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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?

The opportunity is titled "Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-ES-19-011.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

This NIH opportunity is meant to support environmental health research that is genuinely time-sensitive and cannot wait for a normal grant timeline. It is intended for situations where an unexpected event or rapid change creates a narrow window to collect critical exposure data and/or human biospecimens, and delays would make the research question difficult or impossible to answer.

What kinds of situations are considered "time-sensitive" under this FOA?

The FOA is aimed at unexpected or rapidly evolving circumstances that create a short, time-limited chance to collect crucial information. Examples described include natural disasters, industrial accidents, emerging environmental public health threats, and sudden policy or regulatory changes.

Why does NIH emphasize rapid review and rapid funding for this program?

The core concept is that certain environmental exposure measurements and human biospecimen collections are only possible immediately after an event, or during a brief transition period following a policy or regulatory shift. This FOA is designed for projects that need to start substantially faster than a typical NIH review and award cycle in order to capture perishable data.

What types of research does this FOA support?

The FOA supports novel research focused on understanding real-world health and exposure consequences of rapid-onset or rapidly evolving environmental circumstances. The allowable research focus is described as broad, as long as it centers on measuring environmental exposures and/or related human biological indicators in response to the triggering event or policy change.

What are examples of data or samples that might be considered "perishable" for this program?

Examples highlighted include contaminants in air, water, soil, dust, or consumer products collected immediately after an incident, as well as human biological samples that capture short-lived exposure biomarkers or early biological responses that could fade or change if collection is delayed.

What grant mechanism is being used?

This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is an exploratory/developmental research grant commonly used for early-stage, innovative, or potentially high-impact ideas, particularly where fast action is essential.

What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?

The source details list an award ceiling of $200,000.

Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial, such as prospectively assigning human participants to an intervention to evaluate health-related outcomes.

Are observational studies or exposure-assessment studies allowed?

Yes, observational or exposure-assessment work can be appropriate as long as it does not cross into an interventional clinical trial design (for example, it should not prospectively assign participants to interventions).

Does the FOA require the research to be triggered by a specific type of event?

The FOA is centered on a triggering event or rapid change that creates a narrow time window for collecting critical exposure and/or biospecimen data. The examples provided include disasters, accidents, emerging threats, and sudden policy or regulatory changes, but the defining feature is the time-limited opportunity to collect key data.

What makes a project a good fit for this FOA?

A strong fit is a project where time sensitivity is not merely helpful but essential: the study must require rapid review and rapid funding so it can launch quickly, and the scientific question depends on collecting exposure measurements or biospecimens during a short window that would otherwise be missed.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many 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.

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

Yes. The FOA includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicants.

Are U.S. territories or possessions included as eligible applicants?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the listed eligible applicant categories.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA lists federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as tribal organizations and tribal governments that are not federally recognized, among eligible applicants.

Does the FOA mention eligibility for specific institution types such as HBCUs or Hispanic-serving Institutions?

Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are listed among the additional eligible applicant categories.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA lists eligible federal agencies among the additional eligible applicant categories.

What federal assistance listings (CFDA numbers) are associated with this opportunity?

The associated CFDA numbers listed are 93.113 and 93.143.

What type of grant is this described as?

The record indicates this is a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH.

What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?

The activity categories listed span education, environment, and health.

What is the closing date shown in the provided record?

The record indicates a closing date of 2023-01-20.

What is the creation date shown in the provided record?

The record indicates a creation date of 2019-07-31.

Is this opportunity intended for routine environmental health research timelines?

No. It is specifically positioned as a rapid-response pathway for environmental health research 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 key evidence.

What is the central scientific focus emphasized by the FOA?

The emphasis is on capturing real-world exposure information and/or related human biological indicators that are only measurable or meaningful during a short window tied to an event or policy/regulatory transition.