Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 15 006
Apply for RFA ES 15 006
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Novel Assays for Screening the Effects of Chemical Toxicants on Cell Differentiation (R43/R44)" 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 Jan 27, 2015 and posted on Nov 24, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 19, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following 1. Is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States, which operates primarily within the United States or which makes a significant contribution to the United States economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor 2. Is in the legal form of an individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, trust or cooperative, except that where the form is a joint venture, there must be less than 50 percent participation by foreign business entities in the joint venture 3. i. SBIR and STTR. Be a concern which is more than 50 directly owned and controlled by one or more individuals (who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States), other business concerns (each of which is more than 50 directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States), or any combination of these OR ii. SBIR only. Be a concern which is more than 50 owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, or any combination of these. No single venture capital operating company, hedge fund, or private equity firm may own more than 50 of the concern OR iii. SBIR and STTR. Be a joint venture in which each entity to the joint venture must meet the requirements set forth in paragraph 3 (i) or 3 (ii) of this section. A joint venture that includes one or more concerns that meet the requirements of paragraph (ii) of this section must comply with 121.705(b) concerning registration and proposal requirements. 4. Has, including its affiliates, not more than 500 employees.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Novel Assays for Screening the Effects of Chemical Toxicants on Cell Differentiation (R43/R44) funding opportunity (RFA-ES-15-006) is an NIH Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant announcement aimed at helping small companies create new laboratory assays that can rapidly and reliably measure how chemical toxicants interfere with cell differentiation. The core focus is on pluripotent stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), with an emphasis on tracking not just early differentiation changes but also what happens to the resulting differentiated cell types and cell populations. NIH is specifically looking for medium- to high-throughput approaches, meaning assay systems that can test many chemicals, concentrations, or conditions efficiently, rather than one compound at a time using slow, low-throughput methods.
A major scientific motivation behind this FOA is to improve the way toxicology is done by generating more mechanistic, human-relevant data earlier in the testing pipeline. Assays developed under this program are intended to reveal mechanisms of chemically induced biological activity during differentiation, support better prioritization of chemicals for deeper toxicological follow-up, and strengthen the development of predictive models that relate in vitro observations to in vivo biological responses. The announcement also highlights genetic diversity as an important and desirable feature. In practical terms, that means NIH would like to see assay designs that can incorporate multiple genetic backgrounds (for example, panels of iPSC lines from different donors) so the field can start to understand how genetic variation influences susceptibility or resistance to toxicant-driven developmental effects.
From an eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is restricted to U.S.-based for-profit small business concerns that meet SBIR requirements, including having no more than 500 employees (including affiliates) and meeting ownership and control rules described in the announcement. The FOA allows several qualifying business structures (such as LLCs, corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, and others), provided the business operates primarily in the United States or otherwise makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through taxes or U.S. labor/materials. The eligibility language also notes SBIR rules around majority ownership and control by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, while also allowing certain SBIR-only ownership scenarios involving multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms, subject to constraints (for example, no single such entity owning more than 50%).
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the Environmental Health activity area (CFDA 93.113), offered by the National Institutes of Health. It does not require cost sharing or matching. The total estimated funding listed is $3,000,000, and the listed award ceiling is $225,000 (as provided in the source data). The opportunity was originally posted on November 24, 2014, with closing dates in February 2015 (original closing date February 13, 2015; current closing date February 19, 2015) and an archive date of March 19, 2015, meaning it is no longer open but remains useful as a reference for the kinds of assay-development projects NIH has sought in this area.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a push to move toxicant screening toward scalable, stem-cell-based differentiation platforms that can detect disruption across developmental trajectories, produce data that are more predictive of human outcomes, and potentially capture inter-individual variability through genetically diverse cell sources. The full announcement was provided through the NIH grants site at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-15-006.html, with technical access issues directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact listed in the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Novel Assays for Screening the Effects of Chemical Toxicants on Cell Differentiation (R43/R44)" and the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number is RFA-ES-15-006.
What type of grant program is this?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) funding opportunity using the R43/R44 mechanism.
What is the main goal of the FOA?
The main goal is to help small businesses develop new laboratory assays that can rapidly and reliably measure how chemical toxicants interfere with cell differentiation.
What kinds of biological systems are emphasized for assay development?
The FOA emphasizes pluripotent stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as core platforms for building differentiation-based toxicant screening assays.
What does NIH want these assays to measure during differentiation?
NIH is looking for assays that can track not only early changes during differentiation, but also what happens to the resulting differentiated cell types and cell populations downstream.
Is the program focused on high-throughput screening?
Yes. NIH specifically calls for medium- to high-throughput approaches, meaning assay systems that can efficiently test many chemicals, concentrations, or conditions rather than slow, low-throughput, one-compound-at-a-time methods.
Why is NIH interested in these types of assays for toxicology?
The FOA highlights the need to improve toxicology by generating more mechanistic and more human-relevant data earlier in the testing pipeline.
What scientific outcomes are these assays intended to support?
Assays developed under this program are intended to: (1) reveal mechanisms of chemically induced biological activity during differentiation, (2) support better prioritization of chemicals for deeper toxicological follow-up, and (3) strengthen predictive models that connect in vitro observations to in vivo biological responses.
