Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 08 251
Apply for PA 08 251
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Metals in Medicine (R01)" 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 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Aug 22, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses State governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Independent school districts City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 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:
The NIH grant opportunity "Metals in Medicine (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 08-251) supports research projects that connect inorganic chemistry with medically relevant biology. The central goal is to push forward studies that explain how metal ions, especially transition metals, are controlled by living organisms and how those metals influence cellular regulation, signaling, and disease processes. In practical terms, the program is looking for work that treats metals as active biological players rather than just nutrients or environmental exposures, and it prioritizes mechanistic understanding of how metal handling works in cells and tissues.
A major emphasis is on the biological machinery that manages metal ions: how organisms acquire them, transport them, store them, buffer them, and deploy them in proteins or pathways that control cell behavior. This includes understanding how essential metals contribute to normal physiology, why they are nutritionally required, and what goes wrong when metal homeostasis is disrupted. Because metals can shift oxidation states, bind selectively to different ligands, and participate in catalytic chemistry, the FOA is positioned around the idea that you often need deep inorganic chemistry expertise to properly describe what is happening in a biological or disease context.
Alongside studies of naturally occurring metals in biology, the FOA also welcomes research on synthetic inorganic complexes and how they interact with living systems or biological components. This can involve how designed metal complexes engage biomolecules, influence pathways, or serve as tools to probe biological processes. While the announcement anticipates that funded research could help reveal new drug targets, diagnostic concepts, or future therapeutic strategies involving metal-based agents, it is explicit that drug development itself is not the primary focus. The intent is more foundational: generate knowledge about mechanisms and interactions that could later enable translational advances.
The opportunity is sponsored by multiple NIH components, reflecting its cross-cutting scope: the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). That mix signals interest spanning basic mechanisms, cancer relevance, environmental and exposure-related dimensions of metals, and the nutritional roles of essential metal species. The funded activity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, meaning it is designed for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects rather than small pilots or training-only efforts, and it does not require cost sharing or matching.
Collaboration is an expected feature of many competitive applications. The FOA notes that much of the work will likely involve teams that combine chemists with biologists and medical researchers, which fits the program's core premise: progress in this area depends on integrating rigorous inorganic chemistry with modern biomedical questions and models. The desired outcome is a clearer, mechanistic picture of metal handling and metal-dependent cellular roles in both health and disease, with insights that can ripple outward to future diagnostic or therapeutic concepts.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant in the broad activity categories of education, environment, and health, with CFDA numbers listed for environmental health (93.113), cancer cause and prevention research (93.393), and biomedical research and research training (93.859). The opportunity was posted August 22, 2008, created December 5, 2008, and carried an original and final closing date of September 7, 2011, with an archive date of October 8, 2011. In other words, this particular FOA is historical/archived, but the summary still captures the kind of research emphasis NIH periodically revisits under similar program areas.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types that commonly apply for NIH research funding. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), small businesses, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), and a wide range of government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). The eligibility language also includes federally recognized and other tribal governments and organizations, and it explicitly lists a variety of mission-focused institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations. It also notes that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and U.S. territories or possessions may be eligible, indicating an openness to internationally based expertise when appropriate.
For reference, the full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants guide website under the PA 08-251 identifier, and NIH provided general support contacts through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking problems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIH "Metals in Medicine (R01)" (PA 08-251)
What is the "Metals in Medicine (R01)" funding opportunity?
"Metals in Medicine (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 08-251) is an NIH grant opportunity that supported research projects linking inorganic chemistry with medically relevant biology. The emphasis is on understanding how metal ions function as active participants in biological systems and disease processes, with a strong focus on mechanism.
What is the central scientific goal of this FOA?
The central goal is to advance studies that explain how living organisms control metal ions (especially transition metals) and how those metals influence cellular regulation, signaling, and disease. The program prioritizes mechanistic understanding of metal handling in cells and tissues.
How does this FOA frame the role of metals in biology?
