Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 12 153
Apply for PA 12 153
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research to Action Assessing and Addressing Community Exposures to Environmental Contaminants (R01)" 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 93.361 Nursing Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 4, 2012 and posted on Apr 4, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Independent school districts.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Research to Action: Assessing and Addressing Community Exposures to Environmental Contaminants (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 12-153) was a discretionary grant program designed to move beyond simply documenting environmental hazards and instead support research that leads directly to practical, community-relevant action. The core idea behind the announcement is "research to action": applicants are expected to use community-engaged research approaches to study environmental exposures that a specific community is worried about, assess potential health risks, and then translate the findings into an environmental public health action plan. The overall goal is to help communities achieve measurable changes that prevent or reduce harmful exposures and ultimately improve health outcomes.
This opportunity sits at the intersection of environment and health, reflected in the listed CFDA program areas (93.113 Environmental Health and 93.361 Nursing Research). It uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which generally supports well-developed research projects with a strong scientific premise and a clear plan for execution. What makes this announcement distinct is its emphasis on meaningful community engagement throughout the process. Rather than treating residents as passive subjects, the program encourages methods where communities help define the environmental concerns being studied, guide the research questions, and participate in interpreting results and deciding what actions should follow. In other words, the expectation is not just to generate publishable data, but to co-produce knowledge with communities and use it to drive real-world exposure reduction or prevention strategies.
A central deliverable implied by the announcement is an environmental public health action plan that is informed by the research findings. That plan could involve changes in practices, policies, local interventions, risk communication strategies, or other steps that reduce exposure pathways. The focus on exposures "of concern to the community" signals that the starting point should be locally identified issues, such as contaminants in air, water, soil, food, or consumer products that residents believe may be affecting health. The program is therefore oriented toward applied, translational environmental health research where the endpoint is improved community conditions rather than research alone.
From an administrative standpoint, the announcement was posted on April 4, 2012, with an original and current closing date of September 7, 2015, and an archive date of October 8, 2015, meaning the specific solicitation is no longer active. The award ceiling listed is $500,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers for many applicants and helps ensure community-engaged projects are not dependent on additional non-federal financial commitments.
Eligibility was broad and inclusive, reflecting the community-centered nature of the work. Eligible applicants included a wide range of organizations and government entities such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public housing authorities. Academic institutions were eligible on both the public/state-controlled and private sides. The announcement also welcomed small businesses and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), along with nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (with the caveat that the full announcement typically clarifies conditions for certain nonprofit categories). Importantly for environmental justice and community-focused work, the eligibility list explicitly included faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, and a range of minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Tribal governments, including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities, were also eligible.
Another notable feature is that the opportunity allowed non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) to apply, permitted non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, and allowed foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This expands the potential reach of the research-to-action model beyond U.S.-only settings and acknowledges that community environmental exposure challenges and the methods to address them can be global, especially when contaminants, supply chains, or environmental processes cross borders.
NIH was the sponsoring agency, and the public-facing link to the full announcement was provided through the NIH grants guide (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-153.html). For technical issues accessing the announcement or linking problems, the contact point listed was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV), indicating this was distributed through the standard federal/NIH funding communication channels of the time.
In practical terms, this funding opportunity can be understood as support for projects that combine rigorous environmental health science with strong partnerships and a clear pathway to intervention. It prioritizes projects that do not stop at identifying contaminants or estimating risks, but that are designed from the beginning to lead to concrete exposure-reduction actions shaped with the affected community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NIH funding opportunity "Research to Action: Assessing and Addressing Community Exposures to Environmental Contaminants (R01)"?
It is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 12-153) designed to support community-engaged environmental health research that leads directly to practical, community-relevant action. The emphasis is on moving beyond documenting hazards and instead producing results that inform real-world steps to prevent or reduce harmful environmental exposures and improve health outcomes.
What does "research to action" mean in this announcement?
"Research to action" means the work is expected to start with an environmental exposure concern identified by a specific community, use research to assess exposures and potential health risks, and then translate findings into an environmental public health action plan. The intent is that research results lead to measurable changes that reduce or prevent exposures, not just publications or reports.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which generally supports well-developed research projects with a strong scientific premise and a clear plan for execution.
Which federal agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What are the CFDA program areas associated with this opportunity?
The listed CFDA program areas are 93.113 (Environmental Health) and 93.361 (Nursing Research), reflecting the intersection of environmental exposures and health outcomes.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. The opportunity is no longer active. It was posted on April 4, 2012, had a closing date of September 7, 2015, and an archive date of October 8, 2015.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $500,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What kinds of projects does this program aim to fund?
