Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 15 120
Apply for PAR 15 120
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Identification of Genetic and Genomic Variants by Next Gen in Sequencing Non human Animal Models (U01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 13, 2015 and posted on Feb 13, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 1, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Special district governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts Small businesses State governments Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) City or township governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) 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:
This funding opportunity, PAR 15 120, is an NIH discretionary grant program using the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism, focused on uncovering genetic and genomic variants that influence addiction- and substance abuse-related traits in non-human animal models. The central aim is to use modern next generation sequencing approaches, along with genetic mapping and genotyping strategies, to find specific gene variants tied to measurable addiction-relevant behaviors or biological responses. A key emphasis is on leveraging both selectively bred animal lines (where breeding has concentrated a trait of interest over generations) and outbred populations (which retain broader natural genetic diversity), because each model type can reveal different kinds of variant-trait relationships and improve the chances of identifying robust, generalizable genetic signals.
From a scientific scope perspective, the opportunity supports research that starts with well-defined addiction-related phenotypes in animals and then applies sequencing-driven discovery to connect those phenotypes to underlying genetic differences. In practice, that typically means generating or analyzing genomic data (for example, whole-genome sequencing, exome sequencing, targeted sequencing, or other next gen methods), then using mapping methods (such as linkage, association, or quantitative trait locus approaches depending on the model) to localize genomic regions influencing the trait, and finally using genotyping to validate, refine, and follow up candidate variants across additional animals or cohorts. The overall goal is variant identification: finding the actual DNA changes, structural variants, or genomic features that help explain why some animals show higher risk, sensitivity, preference, withdrawal severity, escalation, relapse-like behavior, or other addiction-relevant outcomes compared with others.
Administratively, this FOA is positioned as a replacement for an earlier program, PAR 14 010, which supported similar objectives but used a UH2/UH3 phased award structure. By moving to a U01 cooperative agreement format, the program signals that NIH expects substantial scientific and/or programmatic involvement during the project period. Cooperative agreements generally imply more active coordination with NIH staff than a standard research project grant, which can include milestone-driven progress expectations, shared resources or data practices, coordination across awardees, and alignment with program goals. The listing falls under CFDA 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs), which aligns it directly with NIDA/NIH priorities in addiction genetics and translationally relevant mechanistic research.
The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching, which lowers barriers for institutions that might otherwise struggle to provide non-federal contributions. It was posted and created on February 13, 2015, with an original and current closing date of March 1, 2018, and an archive date of April 1, 2018. That timeline indicates it is no longer active for new submissions, but the details remain useful for understanding NIH funding patterns and for tracking similar successor announcements.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic and non-domestic organizations. Eligible applicants span public and private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses as well as small businesses), nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district). It also explicitly includes tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, and additional categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and AANAPISIS institutions. Faith-based and community-based organizations are listed, along with foreign organizations and regional organizations, as well as U.S. territories or possessions and eligible federal agencies. In practical terms, that eligibility language suggests NIH wanted to encourage participation from a wide range of research performers and community types, likely because addiction research and animal model development can be distributed across academic centers, specialized institutes, government labs, and private or nonprofit research entities.
The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health. The announcement points applicants to the full FOA text at the NIH grants guide link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-120.html), and provides NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for technical issues accessing or linking to the announcement (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV). Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted NIH effort to accelerate discovery of specific genetic variants contributing to addiction-related traits by applying next gen sequencing and complementary genetic methods in well-characterized non-human animal models, with the expectation that these discoveries can strengthen biological understanding and potentially inform prevention, treatment target identification, or translational hypotheses relevant to human substance use disorders.
FAQs: NIH PAR-15-120 (U01) - Genetic and Genomic Variants Influencing Addiction Traits in Non-Human Animal Models
What is PAR-15-120?
PAR-15-120 is an NIH discretionary funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for research projects that aim to uncover genetic and genomic variants influencing addiction- and substance abuse-related traits using non-human animal models. It uses the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism.