This FOA treats metals as active biological players rather than viewing them only as nutrients or environmental exposures. It highlights that metals can shift oxidation states, bind selectively to ligands, and participate in catalytic chemistry, which often requires deep inorganic chemistry expertise to interpret in biological or disease contexts.
What kinds of biological processes involving metals are of interest?
A major emphasis is on the biological machinery that manages metal ions, including how organisms acquire metals, transport them, store them, buffer them, and deploy them in proteins or pathways that control cell behavior.
Does the FOA focus on essential metals and nutrition?
Yes. The FOA includes understanding how essential metals contribute to normal physiology, why they are nutritionally required, and what happens when metal homeostasis is disrupted.
Is research on disease mechanisms involving metals within scope?
Yes. The FOA is focused on how metals influence cellular regulation, signaling, and disease processes, and it seeks mechanistic insight into what goes wrong when metal homeostasis is disrupted.
Are studies involving synthetic inorganic metal complexes allowed?
Yes. Alongside naturally occurring metals in biology, the FOA welcomes research on synthetic inorganic complexes and how they interact with living systems or biological components.
What types of synthetic-complex studies fit the FOA?
Examples described in the FOA include how designed metal complexes engage biomolecules, influence pathways, or serve as tools to probe biological processes. The key expectation is that the work contributes foundational understanding of mechanisms and interactions.
Is drug development the primary focus of this opportunity?
No. While the FOA anticipates that funded research could reveal new drug targets, diagnostic concepts, or future therapeutic strategies involving metal-based agents, it explicitly states that drug development itself is not the primary focus. The intent is foundational, mechanism-oriented research that may later enable translation.
What funding mechanism does this FOA use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects rather than small pilot projects or training-only efforts.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA specifies that it does not require cost sharing or matching.
Which NIH components sponsored this FOA?
The FOA was sponsored by multiple NIH components: the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).
What does multi-sponsor support suggest about the program scope?
The mix of sponsors signals cross-cutting interest, spanning basic mechanisms (NIGMS), cancer relevance (NCI), environmental and exposure-related dimensions of metals (NIEHS), and nutritional roles of essential metal species (ODS).
Are collaborative, interdisciplinary teams encouraged?
Yes. Collaboration is described as an expected feature of many competitive applications, and the FOA notes that much of the work will likely involve teams combining chemists with biologists and medical researchers.
What kind of research outcomes does the FOA aim to produce?
The desired outcome is a clearer, mechanistic picture of metal handling and metal-dependent cellular roles in health and disease, producing insights that could later support diagnostic or therapeutic concepts.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The FOA lists CFDA numbers for environmental health (93.113), cancer cause and prevention research (93.393), and biomedical research and research training (93.859).
When was this FOA posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on August 22, 2008, created on December 5, 2008, and had an original and final closing date of September 7, 2011, with an archive date of October 8, 2011.
Is this FOA still active?
No. Based on the provided dates and archive information, PA 08-251 is historical/archived. The summary still reflects a research emphasis NIH periodically revisits under similar program areas, but this specific FOA is not current.
Who was eligible to apply under this FOA?
Eligibility was broad and included many organization types commonly eligible for NIH research funding, across academic, nonprofit, for-profit, small business, and government sectors.
Are universities and colleges eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA lists public and private institutions of higher education as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofits eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA includes nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain non-501(c)(3) entities.
Are for-profit organizations eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA includes for-profit organizations, including those other than small businesses, and also lists small businesses as eligible.
Which government entities were eligible to apply?
The FOA includes a wide range of government entities, including state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal governments and organizations.
Does the FOA explicitly include mission-focused or underserved-serving institutions?
Yes. The FOA explicitly lists institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Could non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA notes that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) may be eligible, and it also indicates that U.S. territories or possessions may be eligible.
Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants guide website under the PA 08-251 identifier.
Who was listed for general support contacts?
NIH provided general support contacts through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking problems.
How is this opportunity categorized administratively?
Administratively, it is described as a discretionary NIH grant in broad activity categories of education, environment, and health.
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