Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 14 004
Apply for RFA HD 14 004
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "In vivo Methods for Assessing Placental Development and Function (R41/R42)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 22, 2013 and posted on May 22, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 21, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The funding opportunity titled "In vivo Methods for Assessing Placental Development and Function (R41/R42)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HD-14-004) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) small business grant solicitation led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) with participation from other NIH Institutes. It supports research aimed at creating and improving safe, real-time approaches that can evaluate how the human placenta forms and how well it functions during pregnancy, with a strong emphasis on methods that are non-invasive or minimally invasive and that can be used in vivo (meaning in a living system rather than in a lab dish). The overall thrust is technological innovation that makes it possible to monitor placental development and performance during pregnancy in ways that are practical, safer for patients, and capable of providing information as pregnancy progresses, rather than only at delivery or through indirect indicators.
This opportunity uses the SBIR funding mechanism, reflected in the R41/R42 activity codes. In practical terms, that means it is designed specifically for small businesses to move innovations from early feasibility into more advanced development. The R41 phase (often corresponding to Phase I) generally supports proof-of-concept and early prototyping work, while the R42 phase (often corresponding to Phase II) supports further research and development toward a more complete, validated, and potentially commercializable technology. The announcement is categorized as a discretionary grant, and it falls under health-related research and technology innovation areas, including CFDA 93.286 (Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health) and CFDA 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to provide additional non-federal funds as a condition of the award.
A key scientific and clinical motivation behind the call is the longstanding difficulty of assessing placental health directly during pregnancy. Many pregnancy complications are linked to placental development or placental insufficiency, yet routine clinical tools often rely on indirect signals. By funding the development of real-time, in vivo assessment methods, NICHD is encouraging tools that could improve understanding of placental biology, enable earlier identification of abnormal placental development, and ultimately support better maternal-fetal outcomes. The focus on safety and minimal invasiveness signals that the expected end products should be compatible with use in pregnant patients, where risk tolerance is appropriately low and methods must be carefully designed to avoid harm.
Eligibility is limited to small businesses, consistent with the SBIR program structure. Foreign (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, foreign components as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement may be allowed, which typically means certain project elements could be carried out internationally if they meet NIH policy requirements and are well-justified, but the applicant organization itself must be an eligible U.S. small business. The opportunity was posted and created on May 22, 2013, with an original and current closing date of August 21, 2013, and an archive date of September 21, 2013, indicating the solicitation is historical rather than currently open.
For applicants and researchers looking for more specifics, the full announcement was made available through the NIH grants website at the link provided in the source. The posting also includes a general support contact (NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster) for access or technical issues related to the online announcement, rather than a program-specific scientific contact in the excerpt provided.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "In vivo Methods for Assessing Placental Development and Function (R41/R42)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-HD-14-004.
Which agency and NIH Institute are leading this opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), with participation from other NIH Institutes.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to support research and technology development that creates and improves safe, real-time approaches to evaluate how the human placenta develops and how well it functions during pregnancy.
What kinds of methods are being emphasized?
The emphasis is on in vivo methods (used in a living system) that are non-invasive or minimally invasive, practical to use during pregnancy, and able to provide information in real time as pregnancy progresses.
Why is NIH focusing on real-time, in vivo placental assessment?
The scientific and clinical motivation is that assessing placental health directly during pregnancy has been historically difficult, even though many pregnancy complications are linked to placental development issues or placental insufficiency. The goal is to enable earlier and more direct assessment than what is possible through tools that rely mainly on indirect indicators or information only available at delivery.
What does "in vivo" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In vivo means the method is used in a living system, rather than being limited to lab-based (ex vivo or in vitro) measurements such as analysis in a dish or only after delivery.
What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) funding mechanism, reflected in the R41/R42 activity codes.
What do the R41 and R42 phases generally support?
R41 (often corresponding to Phase I) generally supports proof-of-concept and early prototyping work. R42 (often corresponding to Phase II) generally supports further research and development toward a more complete, validated, and potentially commercializable technology.
Is this opportunity meant for academic institutions or small businesses?
Eligibility is limited to small businesses, consistent with the SBIR program structure.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
No. Foreign (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible under the terms described.
Are any foreign activities allowed at all?
Foreign components (as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement) may be allowed. In practical terms, that means certain justified project elements could potentially be carried out internationally if they meet NIH policy requirements, but the applicant organization must be an eligible U.S. small business.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide additional non-federal funds as a condition of award.
How is this opportunity categorized (grant type and general research area)?
The announcement is categorized as a discretionary grant and focuses on health-related research and technological innovation, specifically around tools for assessing placental development and function during pregnancy.
What CFDA programs are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity references CFDA 93.286 (Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health) and CFDA 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
It was posted/created on May 22, 2013. The original and current closing date was August 21, 2013. The archive date was September 21, 2013.
Is this funding opportunity currently open?
Based on the provided dates (closing date in 2013 and an archive date in 2013), this solicitation is historical and not currently open.
Where can applicants find the full official announcement?
The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants website at the link provided in the original source for this opportunity.
Is there a contact listed for help with the announcement?
The excerpt references a general support contact (the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster) for access or technical issues related to the online announcement, rather than a program-specific scientific contact.
What types of outcomes is NICHD aiming to enable through this research?
NICHD is encouraging technological innovation that can improve understanding of placental biology, enable earlier identification of abnormal placental development, and ultimately support better maternal-fetal outcomes by making assessment safer, more practical, and more informative during pregnancy.
What does the emphasis on safety and minimal invasiveness imply for proposed technologies?
It implies the expected end products should be compatible with use in pregnant patients, where risk tolerance is low and methods must be carefully designed to avoid harm, while still providing useful real-time information during pregnancy.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Quagga Mussel Containment in the West
Previous opportunity: In vivo Methods for Assessing Placental Development and Function (SBIR) (R43/R44)
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 RFA HD 14 004
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA HD 14 004) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NICHD Program Project Grant (P01) Apply for PAR 13 257 Funding Number: PAR 13 257 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (U54) Apply for RFA AR 13 021 Funding Number: RFA AR 13 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Developmental Mechanisms of Human Structural Birth Defects (P01) Apply for PAR 13 285 Funding Number: PAR 13 285 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Biomarkers Bridging Pediatric and Adult Therapeutics (R03) Apply for PAR 13 299 Funding Number: PAR 13 299 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Biomarkers Bridging Pediatric and Adult Therapeutics (R21) Apply for PAR 13 295 Funding Number: PAR 13 295 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Biomarkers Bridging Pediatric and Adult Therapeutics (R01) Apply for PAR 13 296 Funding Number: PAR 13 296 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R01) Apply for PAR 13 309 Funding Number: PAR 13 309 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R03) Apply for PAR 13 310 Funding Number: PAR 13 310 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R21) Apply for PAR 13 311 Funding Number: PAR 13 311 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R01) Apply for PAR 13 325 Funding Number: PAR 13 325 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R21) Apply for PAR 13 326 Funding Number: PAR 13 326 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Drug Delivery Systems (R03) Apply for PAR 13 344 Funding Number: PAR 13 344 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Drug Delivery Systems (R43) Apply for PAR 13 345 Funding Number: PAR 13 345 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Drug Delivery Systems STTR (R41) Apply for PAR 13 346 Funding Number: PAR 13 346 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Sustained Release of Antivirals for Treatment and Prevention of HIV (SRATP) (R01) Apply for PAR 13 349 Funding Number: PAR 13 349 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enhancing the Capacity for Biomedical Research on Tuberculosis for HIV infected Mothers and Children in India (R01) Apply for RFA HD 14 025 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Epigenetic Modification in Gametogenesis and Transgenerational Inheritance (R01) Apply for PAR 13 385 Funding Number: PAR 13 385 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Female Contraceptive Development Program (U01) Apply for RFA HD 14 024 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Discovery of Molecular Targets for Pregnancy Related/Induced Diseases and Development of Therapeutics to Prevent/Treat These Diseases (SBIR) (R43/R44) Apply for RFA HD 14 031 Funding Number: RFA HD 14 031 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Discovery of Molecular Targets for Pregnancy Related/Induced Diseases and Development of Therapeutics to Prevent/Treat These Diseases (R01) Apply for PAR 13 389 Funding Number: PAR 13 389 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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 "RFA HD 14 004", 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.