The program aims to fund applied, translational environmental health projects that combine rigorous exposure and risk-related research with strong community partnerships and a clear pathway to intervention. Projects are expected to be designed from the beginning to lead to concrete exposure-reduction or prevention actions shaped with the affected community.
What types of environmental exposure concerns fit the intent of this opportunity?
The focus is on environmental exposures "of concern to the community." Examples described include locally identified contaminants in air, water, soil, food, or consumer products that residents believe may be affecting health.
What role is the community expected to play in the research?
The announcement emphasizes meaningful community engagement throughout the process. Communities are encouraged to help define the environmental concerns being studied, guide research questions, participate in interpreting results, and take part in deciding what actions should follow. Residents are not treated as passive subjects; the expectation is co-production of knowledge with communities.
What is a key deliverable expected from projects funded under this announcement?
A central implied deliverable is an environmental public health action plan informed by the research findings. The plan is intended to outline practical steps to reduce exposure pathways and improve community conditions.
What might an environmental public health action plan include?
Based on the description, the action plan could involve changes in practices, policies, local interventions, risk communication strategies, or other steps that reduce or prevent exposure pathways, with actions guided by the research results and community input.
Does the program only support studies that document hazards?
No. A defining feature of the opportunity is that it is designed to move beyond simply documenting environmental hazards. The research is expected to lead to practical action and exposure reduction or prevention strategies.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and public housing authorities. Academic institutions (both public/state-controlled and private) are eligible. The opportunity also includes small businesses, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (noting the full announcement typically clarifies conditions for certain nonprofit categories). Faith-based and community-based organizations and regional organizations are explicitly included as eligible.
Are minority-serving institutions included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Tribal governments, including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities, are included as eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) entities allowed to apply?
Yes. The opportunity allowed non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) to apply, permitted non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, and allowed foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Where can the full funding announcement be found?
The public-facing link provided for the full announcement is: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-153.html
Who is listed as the contact for technical problems with the announcement link or access?
For technical issues accessing the announcement or link problems, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
What distinguishes this opportunity from a typical environmental health research grant?
What stands out is the explicit expectation of meaningful community engagement and a direct translation of research into an environmental public health action plan. The program prioritizes projects aimed at measurable exposure reduction or prevention strategies shaped with the community, rather than research that ends at risk estimation or hazard documentation.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| TaRGET I Chromatin Structure, Genomics, and Transcriptional Responses to the Environment (R01) Apply for RFA ES 12 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 12 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42) Apply for RFA ES 13 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Superfund Research Program Occupational and Safety Training Education Programs on Emerging Technologies (R25) Apply for RFA ES 13 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| NLM Administrative Supplements for Informationist Services in NIH funded Research Projects (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 13 276 Funding Number: PA 13 276 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Biogeochemical Interactions Affecting Bioavailability for in situ Remediation of Hazardous Substances (R01) Apply for RFA ES 13 010 Funding Number: RFA ES 13 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Analysis of Genome Wide Gene Environment (G x E) Interactions (R21) Apply for PAR 13 382 Funding Number: PAR 13 382 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42) Apply for RFA ES 14 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) Apply for PA 14 151 Funding Number: PA 14 151 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Administrative Supplements for the U.S. Japan Brain Research Cooperative Program (BRCP) U.S. Entity (Administrative Supplement) Apply for PA 14 249 Funding Number: PA 14 249 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42) Apply for RFA ES 14 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Interventions for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Native American Populations (R01) Apply for PAR 14 260 Funding Number: PAR 14 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Hubs of Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOHealth) Research (U01) Apply for RFA TW 14 001 Funding Number: RFA TW 14 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Hubs of Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOHealth) Research Training (U2R) Apply for RFA TW 14 002 Funding Number: RFA TW 14 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Spatial Uncertainty Data, Modeling, and Communication (R21) Apply for PA 15 009 Funding Number: PA 15 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Spatial Uncertainty Data, Modeling, and Communication (R01) Apply for PA 15 010 Funding Number: PA 15 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Spatial Uncertainty Data, Modeling, and Communication (R03) Apply for PA 15 011 Funding Number: PA 15 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Environmental Influences during Windows of Susceptibility in Breast Cancer Risk (U01) Apply for RFA ES 14 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Coordinating Center for the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (U01) Apply for RFA ES 14 011 Funding Number: RFA ES 14 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| NLM Administrative Supplements for Informationist Services in NIH funded Research Projects (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 15 249 Funding Number: PA 15 249 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Superfund Research Program Occupational and Safety Education Programs on Emerging Technologies (R25) Apply for RFA ES 15 014 Funding Number: RFA ES 15 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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