Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 08 141
Apply for PA 08 141
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "In Utero Exposure to Bioactive Food Components and Mammary Cancer Risk (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 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Apr 10, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 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 For profit organizations other than small businesses State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "In Utero Exposure to Bioactive Food Components and Mammary Cancer Risk (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 08 141) is an NIH exploratory funding announcement sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in partnership with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Its central goal is to support innovative, preclinical research that clarifies how exposures during pregnancy, especially exposures that occur in utero, can shape lifelong breast (mammary) cancer risk in offspring. The FOA is built around the idea that very early developmental windows may set biological trajectories through changes in hormones, growth factor signaling, gene expression patterns, and epigenetic programming, and that these changes may later influence susceptibility to mammary tumor development.
The scientific focus is on two broad but related exposure categories: (1) bioactive food components and nutrients, and (2) environmental agents and chemicals that may affect mammary cancer risk, including compounds with endocrine activity. The announcement reflects a key gap in the field: while many studies suggest diet can contribute to cancer prevention, it is often unclear which specific dietary factors matter most, where in the body they act, and whether timing of exposure during fetal development is a decisive factor. In parallel, the FOA highlights uncertainty around environmental contributors such as mycotoxins, heterocyclic amines, and endocrine-active environmental chemicals, particularly regarding what doses are relevant, which prenatal windows are most sensitive, and what mechanisms connect early exposure to later cancer outcomes. Applications are encouraged to tackle these unknowns using rigorous preclinical model systems.
A major emphasis of the opportunity is the use of modern, high-throughput "omics" and systems-level tools. The FOA explicitly encourages applicants to incorporate genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches to map how in utero dietary or chemical exposures alter biological pathways linked to mammary development and cancer susceptibility. In practical terms, projects might investigate exposure-driven shifts in hormone and growth factor responses, identify exposure-associated gene expression signatures, characterize persistent epigenetic marks established during development, or connect metabolic pathway changes to later-life tumor risk. The broader public health motivation is prevention: by understanding mechanisms and critical windows, the research could inform maternal dietary intervention strategies intended to reduce breast cancer risk in daughters later in life.
This announcement uses the NIH R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant mechanism, meaning it is designed for early-stage, innovative, or higher-risk concepts that can generate strong preliminary data or open up new directions rather than support large, mature research programs. It runs in parallel with a companion FOA of identical scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (PA 08 140), which is typically more appropriate for larger, more established projects. The R21 structure also shapes expectations around project scope and deliverables, with an emphasis on feasibility, innovation, and clear potential to advance the field quickly.
In terms of funding parameters, the maximum project period is two years. Direct costs are capped at $275,000 total across the two-year R21 period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs in any single year. The R21 awarded under this FOA is not renewable, consistent with the exploratory nature of the mechanism. The FOA does not specify a fixed number of awards; instead, awards depend on the availability of funds and the number of high-quality applications received. As a result, both the number of awards and the final distribution of award sizes can vary based on scientific merit, project duration, and budget justification across the applicant pool.
The application format requirements follow the PHS398 guidance for R21 submissions, with a strict page limit: the Research Plan section (PHS398 Items 2 through 5) may not exceed 15 pages total, and that cap includes tables, figures, graphs, and diagrams. This constraint reinforces the need for a focused project design with clearly defined aims, well-justified methods, and a strong rationale for why the proposed experiments and technologies are appropriate for an R21 timeframe and budget.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organization types. Eligible applicants include nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), state governments, public and private institutions of higher education, and additional entities such as eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, foreign (non-U.S.) organizations, and regional organizations. On the investigator side, the FOA invites any individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to conduct the work to apply through their institutions, and it explicitly encourages participation by individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities. The opportunity also permits multiple principal investigators (multiple PDs/PIs), which can be useful for interdisciplinary projects spanning nutrition science, toxicology, developmental biology, cancer biology, and computational omics.
From an administrative standpoint, applicants may submit more than one application as long as each is scientifically distinct. Resubmissions are allowed, but they must include an introduction that addresses the critiques raised in the prior peer review summary statement. Renewals are not allowed, because the R21 is intended for new, exploratory projects rather than ongoing lines of work.
Finally, the FOA was originally posted April 10, 2008, with an original and final closing date of May 7, 2011, and it was archived June 7, 2011. Even though it is no longer active, it provides a clear snapshot of NIH priorities at the time around developmental origins of cancer risk, prenatal exposure biology, and the use of high-throughput molecular profiling to connect early-life exposures to later-life breast cancer susceptibility in preclinical models.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "In Utero Exposure to Bioactive Food Components and Mammary Cancer Risk (R21)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is PA 08 141.
Which NIH institutes and offices sponsor or participate in this FOA?
This NIH exploratory funding announcement is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in partnership with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).
What is the central goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to support innovative, preclinical research that clarifies how exposures during pregnancy, especially exposures that occur in utero, can shape lifelong breast (mammary) cancer risk in offspring.
What key scientific idea motivates this FOA?
The FOA is built around the idea that very early developmental windows may set biological trajectories through changes in hormones, growth factor signaling, gene expression patterns, and epigenetic programming, and that these changes may later influence susceptibility to mammary tumor development.
What types of exposures are in scope for proposed studies?
The FOA focuses on two broad, related exposure categories: (1) bioactive food components and nutrients, and (2) environmental agents and chemicals that may affect mammary cancer risk, including compounds with endocrine activity.
