Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 065
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Small Research Grants for Establishing Basic Science-Clinical Collaborations to Understand Structural Birth Defects (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-20-065) is designed to help researchers form new, early-stage partnerships between basic science and clinical teams focused on structural birth defects. The main goal is to support the initial work needed to build and launch cross-disciplinary collaborations that can connect lab-based discoveries with clinical observations and patient-relevant questions. By using the R03 small grant mechanism, the program is geared toward pilot-scale efforts that help teams generate preliminary data, establish shared methods and datasets, and set the stage for larger future studies, rather than funding large, long-term research programs right away.
This opportunity specifically encourages interdisciplinary teams that bridge foundational biology with clinical expertise. The FOA highlights that applicants may include developmental biologists, cell biologists, geneticists, genomicists, physician-scientists (including individuals with DVM/VMD degrees), and clinicians, along with experts who can strengthen study design and data analysis such as epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and bioinformaticists. In practice, the emphasis is on forming collaborations where clinical insight helps shape basic research questions about how structural birth defects arise, while basic science approaches help explain mechanisms, pathways, or genetic and environmental contributors that may be relevant to diagnosis, prevention, or improved understanding of these conditions.
A key boundary in the announcement is that clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA. That means proposed projects should not involve prospective assignment of human participants to interventions to evaluate health-related outcomes. Instead, projects should focus on non-trial activities that still advance understanding of structural birth defects, such as mechanistic studies, analyses of existing clinical data or specimens (as permitted), development of collaborative infrastructure, harmonization of phenotyping approaches, exploratory genomic or bioinformatic analyses, or other foundational work that supports later translational or clinical research without crossing into clinical trial territory.
The program is offered as a discretionary grant under NIH and falls within funding activity areas tied to health and related social service categories. The listed CFDA numbers are 93.113, 93.121, 93.273, and 93.865, reflecting NIH program areas that can support research aligned with the scientific scope of birth defects and developmental biology. The award ceiling is listed as $75,000, signaling that budgets are expected to be modest and appropriate for early collaborative work, pilot studies, and proof-of-concept efforts. The source data also lists "ExpectedAwards:" without a number, suggesting the total number of awards may vary by year and available funds rather than being fixed in the announcement text provided.
Eligibility is intentionally broad, allowing applications from many types of organizations. 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; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and 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 calls out additional eligible applicant categories, 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, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility is meant to expand participation and encourage collaboration across different institutional settings and communities.
Administrative details in the source indicate the FOA was created on 2019-11-25 and lists an original closing date of 2023-01-07. Because many NIH FOAs can be reissued, amended, or expired, applicants typically need to confirm the current status and active due dates in the official NIH posting, but the provided record captures the key identifying information and the intent of the program: small, targeted support to kick-start basic science-clinical collaborations aimed at understanding the causes and biological mechanisms underlying structural birth defects, without conducting clinical trials.Apply for PAR 20 065
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Research Grants for Establishing Basic Science-Clinical Collaborations to Understand Structural Birth Defects (R03 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, 93.121, 93.273, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-11-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-07. (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 $75,000.00 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 NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Small Research Grants for Establishing Basic Science-Clinical Collaborations to Understand Structural Birth Defects (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-20-065.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to help researchers form new, early-stage partnerships between basic science and clinical teams focused on structural birth defects. The emphasis is on the initial work needed to build cross-disciplinary collaborations that connect lab-based discoveries with clinical observations and patient-relevant questions.
What grant mechanism does this program use?
This program uses the NIH R03 small grant mechanism, which is designed for pilot-scale efforts rather than large, long-term research programs.
What kinds of activities is the R03 intended to support under this FOA?
Based on the description provided, the FOA is geared toward early collaborative work such as generating preliminary data, establishing shared methods and datasets, developing collaborative infrastructure, harmonizing phenotyping approaches, and conducting exploratory genomic or bioinformatic analyses that help position a team for larger future studies.
What scientific focus area does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA focuses on structural birth defects and supports efforts to better understand how these conditions arise, including potential mechanisms, pathways, and genetic or environmental contributors that can be informed by both basic science and clinical insight.
Is the FOA focused on creating new collaborations or supporting existing long-term projects?
The FOA is designed to establish new, early-stage basic science-clinical collaborations and to support pilot-scale, foundational work rather than funding large, long-term research programs right away.
What types of research teams does NIH encourage for this opportunity?
The FOA specifically encourages interdisciplinary teams that bridge foundational biology with clinical expertise to align basic research questions with clinical observations and patient-relevant needs.
Which disciplines or roles are mentioned as potentially involved in an application?
The FOA highlights that applicants may include developmental biologists, cell biologists, geneticists, genomicists, physician-scientists (including individuals with DVM/VMD degrees), and clinicians. It also mentions experts who strengthen study design and data analysis, such as epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and bioinformaticists.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA.
What does "clinical trial not allowed" mean in this context?
It means proposed projects should not involve the prospective assignment of human participants to interventions to evaluate health-related outcomes.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what kinds of projects can still fit?
The FOA description indicates projects may focus on non-trial activities that advance understanding of structural birth defects, such as mechanistic studies, analyses of existing clinical data or specimens (as permitted), development of collaborative infrastructure, harmonization of phenotyping, and exploratory genomic or bioinformatic analyses, among other foundational efforts that support later translational or clinical research without becoming a clinical trial.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $75,000.
What does the $75,000 ceiling suggest about project scope?
It suggests budgets should be modest and aligned with early collaborative work, pilot studies, and proof-of-concept efforts, rather than extensive multi-year research programs.
How many awards does NIH expect to make?
The provided record shows "ExpectedAwards:" without a number, which suggests the number of awards may vary depending on the year and availability of funds rather than being fixed in the information provided.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The listed CFDA numbers are 93.113, 93.121, 93.273, and 93.865.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The information provided lists eligible applicants including state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are institutions that serve specific communities explicitly included as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, and TCCUs among eligible applicant categories.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicant categories.
Can U.S. federal agencies apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed as eligible applicant categories in the information provided.
Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligibility?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among eligible applicant categories.
Are regional organizations eligible?
Yes. Regional organizations are included in the eligible applicant categories provided.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicants.
When was this FOA created (based on the provided record)?
The source indicates the FOA was created on 2019-11-25.
What closing date is listed in the provided record?
The record lists an original closing date of 2023-01-07.
Is the FOA necessarily still open if a closing date is listed?
Not necessarily. The provided information notes that NIH FOAs can be reissued, amended, or expired, so applicants typically need to confirm current status and active due dates in the official NIH posting.
What overall outcome is this FOA trying to enable?
The FOA aims to kick-start collaborations that can connect clinical insight with basic science approaches to better understand the causes and biological mechanisms of structural birth defects, while generating the groundwork (data, methods, shared approaches) needed to pursue larger future studies.
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