Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 355
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-16-355) is a discretionary grant program designed to push forward human epigenomics research that directly examines how social experiences can shape gene function and, in turn, influence health over time. The central idea behind this FOA is that social and environmental conditions are not just "background context" for health disparities; they can become biologically embedded through epigenomic mechanisms. NIH is looking to support research that identifies and characterizes those mechanisms, especially in populations that experience minority health burdens and persistent health disparities.
A key emphasis of the FOA is the role of social experiences across the life course. That includes negative exposures such as chronic stress, discrimination, poverty, neighborhood disadvantage, trauma, or limited access to resources, as well as positive or protective experiences such as social support, community cohesion, cultural connectedness, or other resilience-related factors. The goal is to understand how these experiences at different stages of life may affect epigenomic patterns and gene regulation in ways that alter health trajectories, contribute to disease susceptibility, or modify risk and progression of illness. In practice, this points to research that connects social determinants of health to measurable epigenomic changes in humans and ties those changes to outcomes relevant to minority health and health disparities.
The funding mechanism is the NIH R01, which generally supports mature, hypothesis-driven research projects of meaningful scope. The activity areas listed for this FOA are education and health, and the associated CFDA numbers are 93.307 and 93.399. The opportunity was created on 2016-07-07, with an original closing date of 2018-11-15, indicating it was released as a time-bounded announcement (applicants should always confirm whether a reissue or active version exists if they are seeking current funding).
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories that are often central to disparity-focused research and community-engaged work, 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). It also notes that eligible agencies of the federal government, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized tribes may apply.
The FOA draws an important distinction regarding foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, described as foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain foreign collaborations or elements when they meet NIH policy definitions and requirements. This structure allows international scientific contributions while keeping the applicant organization domestically based.
Overall, this opportunity is aimed at building strong evidence for how social conditions and lived experiences can influence biology through epigenomic pathways, with a specific and explicit focus on racial/ethnic minority populations and other health disparity groups. NIH is signaling interest in research that goes beyond documenting disparities to uncovering mechanisms: how social exposures get "under the skin," how they may alter gene regulation, and how those molecular changes relate to disease risk, resilience, and health outcomes across time.Apply for PAR 16 355
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307, 93.399.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-07-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-11-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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 funding opportunity is titled "Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01)".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-16-355.
What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which generally supports mature, hypothesis-driven research projects of meaningful scope.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA is designed to advance human epigenomics research that directly tests how social experiences and environmental conditions can shape gene function and regulation over time, and how those epigenomic changes relate to minority health and health disparities.
What core scientific idea is this FOA emphasizing?
The FOA emphasizes that social and environmental conditions are not only background context for disparities; they can become biologically embedded through epigenomic mechanisms, influencing health trajectories, disease susceptibility, and illness progression.
What does "social epigenomics" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, social epigenomics refers to research that links social determinants and lived experiences (such as stress, discrimination, or supportive environments) to measurable epigenomic patterns in humans, and then connects those patterns to health outcomes, especially those relevant to minority health and health disparities.
What kinds of social experiences does NIH want applicants to study?
The FOA highlights social experiences across the life course, including negative exposures such as chronic stress, discrimination, poverty, neighborhood disadvantage, trauma, and limited access to resources, as well as positive or protective factors such as social support, community cohesion, cultural connectedness, and resilience-related experiences.
Why does the FOA emphasize a life-course perspective?
The FOA places special emphasis on how social experiences at different stages of life may shape epigenomic patterns and gene regulation in ways that influence health trajectories over time.
What kinds of outcomes is this FOA trying to connect to epigenomic changes?
The FOA points toward research that ties socially patterned epigenomic changes to outcomes relevant to minority health and health disparities, such as disease susceptibility, risk and progression of illness, and resilience or protective health trajectories.
Is this FOA focused on documenting disparities or understanding mechanisms?
The FOA explicitly signals interest in research that goes beyond describing disparities and instead uncovers mechanisms, including how social exposures get "under the skin," how they alter gene regulation, and how those molecular changes relate to health outcomes over time.
What population focus does this FOA prioritize?
This FOA prioritizes research focused on populations experiencing minority health burdens and persistent health disparities, with an explicit emphasis on racial/ethnic minority populations and other disparity groups.
What are the listed activity areas for this FOA?
The listed activity areas are education and health.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA numbers are 93.307 and 93.399.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2016-07-07.
What is the original closing date listed for this FOA?
The original closing date is 2018-11-15.
Is this FOA still open for applications?
The information provided indicates an original closing date of 2018-11-15 and describes it as a time-bounded announcement. Applicants are advised (based on the description provided) to confirm whether a reissue or other active version exists if seeking current funding.
Who can apply for this NIH grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or 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
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Are minority-serving institutions specifically highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights several categories often central to disparity-focused and community-engaged research, including 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. The FOA notes that faith-based and community-based organizations may apply (as part of the eligible applicant categories described).
Can U.S. territories or possessions apply?
Yes. The FOA notes that U.S. territories or possessions may apply.
Are federal government agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA notes that eligible agencies of the federal government may apply.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) institutions eligible to apply as the main applicant?
No. The FOA states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, described as foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it has non-domestic components?
No. The FOA specifies that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign collaborations allowed at all under this FOA?
Yes. The FOA states that foreign components (as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or elements when they meet NIH policy definitions and requirements.
What is the overall research direction NIH is encouraging?
NIH is encouraging research that builds strong evidence connecting social conditions to epigenomic pathways, and then ties those biological changes to health outcomes over time, particularly for minority health and health disparities.
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| NCI Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K23) Apply for PAR 16 399 Funding Number: PAR 16 399 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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