Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 13 203
Apply for PAR 13 203
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Methods Development for Obtaining Comprehensive Genomic Information from Human Specimens that are Easy to Collect and Store (R43/R44)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172 Human Genome Research 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2013 and posted on Apr 19, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 25, 2016. (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.
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Opportunity Summary:
Methods Development for Obtaining Comprehensive Genomic Information from Human Specimens that are Easy to Collect and Store (R43/R44), Funding Opportunity Number PAR 13-203, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) small business grant opportunity focused on improving how genomic data are generated from human samples that are simple to collect, ship, and store. The core goal is to spur development of highly sensitive technologies and end-to-end methods that can produce high-quality, comprehensive nucleic-acid-based genomic information (for example, DNA and/or RNA-derived genomic data) from limited quantities of human specimens that do not require the logistics of fresh whole blood. In practical terms, NIH is looking for approaches that make it easier to obtain clinical-grade genomic information in settings where conventional blood collection and cold-chain handling are burdensome, while still preserving the depth and reliability of data expected from standard fresh whole blood workflows.
A key emphasis of the announcement is on completeness and integration across the full workflow. Projects are especially encouraged to cover every step from specimen collection to storage conditions, through nucleic acid extraction, and ultimately through generation of genomic data. Applications that propose a cohesive, start-to-finish solution are identified as the highest priority, rather than proposals that only optimize a single step in isolation. The requested work is not simply about convenience in collection; it is about demonstrating that convenient specimens can still yield genomic results that meet or match the quality and comprehensiveness typically obtained from fresh whole blood, which is treated as the benchmark standard in this program.
The FOA sets a clear bar for what "easy to collect" means by comparing it to dried blood spot collection, which is a widely used low-burden method for collecting and storing blood on filter paper. Proposed collection approaches should be at least comparable in ease to dried blood spots, implying minimal invasiveness, simple handling by non-specialists where feasible, and storage that does not depend on complex infrastructure. This points applicants toward solutions that can work outside specialized laboratories, including clinics, community settings, and potentially field environments, while maintaining specimen integrity for downstream genomic analysis.
In addition to ease of collection and storage, NIH also stresses usability for clinical point-of-care contexts. That means the methods should be fast and straightforward enough to fit within real-world clinical workflows, not just research lab pipelines. At the same time, the program expects that successful approaches will have a path to scaling, meaning they can ultimately be adapted to high-throughput environments without becoming prohibitively expensive. Cost effectiveness is therefore not a side note; it is part of the intended impact, with an expectation that methods could support broader adoption across healthcare and research systems.
The funding mechanism is the NIH SBIR pathway using the R43/R44 activity codes, which are designed for small businesses developing innovative technologies with commercialization potential. Eligible applicants are small businesses. Foreign (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, although foreign components as defined by NIH policy may be allowed in some cases. The program is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity in the health domain, associated with CFDA numbers 93.172 (Human Genome Research) and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research), reflecting the broad relevance of improved specimen-to-genomics methods across many biomedical use cases.
From an impact standpoint, NIH frames this FOA as a way to expand access to comprehensive genomic data for both clinical and research applications that are currently constrained by specimen collection and handling requirements. By enabling high-quality genomic readouts from specimens that are easy to collect, stable to store, and practical to process, the funded work is expected to support wider deployment of genomics in settings such as decentralized care, population studies, biobanking initiatives, and studies involving participants who cannot easily provide conventional samples under tightly controlled conditions.
Administrative details in the source listing indicate the opportunity was posted April 19, 2013, with an original and final closing date of March 25, 2016, and an archive date of April 25, 2016. The full announcement was hosted by NIH at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-203.html, and the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact is provided for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the PAR 13-203 funding opportunity?
PAR 13-203, titled "Methods Development for Obtaining Comprehensive Genomic Information from Human Specimens that are Easy to Collect and Store (R43/R44)," is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant opportunity focused on developing better ways to generate comprehensive genomic information from human specimens that are simple to collect, ship, and store.
What is the main goal of this NIH SBIR program?
