Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2013 STAR K1

  • The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "New Methods in 21st Century Exposure Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.509 Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Research Program.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 19, 2013 and posted on Jun 19, 2013.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 17, 2013 Please refer to the announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on submission methods and due dates.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • See Section III of the announcement for additional eligibility information.
Apply for EPA G2013 STAR K1

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Opportunity Summary:

The EPA, through its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Research Program, offered this grant opportunity to push exposure science forward by improving how researchers measure and understand real-world human exposure to chemicals that come from consumer products used indoors. The core problem the solicitation targets is that, even though many consumer products contain complex chemical mixtures, the field still lacks solid, practical information about what is actually in these formulations, how chemicals are released during normal use, how long they persist on surfaces and in indoor air and dust, and how exposure varies across different households, behaviors, and product-use scenarios. Because of these gaps, exposure data often cannot keep pace with rapidly expanding high-throughput toxicity testing efforts, making it harder to interpret toxicity findings in a real-life context and to estimate health risks for the general public and for groups that may be more vulnerable.

The announcement emphasizes method development and application, with three main research aims. First, EPA sought projects that can develop or apply innovative technologies to characterize the presence and co-occurrence of large suites of semivolatile chemicals in indoor environments, often involving dozens to hundreds of compounds at once. This focus reflects the reality that indoor exposure frequently involves mixtures rather than single chemicals, and that consumer products can emit multiple semivolatile organic compounds that partition among air, dust, and surfaces over time. Second, the agency wanted studies that produce data strong enough to improve exposure modeling: filling in key model parameters, testing and strengthening modeling assumptions, and confirming model predictions for relevant exposure pathways. In practice, this could include better measurements of emission rates, partitioning behavior, degradation or persistence, transfer efficiencies, and other inputs that determine how accurately models can predict exposures in different indoor settings. Third, EPA encouraged proposals that develop or apply advanced methods to profile consumer-product-related chemicals and their metabolites in biological media, which points to biomonitoring approaches and analytical techniques capable of detecting both parent compounds and metabolic products in samples such as blood or urine, enabling a clearer link between indoor sources and what actually gets into the body.

The opportunity also explicitly notes that projects could involve human subjects research, meaning applicants needed to be prepared to address ethical and regulatory requirements where applicable. In administrative terms, the funding mechanism allowed was grants and cooperative agreements, under an environmental research activity category. EPA anticipated making about five awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $4.5 million and an award ceiling of $900,000 per project, with no cost-sharing requirement. The opportunity was posted June 19, 2013, and closed September 17, 2013 (archived October 17, 2013). It was listed under CFDA 66.509 (STAR Research Program). Eligibility was described broadly as "Others" with more specifics deferred to the formal announcement, particularly Section III, and applicants were directed to consult Section IV for submission details and deadline rules. A contact (Todd Peterson, 703-308-7224) was provided for assistance accessing the full announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What agency and program offered this grant opportunity?

This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Research Program.

What is the main goal of the solicitation?

The solicitation aimed to advance exposure science by improving how researchers measure and understand real-world human exposure to chemicals from consumer products used indoors.

What core problem is EPA trying to solve with this funding?

EPA identified major gaps in practical, real-world exposure information, including limited knowledge of what is in complex consumer product formulations, how chemicals are released during normal use, how long they persist on indoor surfaces and in air and dust, and how exposures vary across households, behaviors, and use scenarios.

Why does the announcement emphasize real-world exposure data for consumer product chemicals?

Because exposure data often cannot keep pace with rapidly expanding high-throughput toxicity testing, it becomes difficult to interpret toxicity findings in a real-life context and estimate health risks for the general public and potentially more vulnerable groups.

What types of chemicals and environments are highlighted?

The announcement highlights semivolatile chemicals associated with consumer products used indoors, and focuses on indoor environments where these compounds can partition among air, dust, and surfaces over time.

Does the opportunity focus on single chemicals or mixtures?

It explicitly reflects the reality of mixture exposures. EPA sought approaches that can characterize the presence and co-occurrence of large suites of chemicals, often involving dozens to hundreds of compounds at once.

What are the three main research aims described in the announcement?

The announcement describes three main aims: (1) develop or apply innovative technologies to characterize large suites of semivolatile chemicals and their co-occurrence indoors; (2) produce data strong enough to improve exposure modeling by filling key parameters and testing/strengthening assumptions and predictions; and (3) develop or apply advanced methods to profile consumer-product-related chemicals and their metabolites in biological media.

What does the first research aim include?

The first aim includes developing or applying innovative technologies to characterize the presence and co-occurrence of many semivolatile chemicals in indoor environments, potentially spanning dozens to hundreds of compounds.

What does the second research aim include?

The second aim targets data generation that can improve exposure modeling, such as filling key model parameters, testing and strengthening model assumptions, and confirming model predictions for relevant exposure pathways.

What kinds of model inputs or parameters does EPA mention as important?

Examples mentioned include emission rates, partitioning behavior, degradation or persistence, transfer efficiencies, and other inputs that influence how accurately models predict exposures in different indoor settings.

What does the third research aim include?

The third aim includes developing or applying advanced methods to profile consumer-product-related chemicals and their metabolites in biological media, supporting biomonitoring approaches that can detect both parent compounds and metabolic products (for example, in blood or urine).

What is the purpose of measuring metabolites in addition to parent compounds?

Measuring both parent chemicals and metabolic products can help create a clearer link between indoor sources and what actually enters the body.

Could projects include human subjects research?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly notes that projects could involve human subjects research, and applicants would need to address applicable ethical and regulatory requirements.

What funding mechanisms were allowed?

The permitted funding mechanisms were grants and cooperative agreements.

What activity category was this opportunity associated with?

It was listed under an environmental research activity category.

How many awards did EPA anticipate making?

EPA anticipated making about five awards.

What was the estimated total funding amount for this opportunity?

The estimated total funding pool was $4.5 million.

What was the maximum funding amount per project?

The award ceiling was $900,000 per project.

Was cost sharing required?

No cost-sharing requirement was stated for this opportunity.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on June 19, 2013, and closed on September 17, 2013. It was archived on October 17, 2013.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity was listed under CFDA 66.509 (STAR Research Program).

Who was listed as eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described broadly as "Others," with more specifics deferred to the formal announcement, particularly Section III.

Where were applicants directed to find submission details and deadline rules?

Applicants were directed to consult Section IV of the formal announcement for submission details and deadline rules.

Who was the contact for help accessing the full announcement?

The contact listed was Todd Peterson, reachable at 703-308-7224, for assistance accessing the full announcement.

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