Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 09 120
Apply for RFA MH 09 120
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Informing Systems Biology through Genetic VariationThe Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 16, 2009 and posted on Nov 14, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 23, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts City or township governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- 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) 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 (RFA MH 09 120), titled "Informing Systems Biology through Genetic Variation: The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (R21)," is a National Institutes of Health grant announcement led by the National Institute of Mental Health on behalf of the broader NIH Genes, Environment and Health Initiative. The core goal is to push research beyond the initial signals that come out of Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and related genomic approaches. Rather than stopping at statistical associations between genetic variants and disease, the program is aimed at studies that use systems biology to map, interpret, and test how those variants connect to the real biology of complex human disorders. In practice, that means identifying the molecular components and dynamic network relationships that link genetic differences to changes in cellular function, pathways, and ultimately disease risk or disease mechanisms.
The scientific emphasis is on understanding complex disease as a network problem, where many molecular elements interact and where disease can be seen as a pattern of network perturbations rather than a single gene effect. The announcement highlights several example topics that fit this systems-level approach. One area of interest is studying transcripts of unknown function and determining whether they act as regulatory elements within molecular networks relevant to complex disorders. Another is using systems biology methods to prioritize and validate likely causal molecular candidates and functional variants, helping move from a GWAS locus to an actual mechanism. The FOA also encourages bioinformatics-driven projects that use GWAS results to identify key molecular elements, pathways, and network structures implicated in complex disease. A further highlighted topic is epigenetics, especially studies that clarify how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to molecular pathophysiology and how they might interact with genetic variation in shaping disease-related network behavior.
The mechanism of support is the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21), which is designed for early-stage, high-impact, or conceptually innovative projects that may be too preliminary for larger, longer-term awards. Consistent with that purpose, the FOA is positioned to support exploratory systems biology efforts that can generate strong mechanistic leads, new analytic frameworks, or proof-of-concept network models that connect genetic findings to biological function in a credible and testable way. The award ceiling listed is $400,000, and the program specifies that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
In terms of available funding, NIH committed an estimated total of $2,000,000 in total costs for fiscal year 2009 under this announcement, with the expectation of funding roughly 4 to 8 awards. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area (CFDA 93.242, Mental Health Research Grants). Key timeline details included a posted date of November 14, 2008, with closing dates in January 2009 and an archive date of February 23, 2009, indicating it was a time-limited call for applications during that cycle.
Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types, reflecting NIH's interest in attracting a wide range of capable teams. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, public and state-controlled institutions, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses and other for-profit organizations (with the noted distinctions), local and state governments, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities, tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), and tribal colleges and universities. The FOA also lists additional eligible groups such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), which signals openness to international participation where appropriate.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a bridge between genetic discovery and biological explanation. It is meant for projects that can take GWAS and other genomic results and translate them into systems-level models of molecular interaction, regulation, and disease-relevant network disruption, using combinations of computational biology, bioinformatics, functional genomics, and epigenetic analysis to identify the elements and pathways that actually drive complex disease processes.
FAQs: Informing Systems Biology through Genetic Variation (R21) - RFA MH 09 120
What is the title and identifier of this funding opportunity?
This funding opportunity is titled "Informing Systems Biology through Genetic Variation: The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (R21)" and is identified as RFA MH 09 120.
Which agency and institute are leading this announcement?
It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant announcement led by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), on behalf of the broader NIH Genes, Environment and Health Initiative.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The core purpose is to move research beyond initial signals from Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and related genomic approaches. Instead of stopping at statistical associations between genetic variants and disease, the FOA supports systems biology research that maps, interprets, and tests how genetic variants connect to underlying biology in complex human disorders.
What does the FOA mean by moving beyond GWAS associations?
It means shifting from identifying correlations (variants associated with disease) to building and testing mechanistic explanations. Projects are expected to connect genetic differences to molecular components, network relationships, cellular function, pathways, and ultimately disease risk or disease mechanisms.
What scientific approach is emphasized?
The emphasis is on systems biology and network-based thinking about complex disease. The FOA frames complex disease as a network problem, where many molecular elements interact and disease can be represented as patterns of network perturbations rather than a single-gene effect.
What kinds of research topics are highlighted as good fits?
Examples highlighted include: (1) studying transcripts of unknown function to determine whether they act as regulatory elements in molecular networks relevant to complex disorders; (2) using systems biology methods to prioritize and validate likely causal molecular candidates and functional variants to move from a GWAS locus to a mechanism; (3) bioinformatics-driven projects that use GWAS results to identify key molecular elements, pathways, and network structures implicated in complex disease; and (4) epigenetics studies that clarify how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to molecular pathophysiology and how they may interact with genetic variation in shaping disease-related network behavior.
How does this FOA define the link between genetic variation and disease?
The FOA focuses on identifying molecular components and dynamic network relationships that connect genetic differences to changes in cellular function and pathways, resulting in altered disease risk or disease mechanisms in complex human disorders.
What is the grant mechanism used for this opportunity?
The mechanism of support is the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21).
What is an R21 intended to support in this context?
In this FOA, the R21 is positioned to support exploratory, early-stage, high-impact, or conceptually innovative systems biology projects that may be too preliminary for larger, longer-term awards. The aim is to generate strong mechanistic leads, new analytic frameworks, or proof-of-concept network models that credibly and testably connect genetic findings to biological function.
What is the maximum award amount stated in the FOA?
The award ceiling listed is $400,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA specifies there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
How much total funding was NIH planning to commit for this announcement?
NIH committed an estimated total of $2,000,000 in total costs for fiscal year 2009 under this announcement.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The FOA indicates an expectation of roughly 4 to 8 awards.
What program area and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area under CFDA 93.242, Mental Health Research Grants.
When was this FOA posted and when did it close?
Key dates provided include a posted date of November 14, 2008, closing dates in January 2009, and an archive date of February 23, 2009. This indicates the call was time-limited for that cycle.
Is this described as a time-limited opportunity?
Yes. The presence of specific closing dates in January 2009 and an archive date of February 23, 2009 indicates it was a time-limited call for applications during that funding cycle.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types: public and private institutions of higher education; public and state-controlled institutions; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; small businesses and other for-profit organizations; local and state governments; independent school districts; special district governments; public housing authorities; tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized); and tribal colleges and universities.
Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included?
Yes. The FOA lists eligible groups including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or regional organizations included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA lists U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations among the eligible groups.
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. The FOA includes eligible federal agencies in the eligibility listing.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA states that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are eligible, signaling openness to international participation where appropriate.
What kinds of methods or disciplines does this FOA encourage?
The FOA encourages combinations of computational biology, bioinformatics, functional genomics, and epigenetic analysis aimed at translating GWAS and other genomic results into systems-level models of molecular interaction, regulation, and disease-relevant network disruption.
What is meant by a systems-level model in this FOA?
Within the FOA description, a systems-level model refers to mapping and testing networks of interacting molecular elements and their dynamic relationships, explaining how genetic variation perturbs those networks and contributes to complex disease processes.
Does the FOA specifically call out epigenetics?
Yes. Epigenetics is highlighted, particularly studies that clarify how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to molecular pathophysiology and how they may interact with genetic variation to shape disease-related network behavior.
What is the overall "bridge" this FOA is trying to create?
The opportunity is described as a bridge between genetic discovery and biological explanation, supporting research that translates GWAS and related genomic findings into mechanistic, testable systems biology insights about complex human disorders.
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