Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 11 032
Apply for PAR 11 032
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Methods and Approaches for Detection of Gene Environment Interactions in Human Disease (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.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 12, 2010 and posted on Nov 12, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 3, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $275,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments City or township governments Independent school districts County governments 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:
Methods and Approaches for Detection of Gene Environment Interactions in Human Disease (R21) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity issued through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). It supports early stage, high-impact research aimed at improving how scientists detect and interpret gene-environment (GxE) interactions in complex human diseases. The core idea is that many common diseases are not driven by genetics or environment alone, but by the way genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures combine. This announcement focuses on creating and testing better tools to uncover those combined effects, especially in real-world human populations where exposures vary, data are messy, and effects may be subtle.
The FOA specifically encourages applicants to develop and validate innovative statistical methods, computational approaches, and study designs that make GxE interaction analyses more accurate, more efficient, and more reliable. That can include new algorithms for identifying interactions, improved modeling strategies that account for confounding and measurement error, approaches that handle high-dimensional data (for example, genome-wide markers alongside many exposure variables), and designs that boost power when interaction effects are small. It also highlights the need for practical analytical strategies that researchers can apply to complex human datasets, not just theoretical work.
A second major emphasis is on bioinformatics software development and application. The opportunity invites projects that produce usable tools for GxE analysis, such as software pipelines, packages, and platforms that help investigators integrate genetic data with environmental exposure data and analyze them within existing population studies. In other words, applicants are encouraged not only to invent methods but to translate them into software that can be used by the broader research community, ideally demonstrated on existing human cohorts or population datasets to show feasibility and value.
This is an R21 mechanism, meaning it is intended for exploratory and developmental research rather than large, definitive multi-year trials. The award ceiling listed is $275,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding activity area is environmental health, and the listing corresponds to CFDA 93.113 (Environmental Health). The announcement was posted on November 12, 2010, with an original and current closing date of February 3, 2011, and an archive date of March 6, 2011.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, special district governments, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and various other entities noted in the announcement. Additional categories explicitly mentioned include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and other non-domestic entities. Federal agencies are also listed as eligible.
Overall, the purpose of this grant opportunity is to push the field forward by improving the methods and tools needed to rigorously study how genes and environmental factors work together in complex disease. It targets the practical bottlenecks that often limit GxE studies, such as insufficient statistical power, complicated exposure assessment, multiple testing burdens, population heterogeneity, and computational challenges. By funding exploratory projects that deliver validated methods and usable software, the program aims to make future gene-environment studies more informative, reproducible, and clinically and biologically meaningful. For reference, the full announcement was linked at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-032.html, with NIH Office of Extramural Research contact points provided for technical access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Methods and Approaches for Detection of Gene Environment Interactions in Human Disease (R21).
Which agency and institute are offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity issued through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The purpose is to support early stage, high-impact research that improves how scientists detect and interpret gene-environment (GxE) interactions in complex human diseases. The program targets practical bottlenecks that make GxE studies difficult in real-world human populations, where exposures vary, data can be messy, and interaction effects may be subtle.
What are gene-environment (GxE) interactions in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, GxE interactions refer to the idea that many common diseases are not driven by genetics alone or environment alone, but by the combined effects of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures.
What type of research does the R21 mechanism support?
This is an R21 mechanism, which is intended for exploratory and developmental research rather than large, definitive multi-year trials.
What kinds of projects are encouraged under this FOA?
The FOA encourages projects that develop and validate innovative statistical methods, computational approaches, and study designs that make GxE interaction analyses more accurate, efficient, and reliable, especially when applied to complex human datasets.
Does the FOA emphasize practical, usable approaches or purely theoretical work?
The FOA highlights the need for practical analytical strategies that researchers can apply to complex human datasets, not just theoretical work.
What specific methodological areas does the FOA mention?
Examples described in the FOA include:
- New algorithms for identifying gene-environment interactions
- Improved modeling strategies that account for confounding and measurement error
- Approaches to handle high-dimensional data (for example, genome-wide markers alongside many exposure variables)
- Study designs that boost statistical power when interaction effects are small
Is bioinformatics software development part of the FOA?
Yes. A major emphasis is on bioinformatics software development and application, including projects that produce usable tools for GxE analysis.
What types of software outputs are encouraged?
The FOA invites usable tools such as software pipelines, packages, and platforms that help investigators integrate genetic data with environmental exposure data and analyze them within existing population studies.
Does the FOA encourage demonstrating tools on real human datasets?
Yes. It encourages applicants to translate methods into software that can be used by the broader research community and to demonstrate feasibility and value, ideally using existing human cohorts or population datasets.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $275,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the funding activity area?
The funding activity area is environmental health.
What CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?
The listing corresponds to CFDA 93.113 (Environmental Health).
When was the announcement posted?
The announcement was posted on November 12, 2010.
What were the closing and archive dates listed?
The announcement lists an original and current closing date of February 3, 2011, and an archive date of March 6, 2011.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations, including:
- State and local governments
- Tribal governments and tribal organizations
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Special district governments
- Nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses and for-profits other than small businesses)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Other entities noted in the announcement
- Federal agencies
Are specific institution types explicitly mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly mentions eligibility including:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories or possessions
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and other non-domestic entities.
What real-world challenges in GxE studies does this FOA aim to address?
The FOA targets bottlenecks that often limit GxE studies, including:
- Insufficient statistical power
- Complicated exposure assessment
- Multiple testing burdens
- Population heterogeneity
- Computational challenges
What outcomes is this program trying to achieve for the research community?
By funding exploratory projects that deliver validated methods and usable software, the program aims to make future gene-environment studies more informative, reproducible, and clinically and biologically meaningful.
Where can the full announcement be found?
The full announcement was linked at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-032.html.
Is any support mentioned for technical access or linking issues?
Yes. The information provided notes that NIH Office of Extramural Research contact points were provided for technical access or linking issues.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 11 032) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Limited Competition NIH Competing Revision Awards for Creating Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER)(R01) Apply for PAR 11 046 Funding Number: PAR 11 046 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Identification of Biomarkers for Early Detection of Environmentally Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction (R01) Apply for RFA ES 11 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 11 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Consortium for 2 Year Bisphenol A Toxicity Study (U01) Apply for RFA ES 10 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 10 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Research on Research Integrity (R21) Apply for RFA ES 11 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 11 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Environmental Health Sciences Core Center Grants (P30) Apply for RFA ES 11 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 11 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Dietary Influence on the Human Health Effects of Environmental Exposures (R21) Apply for RFA ES 11 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 11 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Role of Environmental Chemical Exposures in the Development of Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome (R01) Apply for PAR 11 170 Funding Number: PAR 11 170 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Role of Environmental Chemical Exposures in the Development of Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome (R21) Apply for PAR 11 171 Funding Number: PAR 11 171 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| SBIR E learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (SBIR R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 11 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 11 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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