Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 13 020
Apply for RFA RM 13 020
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Validation and Advanced Development of Technologies for the Study of Biological Properties of Single Cells (R33)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310 Trans NIH Research Support.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 19, 2013 and posted on Dec 18, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 4, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Private institutions of higher education County governments City or township governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) 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 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 NIH grant opportunity "Validation and Advanced Development of Technologies for the Study of Biological Properties of Single Cells (R33)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-13-020) is a discretionary grant program designed to push single-cell analysis technologies beyond early feasibility and into a more mature, reliable, and broadly usable state. The core purpose is to accelerate promising tools through downstream optimization and validation so they become robust, well-characterized technologies that researchers can confidently use to study the biology of individual cells and, importantly, how single-cell properties influence neighboring cells and larger biological contexts such as tissues and organs. In practical terms, the FOA is aimed at technologies that have already shown proof-of-principle and are supported by preliminary data, but still need focused development work to demonstrate reproducibility, performance, usability, and generalizability before they can truly transform biomedical research.
This FOA is not intended for basic discovery projects or for proposals where the main novelty is the biological or clinical question rather than the technology itself. Applications that rely on established, widely available methods and simply apply them to a new disease, patient cohort, or biological system are considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed. The emphasis stays on technology and methodology development: improving performance characteristics, demonstrating rigorous validation, and producing a tool that offers clear, compelling advantages to end users. Another key expectation is that the proposed approach can be applied to multiple cell types, reflecting the broader goal of developing enabling technologies rather than single-use niche assays.
Projects submitted under this R33 mechanism are expected to be milestone-driven. Applicants should define clear overarching goals and include intermediate, quantitative milestones that allow progress to be tracked objectively. This milestone structure signals that the NIH is looking for development plans that resemble a disciplined engineering and translational pipeline: identify what must be improved, specify how success will be measured, and show how each stage of optimization and validation will reduce uncertainty and increase readiness for broad adoption. While the FOA mentions that a current R21 award is not required, it still expects that the essential proof-of-concept stage has already been crossed, meaning the work proposed should be the next step toward a tool that is dependable and widely deployable.
From a programmatic standpoint, the opportunity sits within NIH's broader interest in single-cell biology as a driver of new insights into heterogeneity, cell states, cell-to-cell interactions, and mechanisms that are often masked in bulk measurements. The FOA highlights the potential for single-cell analysis to produce major impacts on biomedical understanding, particularly in contexts where rare cell populations, transient states, or spatially and temporally dynamic processes matter. The technologies envisioned could include new platforms, assays, analytical methods, or integrated systems, as long as they represent genuine technological innovation and are positioned for rigorous validation and dissemination to the research community.
Administrative details in the source information show the opportunity was posted in December 2013, with an original and current closing date of April 4, 2014, and an archive date of May 5, 2014. The estimated total funding amount listed is $2,500,000, with an award ceiling of $250,000 (as stated in the provided source data). Cost sharing or matching is not required. The activity category is health, and the CFDA number is 93.310 (Trans-NIH Research Support), indicating a cross-NIH research support emphasis rather than a narrow disease-area focus.
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organization types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, with the stated caveat "other than institutions of higher education" for some categories), state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, independent school districts, and a wide range of for-profit entities including small businesses. Importantly, the FOA also allows non-U.S. (foreign) entities and foreign institutions to apply, permits non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, and allows foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Additional explicitly named eligible groups include HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and faith-based or community-based organizations, reflecting NIH's broad inclusivity for organizational applicants.
Overall, this R33 FOA is best understood as a targeted push to turn already-promising single-cell technologies into validated, robust tools that can be adopted by many users and applied across diverse biological systems. The NIH is signaling that it wants proposals that look like a clear development and validation roadmap: the technology has early evidence behind it, the remaining bottlenecks are identifiable, the performance metrics are measurable, and the end result will be a well-characterized platform or method that meaningfully advances what single-cell analysis can do for biomedical research.