Which NIH institute or program area does this FOA align with?
The FOA is listed under CFDA 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs), aligning it with NIH priorities in drug abuse and addiction research (commonly associated with NIDA/NIH priorities).
What is the main scientific goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is variant identification: discovering specific DNA changes, structural variants, or other genomic features that help explain differences in measurable addiction-relevant traits across animals.
What types of traits or outcomes are considered addiction-relevant under this FOA?
Examples described include higher risk, sensitivity, preference, withdrawal severity, escalation, relapse-like behavior, and other addiction-relevant behavioral or biological responses that can be measured in animal models.
What research approach does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes starting with well-defined addiction-related phenotypes in animals, then using sequencing-driven discovery to connect those phenotypes to genetic differences. This typically includes generating or analyzing genomic data, mapping genomic regions influencing the trait, and using genotyping to validate and refine candidate variants.
What sequencing methods are relevant to the scope of this FOA?
The FOA references modern next generation sequencing approaches, including examples such as whole-genome sequencing, exome sequencing, targeted sequencing, and other next-generation methods.
What genetic mapping strategies are mentioned?
The FOA mentions mapping methods such as linkage mapping, association approaches, and quantitative trait locus (QTL) approaches, with the choice depending on the animal model used.
What role does genotyping play in projects supported by this opportunity?
Genotyping is described as a follow-up step used to validate, refine, and further evaluate candidate variants across additional animals or cohorts after sequencing and mapping identify promising genomic regions or variants.
What types of animal populations does the FOA prioritize or highlight?
The FOA highlights both selectively bred animal lines and outbred populations. Selectively bred lines concentrate traits over generations, while outbred populations retain broader natural genetic diversity. The FOA emphasizes using both because each can reveal different variant-trait relationships and improve the chance of identifying robust, generalizable signals.
Why does the FOA emphasize using both selectively bred and outbred animal models?
Because the two model types can uncover different kinds of genetic signals: selectively bred lines may amplify trait-associated variants through breeding, while outbred populations can help identify variant-trait relationships within more diverse genetic backgrounds. Using both is positioned as a strategy to improve robustness and generalizability of findings.
What grant mechanism is used, and what does it imply?
This FOA uses the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism. A cooperative agreement generally implies substantial NIH scientific and/or programmatic involvement during the project period, potentially including milestone-driven expectations, coordination across awardees, shared resource or data practices, and alignment with program goals.
How is PAR-15-120 related to earlier NIH programs?
The FOA is described as a replacement for an earlier program, PAR-14-010, which supported similar objectives but used a UH2/UH3 phased award structure. PAR-15-120 shifts the structure to a U01 cooperative agreement.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity explicitly states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
Is this funding opportunity still open for applications?
No. The posting indicates an original and current closing date of March 1, 2018, and an archive date of April 1, 2018. That timeline indicates the announcement is no longer active for new submissions.
When was the FOA posted?
The FOA was posted and created on February 13, 2015.
Who is the awarding agency?
The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Where can the full FOA text be found?
The announcement directs applicants to the NIH Grants Guide page: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-120.html
Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing or linking to the announcement?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact is provided for technical issues: FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad, including domestic and non-domestic organizations such as public and private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including small businesses and those other than small businesses), and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility language includes state, county, city/township, and special district governments, as well as eligible federal agencies.
Are tribal governments and tribal-serving institutions eligible?
Yes. The eligible categories explicitly include tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized) and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes foreign organizations and regional organizations.
Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicant types.
Are minority-serving institutions included in the eligibility categories?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and AANAPISIS institutions.
Does the FOA focus on human genetics or animal genetics?
The FOA is focused on non-human animal models and aims to connect addiction-related phenotypes in animals to underlying genetic and genomic variants.
What is the broader purpose or expected impact of discovering these variants?
The opportunity is framed as accelerating discovery of variants that contribute to addiction-relevant traits to strengthen biological understanding and potentially inform prevention, treatment target identification, or translational hypotheses relevant to human substance use disorders.
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