Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology (R03) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is PAR-09-154?

PAR-09-154 is an NIH funding opportunity titled "Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology (R03)." It was issued by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to support small, focused translational research studies related to medication use in children and during pregnancy.

What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The central goal is to strengthen evidence about drug safety and effectiveness in pediatric and pregnant populations and to encourage early development of therapies specifically intended for pediatric and obstetric use. A major theme is closing evidence gaps where medications are commonly used but not well studied in infants, children at different developmental stages, or pregnant versus non-pregnant patients.

What types of research does the FOA prioritize?

The announcement emphasizes three scientific priority areas: (1) pharmacology studies that examine differences in drug action and clinical response across childhood development, comparisons between pediatric and adult responses, and how pregnancy changes drug behavior and effects versus the non-pregnant state; (2) development of new drugs or new therapeutic approaches specifically targeted to children and pregnant women; and (3) multidisciplinary collaboration, especially partnerships between basic scientists and physician-scientists to translate mechanistic findings into clinically meaningful improvements.

What does "translational" mean in the context of this FOA?

Based on the announcement, "translational" refers to moving research toward practical improvements in therapeutics for children and pregnant women, including studies that help link mechanistic or developmental insights to clinical dosing, safety, and effectiveness.

What pediatric topics are specifically mentioned?

The FOA highlights research on how drug actions and responses differ across childhood development and how pediatric responses compare to adults. It references developmental pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, age-related differences in metabolism, and organ maturation as examples of factors that can affect dosing needs, efficacy, and risk.

What obstetric/pregnancy topics are specifically mentioned?

The announcement highlights how pregnancy alters drug behavior and effects compared with the non-pregnant state. Examples include placental transfer and pregnancy-related physiologic changes that can shift drug exposure, as well as other factors that may change dosing needs, efficacy, and risk during pregnancy.

Does this FOA support new therapy development, or only studies of existing drugs?

It supports both, as described in the priorities: it includes pharmacology studies that address drug safety and effectiveness (often relevant to commonly used but under-studied medications) and it encourages development efforts for new drugs or new therapeutic approaches deliberately targeted to children and pregnant women.

What grant mechanism is used under PAR-09-154?

This opportunity uses the NIH Small Research Grant (R03) mechanism, which is generally intended for smaller-scale projects such as pilot studies, feasibility work, secondary analyses, or other discrete research efforts that can be completed with limited resources and within a shorter timeframe than larger NIH research grants.

Are there related funding opportunities with the same scientific scope?

Yes. The FOA is part of a set of parallel announcements covering the same scientific scope under different grant mechanisms: PAR-09-155 for the R01 mechanism and PAR-09-156 for the R21 mechanism. Applicants can choose the mechanism that best fits the maturity and scope of their proposed work.

Is the award amount fixed?

No. The award size is described as variable. NICHD indicates that budgets will depend on the nature and complexity of the proposed research.

Is the project period/duration fixed?

No. Project duration is described as variable, and timelines depend on the proposed research and its complexity.

How many awards will be made under this program?

The number of awards is not fixed. NICHD states that the total number of awards and the total funds committed depend on factors such as the number of applications received, their scientific quality, the requested duration, and the costs.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states that no cost sharing or matching is required.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes domestic and non-domestic organizations. The FOA lists public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); small businesses; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; federal agencies; state and local governments; counties, cities/townships, and special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal governments and organizations (both federally recognized and other-than-federally recognized); and regional organizations.

Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?

Yes. Foreign organizations are included among eligible applicants, indicating that research teams outside the United States may apply when the work aligns with the program goals.

Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations specifically included?

Yes. The eligible applicant types explicitly include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), U.S. territories or possessions, and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Which NIH Institute issued this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The program is associated with CFDA number 93.865, described as "Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research."

What is the government assistance category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under Health in the broader government assistance listings.

When was this FOA posted and when did it close?

The FOA was posted/created on April 10, 2009. The closing date is listed as May 19, 2011, and the archive date is June 19, 2011, indicating it was a time-limited solicitation.

Where can applicants find the official FOA text?

NIH provided an official guide notice link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-154.html

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

The announcement references general support contacts through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking issues.