Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 16 012
The Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (R43/R44) funding opportunity (RFA-ES-16-012) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant program designed to help small businesses develop new technologies that make it easier and more reliable to extract meaningful molecular data from archived tissue specimens. The central goal is to expand what researchers can learn from tissues that have already been collected and stored, including banked frozen samples and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks. Because enormous collections of rodent and human tissues exist in research repositories and clinical archives, improvements in how these materials can be analyzed at the molecular level could unlock new scientific and public health insights without requiring new sample collection.
The FOA highlights a long-standing technical gap: traditional preservation methods are often a tradeoff between keeping tissue structure intact for histology and keeping biomolecules intact for downstream molecular assays. FFPE preservation, for example, is widely used because it preserves tissue architecture and is practical for long-term storage, but it can degrade or chemically modify DNA and RNA and can complicate protein and small-molecule measurements. Even frozen tissues can suffer from variability in collection, handling, freezing methods, storage conditions, and freeze-thaw cycles, all of which can reduce the quality of nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites. This opportunity is looking for technologies that reduce those limitations and allow higher-quality, more comprehensive molecular profiling from archived material.
Projects responsive to this program would generally focus on innovations that improve the preservation and/or recovery of DNA, RNA, proteins, and small molecules from stored tissues while maintaining the histologic features needed for pathology and tissue-based interpretation. The emphasis is not only on analyzing what is already archived, but also on developing better approaches to preserve biomolecules during the initial collection and storage of biological samples, so that future archives are more compatible with modern molecular methods. In practical terms, the program is aimed at tools, reagents, workflows, or preservation systems that increase yield, integrity, and interpretability of molecular measurements from challenging specimens.
The funding mechanism is SBIR using the R43/R44 structure, which is typically associated with a phased development path that supports early proof-of-concept work and subsequent development toward a more mature, potentially commercializable product. Eligibility is centered on small business concerns, with the FOA indicating that other eligible applicants may exist as described in the full announcement, but the primary target applicant type is small businesses. The activity category listed is Environment and Health (CFDA 93.113), reflecting the broader public health relevance of enabling better molecular analyses in studies that may include environmental exposures, toxicology, disease mechanisms, and biomarker discovery.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant with an original closing date of 2016-12-05 and a creation date of 2016-08-05. While the summary information provided does not list an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the core purpose is clear: support the development of novel, practical technologies that preserve tissue morphology while enabling high-quality molecular information retrieval from archived and banked tissue resources, including both rodent and human specimens.Apply for RFA ES 16 012
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (R43/R44)" 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 2016-08-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-12-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (R43/R44)" and is identified as RFA-ES-16-012.
Which agency is offering this grant program?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity.
What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
It uses the NIH Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) mechanism with the R43/R44 structure, which is commonly associated with a phased development path.
Who is the primary intended applicant for this FOA?
The primary intended applicants are small business concerns, consistent with the SBIR program design.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to help small businesses develop new technologies that make it easier and more reliable to extract meaningful molecular data from archived tissue specimens.
What problem or "technical gap" is the FOA trying to address?
The FOA highlights a long-standing tradeoff in tissue preservation: methods that preserve tissue structure well for histology can compromise biomolecule integrity for molecular assays, and methods that preserve biomolecules can be sensitive to collection and storage variability. The opportunity seeks technologies that reduce these limitations.
What kinds of tissue samples are in scope?
The scope includes archived and banked tissues, specifically including banked frozen samples and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks. The FOA also notes the existence of large collections of rodent and human tissues in repositories and clinical archives.
Why are FFPE samples specifically mentioned?
FFPE is widely used because it preserves tissue architecture and supports long-term storage, but it can degrade or chemically modify DNA and RNA and can complicate measurements of proteins and small molecules. The program is interested in approaches that overcome these constraints.
Are frozen tissues considered "easy" to analyze under this FOA?
Not necessarily. The FOA notes that even frozen tissues can suffer from variability in collection, handling, freezing methods, storage conditions, and freeze-thaw cycles, all of which can reduce the quality of nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites.
What types of molecular information does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes improved preservation and/or recovery of DNA, RNA, proteins, and small molecules from stored tissues.
Does the FOA care about histology and tissue morphology, or only molecular yield?
It explicitly emphasizes maintaining the histologic features needed for pathology and tissue-based interpretation while improving molecular preservation and recovery.
Is the program only about analyzing existing archived samples?
No. In addition to enabling better analysis of already archived tissues, the FOA also emphasizes developing better approaches to preserve biomolecules during initial collection and storage so that future archives are more compatible with modern molecular methods.
What kinds of solutions are considered responsive to this opportunity?
Responsive projects would generally focus on innovations such as tools, reagents, workflows, or preservation systems that increase yield, integrity, and interpretability of molecular measurements from challenging specimens while maintaining tissue morphology.
What is the broader value of improving molecular analysis of archived tissues?
The FOA points out that enormous collections of rodent and human tissues already exist. Better molecular analysis methods could unlock new scientific and public health insights without requiring new sample collection.
What scientific or public health areas could benefit from the technologies supported here?
The opportunity is positioned as broadly relevant to public health, including studies that may involve environmental exposures, toxicology, disease mechanisms, and biomarker discovery.
What is the listed activity category and CFDA number?
The activity category is Environment and Health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.113.
Is this grant categorized as discretionary or mandatory funding?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant.
What are the key dates provided for this opportunity?
The creation date is 2016-08-05, and the original closing date is 2016-12-05.
Does the provided summary include an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The summary information provided does not list an award ceiling or an expected number of awards.
What is the practical outcome this FOA is trying to achieve?
The practical aim is to support development of novel, practical technologies that preserve tissue morphology while enabling higher-quality and more comprehensive molecular information retrieval from archived and banked tissue resources.
Do projects need to involve both human and rodent samples?
The FOA mentions both rodent and human tissues as major components of existing archives, but the provided summary does not state a requirement that projects must include both.
Does this opportunity focus on a specific type of biomolecule (for example, only DNA)?
No. The FOA discusses multiple molecular targets, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and small molecules, and it highlights the importance of improving quality and interpretability across these measurements.
What does the R43/R44 structure imply about project maturity?
The summary indicates the R43/R44 structure is typically associated with a phased development path, supporting early proof-of-concept work and subsequent development toward a more mature, potentially commercializable product.
Are applicants other than small businesses allowed?
The FOA indicates that other eligible applicants may exist as described in the full announcement, but the primary target applicant type is small businesses.
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| 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 |
| Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Transition Award (K01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 18 261 Funding Number: PAR 18 261 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Transition Award (K01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 291 Funding Number: PAR 18 291 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Role of the Microbiome in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 005 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) (R35 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
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