Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 236
The Genetic Susceptibility and Variability of Human Structural Birth Defects (R01) funding opportunity (PAR-17-236) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant aimed at advancing what is known about structural birth defects, with a clear emphasis on research that bridges basic biology and human relevance. The program is designed to fund innovative, hypothesis-driven projects that use animal models alongside translational and/or clinical approaches so that discoveries made in the lab can meaningfully inform the understanding of birth defects in human populations. The core idea is not simply to describe developmental abnormalities, but to identify why they happen, why some individuals are more susceptible than others, and why the same defect can vary in severity or presentation across different people.
A major scientific focus of the announcement is dissecting the contributors to susceptibility and variability. Applicants are encouraged to leverage modern tools and advances in genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and developmental biology to pinpoint specific genetic factors, epigenetic mechanisms, environmental contributors, and gene-by-environment interactions that influence risk for structural birth defects. This includes work that can connect molecular pathways to developmental outcomes, or that can explain differences in penetrance, expressivity, and phenotype severity. Projects that integrate mechanistic insights from animal systems with human data or clinically relevant observations align strongly with the intent of the FOA, since the goal is a clearer, more actionable understanding of human birth defects rather than findings that stay confined to model organisms.
The award mechanism is the NIH R01, which typically supports substantial, multi-year research projects led by an experienced principal investigator or investigative team. The posted award ceiling is $499,999, indicating an upper bound on the amount expected per award under this listing. The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.113, 93.121, and 93.865, and falls under the broad activity category of environment and health (with the listing also grouping it under income security and social services, reflecting the wider public impact area of maternal and child health). The original closing date shown for this announcement was 2019-11-05, and the record indicates it was created on 2017-03-29.
A distinctive programmatic feature is the expectation that funded investigators will participate as part of a broader community coordinated by NICHD. Awardees will join the NICHD Birth Defects Working Group and take part in annual meetings. These meetings are meant to function as an active forum for sharing progress, exchanging ideas, discussing methods and findings, sharing resources such as data or model systems, and building collaborations that support the goals of the NICHD Birth Defects Initiative. In practice, this means the program is not only funding individual projects but also intentionally building a network of investigators working on related problems, which can accelerate discovery and standardize approaches across the field.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. In addition to standard academic and research institutions, eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility signals an interest in drawing strong proposals from a diverse set of institutions and communities, which can be especially relevant for studying population variability, environmental exposures, and differences in risk across groups.
Overall, this FOA supports rigorous, mechanistic research that can explain the underlying causes and modifiers of structural birth defects, prioritizing studies that combine the strengths of animal modeling with translational or clinical relevance. It also places investigators into a structured collaborative environment through NICHD, making the program as much about building shared momentum in birth defects research as it is about funding individual projects.Apply for PAR 17 236
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Genetic Susceptibility and Variability of Human Structural Birth Defects (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-03-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-05. (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 $499,999.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity and what is the FOA number?
The opportunity is titled The Genetic Susceptibility and Variability of Human Structural Birth Defects (R01), and the FOA number is PAR-17-236.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary grant offered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with program coordination described in relation to NICHD.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program aims to advance what is known about structural birth defects by funding innovative, hypothesis-driven research that explains why defects happen, why some individuals are more susceptible, and why severity or presentation varies between people.
What kind of research approach does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes research that bridges basic biology and human relevance. It encourages projects that use animal models alongside translational and/or clinical approaches, so laboratory discoveries can inform understanding of birth defects in human populations.
Is the program focused on describing abnormalities or on understanding causes?
The stated intent is not simply to describe developmental abnormalities, but to identify contributors to causation, susceptibility, and variability, including reasons for differences in severity and presentation across individuals.
What scientific topics are specifically highlighted?
The announcement highlights research to dissect contributors to susceptibility and variability, including genetic factors, epigenetic mechanisms, environmental contributors, and gene-by-environment interactions that influence risk for structural birth defects.
What types of methods or disciplines are encouraged?
Applicants are encouraged to leverage modern tools and advances in genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and developmental biology to connect molecular pathways to developmental outcomes and explain variation such as penetrance, expressivity, and phenotype severity.
How important is human relevance in the proposed research?
Human relevance is a central theme. Projects that integrate mechanistic insights from animal systems with human data or clinically relevant observations are described as aligning strongly with the FOA's intent, because the goal is actionable understanding of human birth defects rather than findings confined to model organisms.
What award mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The award mechanism is the NIH R01, which typically supports substantial, multi-year research projects led by an experienced principal investigator or investigative team.
What is the posted award ceiling?
The posted award ceiling under this listing is $499,999, indicating an upper bound on the amount expected per award.
Are there specific CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.113, 93.121, and 93.865.
How is this opportunity categorized by activity area?
It falls under the broad activity category of environment and health. The listing also groups it under income security and social services, reflecting the broader public impact area of maternal and child health.
What is a distinctive program feature for funded investigators?
A distinctive feature is the expectation that funded investigators will participate as part of a broader community coordinated by NICHD. Awardees are expected to join the NICHD Birth Defects Working Group and participate in annual meetings.
What are the annual meetings intended to accomplish?
The annual meetings are intended to serve as an active forum for sharing progress, exchanging ideas, discussing methods and findings, sharing resources (such as data or model systems), and building collaborations that support the goals of the NICHD Birth Defects Initiative.
Does this program emphasize collaboration across funded projects?
Yes. The FOA describes an intentional effort to build a network of investigators working on related problems, which can accelerate discovery, encourage sharing of resources, and help standardize approaches across the field.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, including academic and research institutions, multiple levels of government entities, tribal entities and organizations, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.
Are U.S. government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments, as well as eligible federal agencies.
Are educational institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and independent school districts.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes eligibility for federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments.
Are nonprofits eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The FOA lists nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) among eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and it also separately includes small businesses.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicant categories.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically called out as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights several categories, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible.
What is the original closing date listed for this announcement?
The original closing date shown for this announcement is 2019-11-05.
When was the record created?
The record indicates it was created on 2017-03-29.
What types of research questions fit well with this FOA's intent?
Projects fit well when they aim to identify mechanisms behind structural birth defects and explain differences across individuals, such as why risk differs due to genetic or environmental factors, how gene-by-environment interactions alter outcomes, and what drives differences in penetrance, expressivity, and severity, particularly when paired with translational or clinical relevance.
Does the FOA prioritize model organism work alone?
The FOA supports animal model work, but it stresses that proposals should connect discoveries to human populations through translational and/or clinical approaches, rather than staying confined to model organisms.
What is the broader impact area mentioned for this grant?
While the scientific focus is on structural birth defects and environment and health, the listing notes broader public impact under maternal and child health, reflected by its grouping under income security and social services as well.
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| Development of Novel and Robust Systems for Mechanistic Studies of Gene-Environment Interplay in Dental, Oral, Craniofacial, and Other Diseases and Conditions (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 293 Funding Number: PAR 19 293 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 21 200 Funding Number: PA 21 200 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 21 199 Funding Number: PA 21 199 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
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| Autism Centers of Excellence: Networks (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 22 007 Funding Number: RFA HD 22 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 319 Funding Number: PAR 21 319 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 21 311 Funding Number: PAR 21 311 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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