FAQs: NIH R33 Grant - Validation and Advanced Development of Technologies for the Study of Biological Properties of Single Cells (RFA-RM-13-020)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity titled "Validation and Advanced Development of Technologies for the Study of Biological Properties of Single Cells (R33)." The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is RFA-RM-13-020.
What is the main purpose of this R33 FOA?
The purpose is to push promising single-cell analysis technologies beyond early feasibility into a more mature, reliable, and broadly usable state. The FOA emphasizes downstream optimization and rigorous validation so tools become robust, well-characterized, and ready for confident use by the wider research community.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this FOA?
Projects that already have proof-of-principle (supported by preliminary data) and now need focused development work to demonstrate reproducibility, performance, usability, and generalizability. The focus is on making a technology dependable and widely deployable rather than just demonstrating that it can work once in a limited setting.
What stage of development should the technology be at when applying?
The FOA expects the essential proof-of-concept stage has already been crossed. The proposed work should represent the next step: optimization, validation, and readiness-building for broad adoption.
Is this opportunity intended to support basic discovery research?
No. This FOA is not intended for basic discovery projects where the primary novelty is the biological or clinical question rather than the technology itself.
Can I propose using established single-cell methods on a new disease or cohort?
No. Applications that rely on established, widely available methods and simply apply them to a new disease, patient cohort, or biological system are described as non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
What is the key review emphasis: biology questions or technology development?
The emphasis is on technology and methodology development. The FOA highlights improving performance characteristics, demonstrating rigorous validation, and producing a tool with clear and compelling advantages to end users.
Does the proposed technology need to work across multiple cell types?
Yes. A key expectation is that the approach can be applied to multiple cell types, reflecting the goal of enabling technologies rather than single-use niche assays.
What kinds of technologies are contemplated under this FOA?
The FOA envisions genuine technological innovation for single-cell analysis. Examples described at a high level include new platforms, assays, analytical methods, or integrated systems, as long as they are positioned for rigorous validation and dissemination.
Why is NIH interested in this area?
The FOA is positioned within NIH's broader interest in single-cell biology to drive insights into heterogeneity, cell states, cell-to-cell interactions, and mechanisms that can be masked in bulk measurements. It notes potential impacts in settings involving rare cell populations, transient states, and spatially or temporally dynamic processes.
How are R33 projects expected to be managed?
Projects are expected to be milestone-driven. Applicants should define clear overarching goals and include intermediate, quantitative milestones so progress can be tracked objectively.
What does "milestone-driven" mean in this FOA?
It means the application should specify what must be improved, how success will be measured (quantitatively), and how each stage of optimization and validation reduces uncertainty and increases readiness for broad adoption.
Is a current NIH R21 award required to apply?
No. The FOA states that a current R21 award is not required. However, it still expects that proof-of-concept has already been demonstrated with preliminary data.
What is the estimated total funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount listed in the provided information is $2,500,000.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling stated in the provided source data is $250,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required.
What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The activity category is health. The CFDA number is 93.310 (Trans-NIH Research Support), indicating a cross-NIH research support emphasis.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted in December 2013. The original and current closing date is listed as April 4, 2014, and the archive date is May 5, 2014.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status for certain categories), state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, independent school districts, and for-profit entities including small businesses.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA allows non-U.S. (foreign) entities and foreign institutions to apply. It also permits non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations and allows foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations explicitly included?
Yes. Explicitly named eligible groups include HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and faith-based or community-based organizations.
What makes an application "non-responsive" for this FOA?
Based on the provided information, a proposal is non-responsive if it primarily applies established, widely available methods to a new biological or clinical context without genuine technology development. The FOA indicates such applications will not be reviewed.
What outcomes is NIH trying to achieve with this R33?
The intended outcome is a validated, robust, well-characterized single-cell technology that offers clear advantages, is reproducible, usable, generalizable, and ready for dissemination and broad adoption by researchers across diverse biological systems.
Does the FOA emphasize studying individual cells in isolation only?
No. While it centers on individual cells, it also emphasizes understanding how single-cell properties influence neighboring cells and larger biological contexts such as tissues and organs.
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