Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA ES 19 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 19 011

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-ES-19-011) is designed for environmental health studies that cannot wait for the normal grant timeline. It specifically targets research situations where something unexpected happens, such as a natural disaster, an industrial accident, an emerging environmental public health threat, or a sudden policy or regulatory change, and that event creates a narrow, time-limited chance to collect crucial data. The central idea is that certain exposure measurements or human biospecimen collections are only possible right after an event occurs, or during a short transition period following a policy shift, and delays would make the research question impossible to answer.

This FOA supports novel research aimed at understanding the real-world health and exposure consequences of these rapid-onset or rapidly evolving circumstances. Examples that fit the spirit of the program include situations where investigators need to capture perishable environmental exposure evidence (for instance, contaminants in air, water, soil, dust, or consumer products immediately after an incident) or to collect human biological samples that reflect short-lived exposure biomarkers or early biological responses. The announcement emphasizes that the project should require rapid review and rapid funding so the research can be launched quickly, substantially faster than a typical NIH review and award cycle. In other words, the time sensitivity is not just a convenience; it is a defining feature of whether the project is appropriate for this mechanism.

The mechanism used is the NIH R21, which is an exploratory/developmental research grant intended to support early-stage, innovative, or high-impact ideas that may still be developing and where fast action is essential. Under the provided source details, the award ceiling is listed as $200,000. While the FOA is framed around environmental health sciences, the allowable research focus is broad as long as it is centered on measuring environmental exposures and/or related human biological indicators in response to the triggering event or policy change, and it is structured as a research project rather than a clinical trial. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation means applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial (for example, prospectively assigning human participants to an intervention to evaluate health-related outcomes). Observational or exposure-assessment work can still be appropriate, provided it does not cross into interventional clinical trial territory.

Eligibility for applying is wide and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city/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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This broad eligibility aligns with the reality that time-sensitive environmental health events often require local partnerships, rapid mobilization, and on-the-ground access to affected populations or environments.

From the source data, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH, with activity categories spanning education, environment, and health, and associated CFDA numbers 93.113 and 93.143. The record indicates a closing date of 2023-01-20 and a creation date of 2019-07-31. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an NIH rapid-response research pathway for environmental health questions where the clock is the main constraint and where missing the immediate post-event or post-policy-change window would mean losing the chance to gather the exposure and biological evidence needed to understand resulting health risks and impacts.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.143.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-07-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-20. (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: 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.

Apply for RFA ES 19 011

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