Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: February 3, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | June 2, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | October 1, 2025 | December 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $800,000 total in FY25 for 4–5 awards; no budget cap per project, max project period 2 years.
Summary: Supports rapid-response environmental health research to collect human or environmental data following unpredictable events or policy changes, with expedited review and award.
Key Information: Applications must address a time-sensitive, unforeseen event; resubmissions are not permitted; clinical trials are not allowed.
Description
This opportunity, offered by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at NIH, funds novel research in environmental health sciences where an unpredictable event (e.g., natural or human-made disaster, emerging public health threat, or policy change) creates a limited window to collect human biological samples or environmental exposure data. The program is designed for projects that require rapid review and funding—much faster than the standard NIH cycle—so that critical data can be collected and analyzed to inform public health action.
Key features:
- Focus on time-sensitive, unforeseen events or policy changes.
- Emphasis on collecting data or biospecimens during a short window of opportunity.
- Supports studies that can only be conducted if initiated with minimal delay.
- Encourages partnerships with affected communities and leveraging of existing cohorts.
- Not intended for expansion of existing studies, animal-only studies, or projects not directly related to human health.
Due Dates
- Letter of Intent: 30 days before each application due date (optional but encouraged).
- Application Deadlines:
- February 3, 2025
- April 1, 2025
- June 2, 2025
- August 1, 2025
- October 1, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Funding Amount
- Total Program Funding: $800,000 in FY25 (anticipated 4–5 awards).
- Award Size: No specific budget cap; budgets must reflect actual project needs.
- Project Period: Up to 2 years.
- Mechanism: R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant (no clinical trials).
- Indirect Costs: Foreign organizations may request up to 8% indirect costs (see NIH policy).
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments and organizations (federally recognized and other)
- Faith-based and community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories and possessions
- Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign components
Individuals: Any qualified individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources to carry out the proposed research may apply.
Notes:
- Multiple applications from the same organization are allowed if scientifically distinct.
- Resubmissions are not permitted for this NOFO.
- Clinical trials are not allowed.
Application Process
- Application Guide: Follow the NIH How to Apply – Application Guide and the specific instructions in the NOFO.
- Submission Systems: Applications must be submitted electronically via ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution.
- Required Registrations: SAM, Grants.gov, eRA Commons (for both organization and PD/PI).
- Letter of Intent: Email to the scientific contact (see below) 30 days before the chosen due date.
- Application Forms: Use the SF424 (R&R) package for R21 grants.
- Page Limits: Follow the NIH Table of Page Limits.
- Data Management and Sharing Plan: Required for all applications.
- Appendix: Only limited materials allowed (e.g., blank surveys/questionnaires).
Additional Information
- Review Timeline: Expedited review and award process; expected from submission to award in 4–6 months.
- Scope: Projects must address a time-sensitive, unforeseen event or policy change. Applications for expansion of existing studies, animal-only studies, or studies not directly related to human health are non-responsive.
- Community Engagement: Partnerships with affected communities are encouraged.
- International Projects: Permitted, but applicants must demonstrate the ability to address all regulatory and logistical requirements within the accelerated timeline.
External Links
Contact Information