Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 09 082
Apply for PA 09 082
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Structural Analyses of the Ligand Binding Properties of Taste and Smell Receptors (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 16, 2009 and posted on Jan 16, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2012. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: 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 Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses Independent school districts Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments.
- 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH grant opportunity "Structural Analyses of the Ligand Binding Properties of Taste and Smell Receptors (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-09-082) is a discretionary research grant aimed at jumpstarting exploratory, early-stage projects that can clarify how taste and olfactory receptors are built and how they recognize the chemicals they detect. The core goal is structural characterization: figuring out the three-dimensional features of taste and smell receptors, with a strong focus on the parts of these receptors that physically interact with ligands such as odorants, pheromones, and taste compounds. A central theme is identifying the specific binding sites and structural determinants that explain why certain receptors are highly sensitive to particular chemicals and how they maintain selectivity among closely related molecules.
A major emphasis of the announcement is collaboration across fields that do not always naturally overlap. The FOA explicitly tries to bring together chemosensory molecular biologists and biochemists who understand receptor biology and can work on the difficult practical steps of isolating and characterizing membrane proteins, with biophysicists and structural scientists who have the tools to resolve structure and binding interactions using methods like crystallography, NMR, and related analytical approaches. In other words, the program is set up to encourage teams that can both produce high-quality receptor preparations and apply advanced structural techniques to reveal ligand-receptor contact points, binding pockets, and conformational features that drive receptor activation and discrimination.
This opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) mechanism, which is typically intended for innovative, higher-risk ideas or proof-of-concept work rather than fully mature, long-term research programs. The announcement also notes that it runs in parallel with another NIH funding opportunity of the same scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (PA-09-058). Practically, this means investigators with preliminary or developmental structural concepts may fit the R21 pathway, while more established programs pursuing the same scientific questions could be better suited to the R01 track.
In terms of funding levels, the listed award ceiling is $200,000, and the FOA makes clear that the size, duration, and number of awards are not fixed in advance. Instead, NIH expects variability based on what applicants propose, and the final number of awards and total dollars depend on the volume and quality of applications received, their proposed budgets, and project timelines. No cost sharing or matching is required, which reduces administrative barriers for applicants and makes the program accessible to a wide range of institutions.
Eligibility is broad and includes most common research-performing organizations. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) entities and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses, and a range of government entities at the state, county, city/township, and special district levels. The announcement also includes specific categories such as independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), and tribal colleges and universities. Additional eligible applicants include foreign (non-U.S.) entities, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and several institution types focused on serving specific populations, such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the associated CFDA number is 93.173 (Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders), which reflects NIH programmatic alignment with sensory communication research.
Administratively, this FOA was posted on January 16, 2009, with an original and current closing date of January 7, 2012, and an archive date of February 7, 2012, indicating it is no longer active as a current solicitation but remains part of the historical NIH funding record. The official full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants guide, and applicants who had trouble accessing the posting were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted, collaboration-driven R21 program intended to catalyze structural and mechanistic insights into chemosensory receptor ligand binding, especially where innovative structural biology and membrane protein expertise need to be integrated to solve difficult receptor-ligand interaction questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?
The opportunity is titled "Structural Analyses of the Ligand Binding Properties of Taste and Smell Receptors (R21)" and the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is PA-09-082.
Which agency is sponsoring this grant opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This funding opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) mechanism, which is intended to support exploratory, early-stage, and typically higher-risk or proof-of-concept research.
What is the main scientific purpose of this FOA?
The core goal is structural characterization of taste and olfactory receptors, with a particular focus on understanding the three-dimensional features of these receptors and how they recognize and bind the chemicals they detect.
What kinds of receptors are targeted by this funding opportunity?
The scientific focus is on chemosensory receptors involved in taste and smell, specifically receptors whose ligand-binding properties can be studied through structural and biophysical approaches.
What does "ligand binding properties" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, ligand binding properties refers to how taste and smell receptors physically interact with ligands, including identifying binding sites, binding pockets, receptor-ligand contact points, and structural determinants that drive receptor sensitivity and selectivity.
What types of ligands are specifically mentioned?
The FOA mentions ligands such as odorants, pheromones, and taste compounds.
What specific structural questions is NIH trying to answer with this program?
The announcement emphasizes identifying the specific binding sites and structural determinants that explain why certain receptors are highly sensitive to particular chemicals and how receptors maintain selectivity among closely related molecules.
Is collaboration encouraged, and if so, what kind?
Yes. A major emphasis is collaboration across fields that do not always naturally overlap, particularly collaborations combining chemosensory molecular biology/biochemistry with biophysics and structural science.
What kinds of expertise does NIH want teams to combine?
The FOA aims to bring together researchers who understand chemosensory receptor biology and can handle practical challenges like isolating and characterizing membrane proteins, with researchers who can resolve structure and binding interactions using advanced structural methods.
What structural and analytical methods are highlighted?
The announcement highlights methods such as crystallography, NMR, and related analytical approaches for resolving receptor structures and ligand-receptor interactions.
Why is membrane protein expertise important for this FOA?
The FOA underscores the difficulty of isolating and characterizing membrane proteins and encourages teams that can produce high-quality receptor preparations suitable for structural analysis.
How does this R21 relate to the R01 opportunity mentioned?
This FOA runs in parallel with another NIH opportunity of the same scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (PA-09-058). The R21 is positioned for preliminary or developmental structural concepts, while the R01 may be more appropriate for more established programs addressing the same scientific questions.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
Are the size, duration, and number of awards predetermined?
No. The FOA indicates that the size, duration, and number of awards are not fixed in advance and may vary based on applicant proposals and NIH considerations.
What factors influence how many awards NIH will make and at what funding levels?
According to the FOA, the final number of awards and total dollars depend on factors including the volume and quality of applications received, proposed budgets, and project timelines.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that no cost sharing or matching is required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of research-performing organizations across the nonprofit, for-profit, academic, governmental, and other sectors, including eligible U.S. and non-U.S. entities as described in the announcement.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes both public and private institutions of higher education as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) entities and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses, as eligible applicants.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include a range of government entities, including state, county, city/township, and special district governments.
Are independent school districts eligible?
Yes. Independent school districts are specifically included among eligible applicant types.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), as well as tribal colleges and universities.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes foreign (non-U.S.) entities.
Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.
Are regionally focused organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes regional organizations among eligible applicants.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-focused organizations included?
Yes. The FOA lists several institution types focused on serving specific populations, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 93.173, labeled "Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders."
When was this FOA posted?
The FOA was posted on January 16, 2009.
What was the closing date for this opportunity?
The original and current closing date listed is January 7, 2012.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. The FOA has an archive date of February 7, 2012, indicating it is no longer active as a current solicitation.
Where was the official announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants guide.
What should someone do if they had trouble accessing the NIH posting?
The FOA notes that applicants who had trouble accessing the posting were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact.
What kinds of projects are a strong fit for this R21 program, based on the description?
Projects that are exploratory and early-stage, aimed at jumpstarting structural and mechanistic insights into taste and smell receptor ligand binding, and that integrate membrane protein preparation with advanced structural biology approaches, align with the stated intent of the program.
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