Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21) | Apply Online

FAQs: NIH PAR-10-084 - Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21)

What is PAR-10-084?

PAR-10-084 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement titled "Mechanism for Time Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21)." It supports research that must begin quickly because a sudden, unpredictable event creates a short window to collect environmental health data that would otherwise be impossible to obtain.

What problem is this funding opportunity designed to solve?

This opportunity is designed for situations where investigators need to capture critical, time-sensitive environmental health information (such as baseline measurements, early exposure indicators, or biospecimen and exposure data) immediately before, during, or right after an unexpected event.

What makes a research opportunity "time sensitive" under this FOA?

In this FOA, "time sensitive" means the circumstance could not have been reasonably anticipated in advance and the research must start quickly to collect data during a brief window. The emphasis is on speed and seizing a rare opportunity to capture exposure and health-related measurements that cannot be recreated later.

What kinds of triggering events are mentioned as examples?

The FOA mentions events like natural or human-made disasters, as well as major shifts such as health care policy changes, where the conditions before, during, or immediately after the event create a unique opportunity to understand environmental exposures and health impacts.

What funding mechanism does PAR-10-084 use?

PAR-10-084 uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) mechanism. R21 awards are typically used for innovative, early-stage, or proof-of-concept work intended to generate evidence, methods, or datasets that can support larger studies in the future.

What is the main goal of the R21 mechanism in this specific announcement?

Beyond reacting quickly to an event, projects are expected to produce foundational insights, measurements, methods, or infrastructure that strengthen longer-term population-based research on how environmental agents affect health.

Is there a companion funding opportunity tied to the same scientific scope?

Yes. The announcement runs in parallel with a companion FOA of the same scientific scope that supports the smaller R03 mechanism (PAR-10-083). Applicants can choose between mechanisms based on the scale and needs of their proposed time-sensitive work.

How much funding is available under PAR-10-084?

The FOA does not set a fixed number of awards or a single fixed funding level in advance. Award size and duration depend on the nature, quality, timeline, and cost structure of the applications received. The listed award ceiling is $200,000.

Is the number of awards predetermined?

No. The FOA states that the number of awards is not fixed because the scientific scenarios and logistical demands can vary widely across time-sensitive events and proposed studies.

Who can apply for PAR-10-084?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, including various levels of government, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and other for-profit organizations, among others.

What types of government entities are eligible applicants?

Eligible government applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments. Federally recognized tribal governments, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies are also identified as eligible in the FOA.

Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Both public and private institutions of higher education are eligible. The FOA also specifically includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), tribally controlled colleges and universities, and other listed categories of institutions.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits.

Can businesses apply?

Yes. Small businesses are eligible, and the FOA also explicitly lists certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as eligible applicants.

Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA identifies faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicants.

Are independent school districts eligible?

Yes. Independent school districts are listed among eligible applicants.

Are public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided description of this opportunity.

What is the program area or CFDA listing for this opportunity?

The FOA is described as a discretionary grant in the environmental health area and is associated with CFDA 93.113, Environmental Health.

Which agency administers this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

When was PAR-10-084 posted, and is it still open?

The opportunity was posted and created on January 14, 2010. The original and current closing date is listed as February 20, 2013, and the archive date is March 23, 2013. Based on these dates, the opportunity is no longer open and remains as an archived reference.

Where was the full announcement made available?

The full announcement was made available through the NIH Grants Guide.

Who is listed as the contact for access or technical linking issues?

The provided contact for access or technical linking issues is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster.