Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2013 STAR L1
Apply for EPA G2013 STAR L1
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Organotypic Culture Models for Predictive Toxicology Center" 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 Sep 24, 2013 and posted on Sep 24, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 23, 2014 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 $18,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, released a discretionary grant opportunity to establish a small number of research centers focused on improving predictive toxicology using advanced three dimensional (3D) in vitro systems called organotypic culture models (OCMs). These OCMs are designed to better mirror real tissue behavior than standard two dimensional cell monolayers by recreating key aspects of in vivo tissue architecture, including interactions among multiple cell types (for example, epithelial and stromal cells) and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). The overall aim is to bridge the gap between simplistic cell culture assays and whole-animal testing, producing models that are more biologically realistic while also being practical for toxicology testing and risk assessment.
A central expectation of the solicitation is that funded centers will design, refine, and evaluate organotypic systems that reproduce critical features of living tissues. That includes cellular organization and communication, cell-matrix interplay, morphogenesis and differentiation, relevant tissue physiology, and chemical metabolism. The EPA highlights that these 3D models may incorporate enabling technologies such as mechanical scaffolds or microfluidic devices and may be built from isolated cells or from tissue fragments originally harvested in vivo. The emphasis is not simply on building sophisticated models for their own sake, but on demonstrating clear progress measures that show the models can help reconstruct in vivo-like responses to environmental chemicals and nanomaterials in ways that support environmental health protection.
Another major theme is scalability and data richness. The EPA is explicitly interested in OCM platforms that can be scaled from medium throughput toward higher throughput screening (HTS) and that are compatible with high content screening (HCS) approaches. In practice, this means the models should be capable of generating high dimensional quantitative outputs, such as high content imaging data, and be suitable for integration with computational toxicology approaches. The solicitation frames success in terms of whether these OCMs can produce interpretable, reproducible, and decision-relevant biological signals that can improve chemical risk assessment and management, rather than remaining purely exploratory laboratory systems.
For projects proposing to use human cells, the announcement expresses a preference for investigators to rely on cells that are already available, including established cell lines. It also clarifies a compliance point under EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 26 (Protection of Human Subjects): the use of pre-existing human cell lines is not considered human subjects research under that regulation, which can simplify certain regulatory and oversight considerations compared with studies that involve obtaining new human specimens.
Administratively, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number EPA-G2013-STAR-L1, titled "Organotypic Culture Models for Predictive Toxicology Center," within the STAR Research Program (CFDA 66.509). The EPA anticipated making about three awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $18,000,000 and an award ceiling of $6,000,000 per award (no stated award floor). Cost sharing or matching was not required. The announcement was posted on September 24, 2013, with an original and current closing date of January 23, 2014, and an archive date of February 22, 2014. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with further clarification directed to Section III of the full announcement, and applicants were instructed to consult Section IV for submission methods and due-date specifics. The listed point of contact for access issues was Todd Peterson (703-308-7224).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is this EPA grant opportunity about?
This EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) discretionary grant opportunity supports the creation of a small number of research centers focused on improving predictive toxicology using advanced three dimensional (3D) in vitro systems known as organotypic culture models (OCMs). The goal is to develop and evaluate models that better reflect real tissue behavior than traditional two dimensional (2D) cell monolayers, while still being practical for toxicology testing and environmental risk assessment.
2. What is the official funding opportunity number and title?
The opportunity is Funding Opportunity Number EPA-G2013-STAR-L1, titled "Organotypic Culture Models for Predictive Toxicology Center."
3. Which EPA program is offering this funding?
The funding is offered through the EPA STAR Research Program (CFDA 66.509).
4. What are organotypic culture models (OCMs) in the context of this solicitation?
OCMs are 3D in vitro systems designed to mirror key aspects of in vivo tissue architecture more closely than standard 2D cell monolayers. They can include multiple interacting cell types (for example, epithelial and stromal cells) and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), with an emphasis on capturing tissue-like structure and function relevant to chemical and nanomaterial responses.
5. Why is EPA interested in 3D OCMs instead of standard 2D cell cultures?
The solicitation describes OCMs as a way to bridge the gap between simplistic cell culture assays and whole-animal testing. By recreating important features of living tissues, these models are intended to be more biologically realistic and produce signals that are useful for toxicology testing, risk assessment, and environmental health protection.
6. What is the overall scientific aim of the centers to be funded?
The overall aim is to design, refine, and evaluate organotypic systems that reproduce critical features of living tissues and demonstrate progress toward reconstructing in vivo-like responses to environmental chemicals and nanomaterials in a way that supports chemical risk assessment and management.
7. What tissue-like features are centers expected to reproduce in their OCMs?
The EPA highlights expectations that the models reproduce features such as cellular organization and communication, cell-matrix interplay, morphogenesis and differentiation, relevant tissue physiology, and chemical metabolism.
8. Are advanced enabling technologies allowed or encouraged (e.g., scaffolds or microfluidics)?
Yes. The announcement notes that these 3D models may incorporate enabling technologies such as mechanical scaffolds or microfluidic devices.
9. What biological starting materials may be used to build the organotypic systems?
The solicitation indicates the models may be built from isolated cells or from tissue fragments originally harvested in vivo.
10. Is the EPA primarily looking for sophisticated models, or models that demonstrate usefulness for decision-making?
The emphasis is not simply on building sophisticated models for their own sake. The EPA is looking for clear progress measures showing that the OCMs can reconstruct in vivo-like responses and provide interpretable, reproducible, and decision-relevant biological signals that can improve chemical risk assessment and management.
11. What does the solicitation say about scalability and throughput?
A major theme is scalability and data richness. EPA is explicitly interested in OCM platforms that can be scaled from medium throughput toward higher throughput screening (HTS).
12. What does the solicitation mean by compatibility with high content screening (HCS)?
In practical terms, it means the models should be capable of generating high dimensional quantitative outputs, such as high content imaging data, and be suitable for integration with computational toxicology approaches.
13. How is "success" framed for funded projects?
Success is framed in terms of whether the OCMs produce interpretable, reproducible, and decision-relevant biological signals that support chemical risk assessment and management, rather than remaining purely exploratory laboratory systems.
14. What types of stressors are the models expected to address?
The announcement specifically mentions environmental chemicals and nanomaterials as the kinds of agents for which in vivo-like responses should be reconstructed using the organotypic systems.
15. Is there any guidance about using human cells?
Yes. For projects proposing to use human cells, the announcement expresses a preference for investigators to rely on cells that are already available, including established cell lines.
16. Does using pre-existing human cell lines count as human subjects research under EPA rules?
The announcement clarifies that under EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 26 (Protection of Human Subjects), the use of pre-existing human cell lines is not considered human subjects research under that regulation.
17. How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
The EPA anticipated making about three awards.
18. What is the estimated total funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount is $18,000,000.
19. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $6,000,000 per award.
20. Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No award floor is stated in the provided information.
21. Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching was not required.
22. When was the announcement posted?
The announcement was posted on September 24, 2013.
23. What were the closing date and the archive date?
The original and current closing date was January 23, 2014, and the archive date was February 22, 2014.
24. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The announcement directs applicants to Section III of the full announcement for detailed eligibility clarification.
25. Where should applicants look for submission methods and due date specifics?
The announcement instructs applicants to consult Section IV of the full announcement for submission methods and due-date specifics.
26. Who is the listed point of contact for access issues?
The listed point of contact for access issues is Todd Peterson at 703-308-7224.
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