Reagents for Glucagon and Incretin Research (R41/R42) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Reagents for Glucagon and Incretin Research (R41/R42) - PA-14-204

What is this funding opportunity?

PA-14-204 is an NIH Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant opportunity (R41/R42) focused on developing and validating practical research tools for glucagon and incretin biology. The emphasis is on enabling reagents and assays that can be broadly used by the diabetes and metabolic disease research community.

What is the main goal of PA-14-204?

The main goal is to reduce persistent technical barriers in glucagon and incretin research by producing reliable, usable products and methods. The program prioritizes tools that help researchers measure glucagon accurately, probe receptor function, and characterize pancreatic cell biology in ways that translate into widely adoptable research capabilities.

Is this opportunity about basic discovery research?

No. While the science supports mechanistic research, the stated emphasis is not basic discovery for its own sake. The focus is on creating validated reagents and assays that function as practical tools and can be broadly useful to the research community.

What grant mechanism does this program use?

This is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity using the STTR mechanism, specifically R41/R42. It is structured to support early-stage feasibility work (R41) followed by more advanced development (R42), typically aligned with translating an idea into a validated product or service.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be small business concerns and must apply in partnership with a nonprofit research institution, consistent with STTR collaboration requirements.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

No. Foreign (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.

Are any foreign components allowed at all?

The opportunity notes that foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) may be permitted in some cases, even though foreign entities and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided information.

What technical areas does the FOA prioritize?

The FOA highlights four major target areas: (1) highly sensitive and specific assays for measuring plasma glucagon, (2) reagents that manipulate glucagon receptor activity in pancreatic islets and other responsive tissues, (3) tools that improve understanding of pancreatic alpha cell biology in the context of glucagon and incretin signaling, and (4) reagents and assays to accurately measure expression and quantitation of functional incretin receptors across relevant cell types and tissues.

Why is plasma glucagon measurement a central focus?

Plasma glucagon is difficult to measure accurately due to low circulating concentrations, interference from related proglucagon-derived peptides, assay cross-reactivity, and sample handling issues. The FOA encourages assay platforms and validation approaches that improve analytical performance, including specificity, sensitivity at physiologically relevant levels, and reproducibility.

What kinds of performance characteristics are expected for glucagon assays?

Based on the description, assays are expected to be highly sensitive and highly specific, with strong analytical performance. Examples of desired characteristics include specificity against similar peptides, sensitivity at physiologically relevant glucagon levels, and reproducibility across conditions.

What is the intended impact of improved glucagon assays?

The intent is to improve confidence in glucagon data generated in preclinical and clinical research, which influences interpretation of alpha cell function, counterregulation, and therapeutic responses.

What types of glucagon receptor tools are within scope?

Reagents that can activate, inhibit, modulate, or otherwise precisely control glucagon receptor pathways are within scope. The aim is to enable researchers to dissect tissue-specific effects and test mechanistic hypotheses related to glucagon signaling.

Does the FOA limit glucagon receptor tools to pancreatic islets?

No. The FOA specifically includes reagents that work in pancreatic islets as well as other tissues that respond to glucagon signaling, reflecting glucagon's broader physiological roles beyond glucose regulation.

How does the FOA frame glucagon's roles beyond glucose regulation?

The FOA notes that glucagon may impact liver metabolism and other systemic processes, and it supports tools that help study tissue-specific glucagon effects in and beyond the pancreas.

What alpha cell biology needs does this program address?

The FOA calls for reagents that improve understanding of pancreatic alpha cell biology, especially how alpha cells respond to glucagon itself and to incretin hormones. It highlights gaps related to secretion, cell state, and feedback regulation shaped by paracrine signaling, nutrient status, and hormonal inputs.

What kinds of alpha cell reagents are considered responsive?

Tools that let investigators track alpha cell responses, manipulate signaling pathways, or distinguish among closely related hormonal signals are within scope, as long as they clearly enable better mechanistic insight into alpha cell function in glucagon and incretin contexts.

What is meant by measuring "functional" incretin receptors?

The FOA emphasizes approaches that detect and quantify functional incretin receptors, not just nominal expression. This reflects that receptor biology can be difficult to infer from transcript levels alone, and that protein localization and signaling readouts may not align with transcript measurements.

Why is incretin receptor measurement considered challenging?

According to the opportunity description, difficulties include low receptor abundance, antibody specificity issues, and mismatches between transcript, protein, and signaling readouts. The FOA supports improved methods to address these challenges.

Which cells and tissues are relevant for incretin receptor tools under this FOA?

The FOA includes pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cells and relevant tissues outside the pancreas, emphasizing broad applicability to metabolic regulation and potential therapeutic targeting.

What research community is this FOA intended to serve?

It is designed to produce enabling reagents and assays that are broadly useful to the diabetes and metabolic disease research community, including investigators working in preclinical and clinical research settings.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number and where was it posted?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-14-204. The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-14-204.html.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The program is associated with CFDA number 93.847 under Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research.

Is PA-14-204 still open for applications?

No. The key dates provided indicate an original and current closing date of May 7, 2017, and an archive date of June 7, 2017. This indicates the announcement is no longer active.

If it is archived, why does the listing matter?

Even though it is no longer active, it remains informative as a record of NIH priorities and can serve as a template for understanding the kinds of tools and validation approaches NIH sought to stimulate in glucagon and incretin research.

Who was listed as a contact for access or linking issues?

The NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact was provided for access or linking issues related to the announcement.

What were the key dates for the opportunity?

The listing shows a posted and creation date of May 2, 2014, a closing date of May 7, 2017 (original and current), and an archive date of June 7, 2017.