Why is the timing of exposure (in utero) emphasized?
The FOA emphasizes that fetal development may be a decisive window in which exposures can cause persistent biological changes that later influence mammary development and cancer susceptibility.
What research gaps does the FOA highlight for dietary factors?
While many studies suggest diet can contribute to cancer prevention, the FOA highlights that it is often unclear which specific dietary factors matter most, where in the body they act, and whether timing of exposure during fetal development is a decisive factor.
What environmental contributors are specifically mentioned as uncertain or understudied?
The FOA highlights uncertainty around environmental contributors such as mycotoxins, heterocyclic amines, and endocrine-active environmental chemicals, particularly regarding relevant doses, sensitive prenatal windows, and mechanisms connecting early exposure to later cancer outcomes.
Are applications expected to use human studies or preclinical models?
The FOA emphasizes innovative, preclinical research and encourages applicants to address the scientific unknowns using rigorous preclinical model systems.
What kinds of mechanisms or biological pathways might applicants investigate?
Examples described include exposure-driven shifts in hormone and growth factor responses, exposure-associated gene expression signatures, persistent epigenetic marks established during development, and metabolic pathway changes linked to later-life tumor risk.
Does the FOA encourage the use of high-throughput or "omics" approaches?
Yes. A major emphasis is the use of modern, high-throughput "omics" and systems-level tools, including genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches.
How does the FOA connect "omics" methods to mammary cancer risk?
The FOA encourages mapping how in utero dietary or chemical exposures alter biological pathways linked to mammary development and cancer susceptibility, using systems-level molecular profiling to connect early-life exposures to later outcomes.
What is the broader public health motivation described in the announcement?
The broader motivation is prevention: by understanding mechanisms and critical windows, the research could inform maternal dietary intervention strategies intended to reduce breast cancer risk in daughters later in life.
What grant mechanism does this FOA use, and what does that imply?
This FOA uses the NIH R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant mechanism. It is intended for early-stage, innovative, or higher-risk concepts that can generate strong preliminary data or open new directions, rather than supporting large, mature research programs.
Is there a related funding opportunity with the same scientific scope?
Yes. The FOA runs in parallel with a companion FOA of identical scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (PA 08 140), which is typically more appropriate for larger, more established projects.
What is the maximum project period for an R21 under this FOA?
The maximum project period is two years.
What are the direct cost limits for this R21 opportunity?
Direct costs are capped at $275,000 total across the two-year project period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs in any single year.
Is the R21 award renewable under this FOA?
No. The R21 awarded under this FOA is not renewable, consistent with the exploratory nature of the mechanism.
Does the FOA specify how many awards will be made?
No fixed number of awards is specified. Awards depend on the availability of funds and the number of high-quality applications received, so the number of awards and award sizes can vary.
What application instructions and format are required?
The FOA follows the PHS398 guidance for R21 submissions.
What is the page limit for the Research Plan?
The Research Plan section (PHS398 Items 2 through 5) may not exceed 15 pages total, and this limit includes tables, figures, graphs, and diagrams.
What does the 15-page limit mean for project design?
It reinforces the need for a focused project with clearly defined aims, well-justified methods, and a strong rationale for why the proposed experiments and technologies are appropriate within an R21 timeframe and budget.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), state governments, public and private institutions of higher education, and additional entities such as eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, foreign (non-U.S.) organizations, and regional organizations.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations are included among eligible applicants.
Who is eligible to serve as an investigator on an application?
Any individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to conduct the work may apply through their institutions.
Does the FOA encourage applications from underrepresented groups?
Yes. It explicitly encourages participation by individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities.
Are multiple principal investigators allowed?
Yes. The opportunity permits multiple PDs/PIs, which can support interdisciplinary projects spanning areas such as nutrition science, toxicology, developmental biology, cancer biology, and computational omics.
Can an organization submit more than one application?
Yes. Applicants may submit more than one application as long as each application is scientifically distinct.
Are resubmissions allowed, and what is required for a resubmission?
Resubmissions are allowed, but they must include an introduction that addresses the critiques raised in the prior peer review summary statement.
Are renewals allowed?
No. Renewals are not allowed because the R21 is intended for new, exploratory projects rather than ongoing lines of work.
When was this FOA posted, and what were the closing dates?
The FOA was originally posted on April 10, 2008. The original and final closing date was May 7, 2011.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. It was archived on June 7, 2011, and is no longer active.
What does it mean that the FOA is archived?
Based on the information provided, "archived" indicates the opportunity is no longer active, but it still serves as a snapshot of NIH priorities at the time around prenatal exposure biology, developmental origins of cancer risk, and high-throughput profiling approaches in preclinical models.
What kinds of projects appear to fit best within the R21 scope described?
Projects that are innovative and feasible within two years, generate strong preliminary data quickly, and use focused preclinical designs (often leveraging omics and systems-level tools) to clarify mechanisms and critical prenatal windows linking in utero exposures to later mammary cancer susceptibility.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| In Utero Exposure to Bioactive Food Components and Mammary Cancer Risk (R01) Apply for PA 08 140 Funding Number: PA 08 140 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploratory Collaborations with National Centers for Biomedical Computing (R21) Apply for PAR 08 183 Funding Number: PAR 08 183 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| 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 |
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