Pre-application: Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC): Comprehensive Functional Mapping of Neuroanatomy and Neurobiology of Organs (OT1) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcement inviting pre-applications under the SPARC program (Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions). The specific focus is "Comprehensive Functional Mapping of Neuroanatomy and Neurobiology of Organs" under Funding Opportunity Number (FON) RFA-RM-15-003, using the OT1 pre-application mechanism.

Is this the main NIH application or an initial step?

This announcement is an initial step (a pre-application), not the main, full scientific proposal solicitation. It is intended for teams considering submission of a later, complete application to the related OT2 funding opportunity (RFA-RM-15-018).

What does OT1 mean in this context?

OT1 refers to the pre-application mechanism used for this SPARC call. It is designed to capture concise project concepts before applicants invest the larger effort required for the subsequent OT2 full application opportunity.

What is the related full application opportunity?

The pre-application described here (OT1; RFA-RM-15-003) is positioned as a step toward a later, complete application to the OT2 funding opportunity (RFA-RM-15-018).

What is the purpose of submitting a pre-application?

The goal is to help NIH identify promising concepts, understand the landscape of proposed approaches, and determine which projects are most aligned with SPARC priorities before teams commit time and resources to preparing a full OT2 application.

What is SPARC?

SPARC stands for Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions. It is broadly oriented toward understanding and leveraging the peripheral nervous system (the neural networks outside the brain and spinal cord) that regulate organ function.

What does "Comprehensive Functional Mapping" mean for this opportunity?

It emphasizes building detailed, functional descriptions of how peripheral nerves connect to and control organs, and how organ systems communicate back to the nervous system. The expectation is to link structure to activity and physiological outcomes, not just to create static anatomical diagrams.

What is meant by "Neuroanatomy" in the focus area?

"Neuroanatomy" indicates a strong emphasis on structural wiring, such as which nerves go where, how ganglia and pathways are organized, and the spatial relationships among nerve fibers, targets, and supporting cells.

What is meant by "Neurobiology" in the focus area?

"Neurobiology" adds a mechanistic layer, including cell types, signaling properties, functional roles, and how those properties relate to organ physiology, health, and disease.

What kinds of project concepts are likely to fit this pre-application call?

Based on the description, strong concepts would typically identify the organ system(s) of interest, the peripheral neural circuits to be mapped, the mapping strategies and technologies to be used, and how the resulting maps would be comprehensive and functionally meaningful.

Are specific mapping approaches or technologies required?

The description does not mandate specific methods, but it highlights the idea of mapping strategies and technologies such as anatomical tracing, physiological recordings, imaging, molecular profiling, or integrative computational approaches as examples of the types of tools that could be relevant.

Does the work need to be tied to therapy development?

The immediate deliverable described can be a high-quality atlas, dataset, or standardized methodology. However, because SPARC is ultimately aimed at enabling therapeutic strategies through peripheral modulation, concepts are generally expected to explain how the mapping could serve as a foundational resource for future neuromodulation research, device development, or translational studies.

Who is the sponsoring agency?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The listing identifies the agency as HHS-NIH11.

What is the activity category and CFDA number?

The activity category is Health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.310.

What type of funding instrument is this?

The funding instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity category is listed as discretionary.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting date and creation date are both November 17, 2015.

What is the application deadline?

The closing date is listed as January 15, 2018 (with the original and current closing dates shown as the same).

Is award size (ceiling) listed for this opportunity?

No. The source information provided does not include an award ceiling.

Is the expected number of awards listed?

No. The source information provided does not state the expected number of awards.

Where would applicants typically find details like budget scope and project period?

Because the record does not provide an award ceiling, expected number of awards, or other scope details, applicants would normally consult the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) text or associated NIH documentation for budget, project period expectations, and related specifics.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. It includes many public-sector entities, academic institutions, tribal entities, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations, as described in the opportunity information.

Are state and local government entities eligible?

Yes. Eligible public-sector entities include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities.

Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Eligible academic applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education.

Are tribal entities eligible?

Yes. Eligibility includes federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligibility includes nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (with the listing noting exclusions when nonprofits are institutions of higher education, where specified).

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligibility includes for-profit organizations, including small businesses and other for-profit entities that are not small businesses.

What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?

An "Others" category is included, with a note that additional eligibility clarification would be found in the FOA text. This is often used when NIH wants flexibility for less common but relevant applicant types or partnership structures.

What is NIH trying to learn from submitted pre-applications?

NIH is using the pre-application process to surface promising concepts, assess the overall landscape of approaches, and guide which project ideas appear most aligned with SPARC priorities.

What is the central scientific emphasis of this specific SPARC focus area?

The emphasis is on comprehensive, functionally meaningful mapping of peripheral neuroanatomy and neurobiology as they relate to organs, including how nerves regulate organ function and how organs communicate back to the peripheral nervous system.

What is the main takeaway for applicants deciding whether to apply?

RFA-RM-15-003 is best viewed as an entry step for teams with strong, SPARC-aligned concepts for functional mapping of peripheral neuroanatomy and neurobiology of organs, and who are considering a later OT2 submission under RFA-RM-15-018.