Does the FOA mention genetic diversity? If so, what does that mean here?
Yes. Genetic diversity is described as an important and desirable feature. In practical terms, NIH would like assay designs that can incorporate multiple genetic backgrounds, such as panels of iPSC lines from different donors, to help evaluate how genetic variation influences susceptibility or resistance to toxicant-driven developmental effects.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to U.S.-based for-profit small business concerns that meet SBIR requirements.
Is there an employee size limit for eligible small businesses?
Yes. The business must have no more than 500 employees, including affiliates, consistent with SBIR rules referenced in the announcement.
What types of business structures can apply?
The FOA allows several qualifying business structures, including LLCs, corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, and others, as long as the applicant meets SBIR eligibility requirements.
Does the business have to operate in the United States?
The business must operate primarily in the United States or otherwise make a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through taxes or through use of U.S. labor and materials.
What are the ownership and control expectations mentioned?
The eligibility language notes SBIR rules around majority ownership and control by U.S. citizens or permanent residents. It also allows certain SBIR-only ownership scenarios involving multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms, subject to constraints (for example, no single such entity owning more than 50%).
Which NIH activity area and CFDA listing are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Environmental Health activity area and includes CFDA 93.113.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching.
How much total funding was estimated for this FOA?
The total estimated funding listed for the opportunity is $3,000,000.
What is the award ceiling listed in the provided information?
The listed award ceiling is $225,000 (as provided in the source data included with the opportunity summary).
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was originally posted on November 24, 2014. The original closing date is listed as February 13, 2015, and the current closing date is listed as February 19, 2015.
Is this FOA still open for applications?
No. The archive date is March 19, 2015, indicating the opportunity is no longer open, though it may still be useful as a reference for the types of projects NIH sought.
Where can applicants find the full FOA text?
The full announcement is available through the NIH grants site at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-15-006.html
Who should be contacted for technical access issues related to the FOA webpage?
The notice indicates that technical access issues should be directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact listed in the announcement.
In plain terms, what kind of projects was NIH pushing for with this FOA?
Based on the description provided, NIH was pushing for scalable, stem-cell-based differentiation platforms that can detect toxicant-driven disruption across developmental trajectories, produce data more predictive of human outcomes, and potentially capture inter-individual variability through genetically diverse cell sources.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA ES 15 006) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers (EHS CC) (P30) Apply for RFA ES 15 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Collaborative Activities to promote High Dimensional Molecular Analyses in NIEHS supported Childrens Environmental Health Studies (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 15 123 Funding Number: PA 15 123 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Childrens Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR) National Exposure Assessment Laboratory Network (U2C) Apply for RFA ES 15 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $8,000,000 |
| Childrens Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR) Data Repository, Analysis and Science Center (U2C) Apply for RFA ES 15 010 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| Childrens Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR) Coordinating Center (U24) Apply for RFA ES 15 011 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $3,300,000 |
| Annual Program Statement Policy, Advocacy, and Communication Enhanced for Population and Reproductive Health (PACE) Apply for SOL OAA 15 000054 Funding Number: SOL OAA 15 000054 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $55,000,000 |
| Administrative Supplements for Ebola Biosafety and Infectious Disease Response Training (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 15 148 Funding Number: PA 15 148 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| TaRGET II Environmental Epigenomic Analysis in Tissue Surrogates (U01) Apply for RFA ES 15 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| TaRGET II Environmental Epigenomics Data Coordination Center (U24) Apply for RFA ES 15 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| SBIR E learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 15 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| MOVING INTO THE FUTURE WITH THE YOUTH (PaMawa ndi a Chinyamata) Apply for RFA 612 15 000003 Funding Number: RFA 612 15 000003 Agency: Malawi USAID Lilongwe Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| Emerging Global Leader Award (K43) Apply for PAR 15 292 Funding Number: PAR 15 292 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Nanomaterials Health Implications Research (NHIR) Engineered Nanomaterials Resource and Coordination Core (U24) Apply for RFA ES 15 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Nanomaterials Health Implications Research (NHIR) Comprehensive evaluation of interactions between engineered nanomaterials and biological system (U01) Apply for RFA ES 15 013 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Ebola Biosafety and Infectious Disease Response Training (UH4) Apply for RFA ES 15 018 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Program to provide technical support in Strengthening Services for the Disabled in Danang and Surrounding Areas Apply for USAID RDMA VIETNAM 486 08 023 APS Funding Number: USAID RDMA VIETNAM 486 08 023 APS Agency: Thailand USAID Bangkok Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Neurobiology of Migraine (R01) Apply for PA 07 305 Funding Number: PA 07 305 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Neurobiology of Migraine (R21) Apply for PA 07 306 Funding Number: PA 07 306 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Nutrition and Alcohol Related Health Outcomes (R21) Apply for PA 07 405 Funding Number: PA 07 405 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Short Term Career Development Award in the Environmental Health Sciences for Established Investigators (K18) Apply for PAR 07 402 Funding Number: PAR 07 402 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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