19, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 8, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Foreign institutions are eligible to apply. Eligible agencies of the Federal Government can apply.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The NIH grant opportunity titled "Genetic Susceptibility and Variability of Human Structural Birth Defects (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-08-011) supports investigator-initiated research aimed at explaining why structural birth defects happen and why their severity and presentation can vary from one individual to another. It is sponsored by three NIH institutes working together: the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The central idea is to push the field past description and into mechanism by funding projects that connect fundamental developmental biology to translational and clinical questions about human congenital malformations.
A key emphasis of the announcement is the integration of animal model research with human-focused approaches. The FOA encourages studies that use animal models to probe core developmental processes, then deliberately link those mechanistic findings to clinical, translational, or epidemiologic observations in people. In practical terms, this means projects are expected to do more than catalog genes or exposures; they should clarify pathways, causal mechanisms, susceptibility factors, and biological explanations for variability in outcomes. Because the participating institutes include NICHD, NIDCR, and NIEHS, the scope naturally covers broad structural malformations, including craniofacial and oral birth defects and defects influenced by environmental factors, while still centering on developmental mechanisms and gene-environment context.
This opportunity sits within NICHD's longer-running Birth Defects Initiative. The description notes that NICHD's Developmental Biology, Genetics and Teratology Branch launched this initiative in 2000, funding grants and program projects that used molecular genetics to study genetic susceptibility, epidemiology, and developmental biology relevant to congenital structural malformations. Those investments created an active community of investigators who meet annually to share progress, discuss technical advances, form collaborations, and provide feedback to NICHD staff. Applications funded under PA-08-011 would become part of that broader effort rather than functioning as isolated awards, with an expectation that awardees participate in a collaborative forum focused on moving birth defects research forward.
An important program feature is that awardees join the NICHD Birth Defects Special Interest Group and take part in annual meetings. These meetings are positioned as a working forum where investigators present research updates, exchange ideas, share resources, and build collaborations aligned with the Birth Defects Initiative. For applicants, this effectively means the grant supports not only the individual project but also participation in a standing research network designed to accelerate discovery through shared methods, tools, and cross-project learning.
Mechanistically, the FOA is an R01, meaning it supports a standard NIH Research Project Grant. It falls under the "Discretionary" opportunity category and is associated with multiple CFDA numbers reflecting the participating institutes and scientific domains: 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research), 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research), and 93.113 (Environmental Health). The listing explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which is typical for NIH research grants.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, state governments, public or state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (in the categories listed), and other applicants as clarified in the full announcement. The opportunity also states that foreign institutions are eligible to apply, and eligible federal agencies may apply as well, which signals NIH's openness to strong birth-defects research regardless of geographic location, provided the project fits the program goals.
In terms of timing and status, the FOA was posted on October 19, 2007, with an original closing date of January 8, 2011, and a current closing date also listed as January 8, 2011. The archive date is February 7, 2011, meaning this particular announcement is now historical rather than open for new submissions. Even so, it provides a clear snapshot of NIH priorities at the time: interdisciplinary, mechanism-driven studies that combine animal developmental biology with translational/clinical work to uncover the genetic and environmental contributors to human structural birth defects and to explain the observed variability in their manifestation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?
The opportunity is titled "Genetic Susceptibility and Variability of Human Structural Birth Defects (R01)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is PA-08-011.
What is the main purpose of PA-08-011?
This funding opportunity supports investigator-initiated research aimed at explaining (1) why human structural birth defects occur and (2) why the severity and clinical presentation of those defects can vary from one individual to another. A central goal is to move the field beyond descriptive findings and toward mechanism-driven explanations.
What type of NIH grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
PA-08-011 uses the R01 mechanism, which is the standard NIH Research Project Grant intended to support a discrete, investigator-initiated research project.
Which NIH institutes sponsor or participate in this funding opportunity?
Three NIH institutes participate: the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
What kinds of birth defects are within the scope of this FOA?
The scope covers structural congenital malformations broadly, with natural emphasis on areas aligned with the participating institutes. This includes craniofacial and oral birth defects (aligned with NIDCR) and defects influenced by environmental factors (aligned with NIEHS), while keeping developmental mechanisms and gene-environment context central (aligned strongly with NICHD and the broader initiative described).
What does the FOA emphasize about moving "past description and into mechanism"?
The FOA stresses that projects should do more than catalog genes, variants, or exposures. Proposed research is expected to clarify pathways, causal mechanisms, susceptibility factors, and biological explanations for variability in outcomes and presentation.
Does the FOA encourage integrating animal models with human studies?
Yes. A key emphasis is integrating animal model research with human-focused approaches. The FOA encourages studies that use animal models to probe core developmental processes and then deliberately connect those mechanistic findings to clinical, translational, or epidemiologic observations in people.
What does "human-focused approaches" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, human-focused approaches include clinical, translational, and epidemiologic observations in people, used specifically to link and interpret mechanistic findings derived from developmental biology and animal model work.
How does gene-environment context fit into the scientific scope?
The opportunity highlights genetic susceptibility and environmental contributors to structural birth defects, with an emphasis on explaining variability. Because NIEHS is a participating institute and the FOA explicitly mentions defects influenced by environmental factors, projects that connect genetic susceptibility with environmental context are consistent with the stated priorities.
How is this opportunity connected to NICHD's Birth Defects Initiative?
The FOA is described as sitting within NICHD's longer-running Birth Defects Initiative. The initiative, launched in 2000 by NICHD's Developmental Biology, Genetics and Teratology Branch, supported molecular genetics research addressing genetic susceptibility, epidemiology, and developmental biology relevant to congenital structural malformations. Awards under PA-08-011 are positioned as part of that broader effort rather than isolated standalone projects.
Are awardees expected to participate in any collaborative activities or groups?
Yes. A stated program feature is that awardees join the NICHD Birth Defects Special Interest Group and participate in annual meetings. These meetings function as a working forum to present updates, exchange ideas, share resources, and build collaborations aligned with the Birth Defects Initiative.
What is the purpose of the annual meetings mentioned in the FOA?
The annual meetings are positioned as an active, collaborative forum where investigators share progress, discuss technical advances, form collaborations, and provide feedback to NICHD staff. For funded projects, participation supports cross-project learning and resource sharing intended to accelerate discovery.
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The listing explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the opportunity category for PA-08-011?
The opportunity is categorized as "Discretionary."
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this funding opportunity?
The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research), 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research), and 93.113 (Environmental Health).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, state governments, public or state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (in the categories listed), and other applicants as clarified in the full announcement.
Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity states that foreign institutions are eligible to apply.
Can U.S. federal agencies apply?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that eligible federal agencies may apply.
When was this FOA posted, and what are the listed closing dates?
The FOA was posted on October 19, 2007. The original closing date is listed as January 8, 2011, and the current closing date is also listed as January 8, 2011.
Is PA-08-011 currently open for new submissions?
No. The archive date is February 7, 2011, and the closing dates are in January 2011, indicating this announcement is historical rather than open for new submissions.
What broader NIH priority does this archived announcement reflect?
Even though it is no longer open, the description provides a clear snapshot of NIH priorities at the time: interdisciplinary, mechanism-driven studies that connect animal developmental biology to translational, clinical, and epidemiologic work to uncover genetic and environmental contributors to human structural birth defects and to explain variability in manifestation.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment Health Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: ELSI Regular Research Program (R01)
Previous opportunity: Continued Development and Maintenance of Software (R01)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PA 08 011
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 08 011) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| 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 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PA 08 011", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.