The core goal is to spur development of highly sensitive technologies and end-to-end methods that can produce high-quality, comprehensive nucleic-acid-based genomic information (for example, DNA and/or RNA-derived genomic data) from limited quantities of human specimens that do not require the logistics of fresh whole blood.
What kinds of genomic information does NIH want applicants to generate?
The announcement emphasizes comprehensive, nucleic-acid-based genomic information derived from DNA and/or RNA. The intent is to enable deep, reliable genomic readouts comparable to what is expected from standard fresh whole blood workflows.
What specimen type is considered the benchmark standard in this program?
Fresh whole blood is treated as the benchmark standard. Applicants are expected to demonstrate that their easier-to-handle specimens and methods can meet or match the quality and comprehensiveness typically obtained from fresh whole blood workflows.
What does NIH mean by "easy to collect and store" specimens?
The FOA sets a clear reference point by comparing ease of collection to dried blood spot collection, a low-burden method using blood on filter paper. Proposed approaches should be at least comparable in ease to dried blood spots, implying minimal invasiveness, straightforward handling (ideally by non-specialists where feasible), and storage that does not depend on complex infrastructure.
Does this opportunity focus only on making specimen collection more convenient?
No. While convenience is important, the program is explicitly about demonstrating that convenient specimens can still yield high-quality, comprehensive genomic results. The emphasis is on maintaining clinical-grade depth and reliability of genomic data while reducing collection and handling burdens.
Is NIH encouraging complete, end-to-end workflows or isolated improvements?
NIH places a key emphasis on completeness and integration across the full workflow. Projects are especially encouraged to cover every step from specimen collection to storage conditions, through nucleic acid extraction, and ultimately through generation of genomic data. Applications proposing a cohesive, start-to-finish solution are described as the highest priority compared to proposals that only optimize a single step.
What workflow steps are specifically highlighted as important?
The FOA highlights an end-to-end approach that includes specimen collection, storage conditions, nucleic acid extraction, and ultimately the generation of genomic data. The overall objective is an integrated method that preserves specimen integrity and supports comprehensive downstream genomic analysis.
Are point-of-care clinical settings a focus of this FOA?
Yes. NIH stresses usability for clinical point-of-care contexts. Methods should be fast and straightforward enough to fit within real-world clinical workflows, not only research laboratory pipelines.
Does NIH expect these methods to scale to high-throughput environments?
Yes. The program expects successful approaches to have a path to scaling, meaning they can be adapted to high-throughput use without becoming prohibitively expensive.
How important is cost effectiveness in this opportunity?
Cost effectiveness is part of the intended impact. NIH signals an expectation that methods could support broader adoption across healthcare and research systems, which implies practical costs and potential for wide deployment.
What is the funding mechanism and which activity codes apply?
This opportunity uses the NIH SBIR pathway with the R43/R44 activity codes, which are designed for small businesses developing innovative technologies with commercialization potential.
Who is eligible to apply for PAR 13-203?
Eligible applicants are small businesses.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible under this FOA?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, although foreign components as defined by NIH policy may be allowed in some cases.
What domain or area does this grant opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is a discretionary grant in the health domain and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.172 (Human Genome Research) and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).
What is the intended impact of developing easier specimen-to-genomics methods?
NIH frames the impact as expanding access to comprehensive genomic data for clinical and research uses that are currently constrained by specimen collection and handling requirements. The goal is to enable high-quality genomic readouts from specimens that are easy to collect, stable to store, and practical to process.
What kinds of settings or use cases could benefit from the outcomes of this FOA?
The FOA points to settings such as decentralized care, population studies, biobanking initiatives, and studies involving participants who cannot easily provide conventional samples under tightly controlled conditions.
When was PAR 13-203 posted, and what were the closing dates?
The opportunity was posted on April 19, 2013. The original and final closing date listed is March 25, 2016. The archive date is April 25, 2016.
Where can the full NIH announcement be found?
The full announcement was hosted by NIH at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-203.html.
Who is listed as the contact for website access or linking issues?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster is provided as the contact for access or linking issues.
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