Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 16 007
The grant opportunity "The Preconception Exposure Window and Health of the Offspring (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-ES-16-007) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project grant aimed at understanding how environmental chemical exposures that occur before conception can affect the health of the next generation. The focus is specifically on the preconception, pre-fertilization period, when exposures may act directly on germ cells (sperm or eggs) and potentially set in motion biological changes that later show up as measurable traits or health outcomes in first-generation offspring. In practical terms, the program is looking for mechanistic, cause-and-effect research that can connect a defined chemical exposure in the parent prior to fertilization to traceable phenotypic outcomes in the offspring, using controlled animal models to make those links testable and biologically interpretable.
A key feature of this FOA is its emphasis on mechanism, not just association. Proposed studies are expected to go beyond observing that an exposure correlates with an outcome; they should investigate how the exposure alters germ cells and how those alterations translate into later-life effects in offspring. Because the work must use animal models, applicants can take advantage of precise exposure timing, dosing control, and direct access to tissues and developmental stages that are difficult or impossible to evaluate in human studies. The overarching scientific premise is that the preconception window is a critical, understudied period in which environmental chemicals may leave lasting biological signatures that shape development and disease risk in the next generation.
This opportunity falls under the broad funding activity area of environment and health and is associated with CFDA number 93.113. It is a discretionary grant mechanism under the R01 activity code, meaning it supports hypothesis-driven, investigator-initiated research projects with a defined scope of work. The FOA was created on July 1, 2016, with an original closing date of October 3, 2016. The listed award ceiling is $300,000, indicating the maximum funding level expected per award under this announcement (as provided in the source information).
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights a range of institution types as "other eligible applicants," including 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, the announcement clearly restricts foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. In addition, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed under this FOA. These restrictions mean that the project leadership and the performance sites must remain within eligible U.S. organizational structures and locations, and the funded work cannot include foreign components as part of the proposed research plan.
Overall, this FOA is designed for researchers who can use animal systems to rigorously test whether chemical exposures occurring before conception can alter germ cells in ways that are biologically meaningful, measurable, and predictive of later-life outcomes in offspring. The goal is to build stronger causal evidence and mechanistic understanding of how the preconception environment may contribute to health trajectories in the next generation, which can ultimately inform environmental health science, risk assessment, and prevention strategies.Apply for RFA ES 16 007
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Preconception Exposure Window and Health of the Offspring (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-07-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-10-03. (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 $300,000.00 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 grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "The Preconception Exposure Window and Health of the Offspring (R01)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-ES-16-007.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant opportunity.
What type of grant mechanism is being used?
The FOA uses the R01 activity code, described as a discretionary research project grant mechanism that supports hypothesis-driven, investigator-initiated research projects with a defined scope of work.
What scientific topic does this FOA focus on?
This FOA focuses on how environmental chemical exposures that occur before conception can affect the health of the next generation (first-generation offspring).
What does "preconception exposure window" mean in this FOA?
In this announcement, it specifically refers to the preconception, pre-fertilization period, when exposures may act directly on germ cells (sperm or eggs) before fertilization occurs.
What is the central research premise of this FOA?
The premise is that environmental chemical exposures during the preconception window may leave lasting biological signatures in germ cells that influence development and disease risk in offspring, making this a critical and understudied period for environmental health research.
What kind of research is NIH looking for under this FOA?
The FOA is seeking mechanistic, cause-and-effect research that can connect a defined chemical exposure in a parent prior to fertilization to traceable phenotypic outcomes (measurable traits or health outcomes) in first-generation offspring.
Is association-only research responsive to this FOA?
Based on the FOA description, the emphasis is on mechanism rather than association. Proposed studies are expected to go beyond observing correlations and instead investigate how exposures alter germ cells and how those alterations translate into later-life effects in offspring.
Are animal models required?
Yes. The FOA states that the work must use controlled animal models to make causal links testable and biologically interpretable.
Why does the FOA emphasize animal models?
Animal models allow precise exposure timing, dosing control, and direct access to tissues and developmental stages that are difficult or impossible to evaluate in human studies, supporting mechanistic and causal testing.
What types of exposures are of interest?
The FOA focuses on environmental chemical exposures occurring before conception (pre-fertilization) in the parent.
What outcomes should be measured in the offspring?
The FOA references measurable traits or health outcomes (phenotypic outcomes) in first-generation offspring that can be traced back to a defined parental preconception chemical exposure.
Is the FOA focused on paternal exposures, maternal exposures, or both?
The description discusses exposures acting on germ cells (sperm or eggs), which implies relevance to either paternal (sperm) or maternal (eggs) preconception exposures, depending on the study design.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.113.
What is the broad funding activity area?
The funding activity area is described as environment and health.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on July 1, 2016.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date listed is October 3, 2016.
What is the listed award ceiling?
The award ceiling is listed as $300,000, described as the maximum funding level expected per award under this announcement (as provided in the source information).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types. 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
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities
Which institution types are explicitly highlighted as other eligible applicants?
The FOA explicitly highlights the following as other eligible applicants:
- 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
- Regional organizations
- Eligible federal agencies
- U.S. territories or possessions
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply under this FOA.
Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the project will be performed outside the United States?
No. The FOA states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.
Are foreign components allowed in any form?
No. The FOA explicitly states that foreign components are not allowed under this announcement.
What does the FOA mean by "mechanistic" or "cause-and-effect" research?
As described, it means research that tests how a defined chemical exposure before fertilization alters germ cells and then links those germ cell changes to later measurable traits or health outcomes in first-generation offspring, rather than simply reporting an exposure-outcome correlation.
What is the intended impact of research funded under this FOA?
The FOA describes the goal as building stronger causal evidence and mechanistic understanding of how the preconception environment may contribute to health trajectories in the next generation, with potential value for environmental health science, risk assessment, and prevention strategies.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA ES 16 007) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Transition Award (K01) Apply for PAR 16 360 Funding Number: PAR 16 360 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) (R35) Apply for RFA ES 16 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Environmental Health Cohorts Maintenance and Infrastructure (R24) Apply for RFA ES 16 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 16 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Powering Research through Innovative Methods for mixtures in Epidemiology (PRIME) (R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| NIH Revision Awards for Creating Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER)(R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Summer Research Experiences for Students and Science Teachers (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 055 Funding Number: PA 17 055 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers for Oceans and Human Health 3: Impacts of Climate Change on Oceans and Great Lakes (COHH3) (P01) Apply for RFA ES 16 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Environmental influences on Placental Origins of Development (ePOD) (R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 005 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers (EHS CC) (P30) Apply for RFA ES 17 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR E-learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 17 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Exposure Analysis Services for the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 308 Funding Number: PA 17 308 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21) Apply for PAR 17 313 Funding Number: PAR 17 313 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01) Apply for PAR 17 314 Funding Number: PAR 17 314 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Assays for Screening the Effects of Chemical Toxicants on Cell Differentiation (SBIR R44) Apply for RFA ES 17 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Organotypic Culture Models developed from Experimental Animals for Chemical Toxicity Screening (R43) Apply for RFA ES 17 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Population-Based Model Organism Research for G x E Exploration in Complex Disease Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 17 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Immuno-Oncology Translational Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunotherapy Research Projects (U01) Apply for RFA CA 17 045 Funding Number: RFA CA 17 045 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Award (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA ES 18 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers (EHS CC) (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA ES 18 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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