Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 18 011
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), working with other NIH Institutes and Centers, issued this funding opportunity to build out the Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource (HHEAR), which continues and expands the earlier Children s Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR). The central idea is to create a shared national infrastructure that helps NIH-funded researchers incorporate high-quality environmental exposure measurements into their human health studies. By offering standardized laboratory testing and statistical support, HHEAR is designed to lower the technical and cost barriers that often prevent studies from measuring important environmental chemicals and related exposures. A key expectation is that the resulting exposure data will be made publicly available, strengthening the evidence base on how environmental exposures affect health across the full life course, rather than in isolated age windows or single cohorts.
This particular announcement focuses on establishing Targeted Exposure Analysis Laboratories, described as Lab Hubs, that can deliver a broad and comprehensive menu of targeted analytical services. In practice, that means these hubs are meant to measure specific, known analytes (rather than untargeted discovery workflows) in biological samples coming from existing or ongoing human health studies supported through the NIH extramural community. The program is structured so that researchers who already have cohorts, biorepositories, or active studies can send specimens for specialized testing that they may not have the in-house capability to perform. The expectation is not only to run assays, but to do so with consistent methods, quality assurance practices, and a level of throughput appropriate for multi-study service work.
Each Lab Hub is expected to include two major functional components in addition to its technical laboratory capability: an administrative core and a developmental core. The administrative core is meant to handle the operational side of being a consortium resource, such as coordination, project management, communication with investigators, and oversight of workflows that support multiple external users. The developmental core is intended to push the platform forward by expanding the range of commonly measured analytes and the variety of biological matrices that can be analyzed. This emphasis signals that NIH is looking for hubs that can both provide reliable current services and continually improve the field s capacity to measure exposures in more specimen types and for more chemical classes over time.
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U2C), which typically indicates substantial NIH involvement in steering, coordinating, and overseeing the program as a shared infrastructure rather than a fully investigator-directed research project. The activity category is environment and health, and the notice explicitly states Clinical Trial Not Allowed, meaning the proposed work should not be structured as a clinical trial. Instead, the focus is on providing exposure measurement capacity and related analytic support for extant or ongoing studies, rather than testing interventions or prospectively assigning participants to conditions.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Applicants may include state, county, city or township, and 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 or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it places firm limits on foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by NIH policy are not allowed.
Key administrative details in the source listing include the NIH as the agency, the funding opportunity number RFA ES 18 011, an original closing date of 2018-10-29, and an award ceiling listed at $1,500,000. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NIH building a service-oriented laboratory network that can rapidly and consistently generate targeted exposure biomarker data for many NIH-supported studies, while also evolving the laboratory toolbox and making resulting data broadly usable by the research community.Apply for RFA ES 18 011
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource: Targeted Exposure Analysis Laboratories (U2C 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-08-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-10-29. (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 $1,500,000.00 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)
1) What is this funding opportunity trying to build?
This funding opportunity is intended to build out the Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource (HHEAR), a shared national infrastructure designed to help NIH-funded researchers add high-quality environmental exposure measurements to human health studies.
2) How is HHEAR related to CHEAR?
HHEAR continues and expands the earlier Children's Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR). The goal is to broaden exposure measurement support beyond a narrow age range or single cohort approach and strengthen evidence across the full life course.
3) What is the main purpose of creating HHEAR?
The central purpose is to reduce technical and cost barriers that often prevent human health studies from measuring environmental chemicals and related exposures, by providing standardized laboratory testing and statistical support through a shared infrastructure.
4) What does this specific announcement focus on?
This announcement focuses on establishing Targeted Exposure Analysis Laboratories, described as Lab Hubs, that provide a broad and comprehensive menu of targeted analytical services.
5) What are "Lab Hubs" in this program?
Lab Hubs are targeted exposure analysis laboratories designed to serve as consortium resources. They are expected to perform specialized exposure measurements for multiple external NIH-funded studies, using consistent methods and quality assurance practices and offering appropriate throughput for service work across many studies.
6) What kind of exposure analysis is expected: targeted or untargeted?
The program emphasizes targeted analytical services. That means measuring specific, known analytes, rather than running untargeted discovery workflows.
7) What types of samples or studies will the Lab Hubs support?
The Lab Hubs are meant to analyze biological samples originating from existing or ongoing human health studies supported through the NIH extramural community, including work associated with established cohorts and biorepositories.
8) Is the expectation only to run assays?
No. Beyond running assays, the expectation includes consistent methods, strong quality assurance practices, and a throughput level suited to serving multiple studies as a shared resource.
9) What are the required components of a Lab Hub beyond the technical laboratory capability?
Each Lab Hub is expected to include two major functional components in addition to the laboratory capability: (1) an administrative core and (2) a developmental core.
10) What is the role of the administrative core?
The administrative core is intended to manage operational and coordination activities typical of a consortium resource, such as project management, communication with investigators, coordination across users, and oversight of workflows that support multiple external users.
11) What is the role of the developmental core?
The developmental core is intended to advance and expand the platform over time by increasing the range of commonly measured analytes and expanding the variety of biological matrices that can be analyzed.
12) Why does the developmental core matter to NIH?
The emphasis on a developmental core signals that NIH is looking for hubs that can reliably deliver current targeted exposure measurement services while also continually improving the broader field's capacity to measure more chemical classes and to work across more specimen types over time.
13) What is the award mechanism for this opportunity?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U2C).
14) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (U2C)?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial NIH involvement in steering, coordinating, and overseeing the program as shared infrastructure, rather than a fully investigator-directed research project.
15) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is environment and health.
16) Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The notice explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." The work should not be structured as a clinical trial and should focus on providing exposure measurement capacity and related analytic support for extant or ongoing studies rather than testing interventions or prospectively assigning participants to conditions.
17) What is expected regarding data sharing or public availability of results?
A key expectation is that the resulting exposure data will be made publicly available, strengthening the evidence base on how environmental exposures affect health across the full life course.
18) Who is the federal agency associated with this opportunity?
The agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) working with other NIH Institutes and Centers.
19) What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The funding opportunity number listed is RFA-ES-18-011.
20) What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2018-10-29.
21) What is the award ceiling listed in the source information?
The award ceiling listed is $1,500,000.
22) What types of U.S. organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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 or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
23) Are U.S. territories and possessions eligible?
Yes. The announcement indicates that U.S. territories or possessions are included among eligible applicant types.
24) Are specific institution types called out as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
25) Are non-U.S. entities eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply.
26) Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
27) Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy?
No. The announcement indicates that foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
28) What kind of research community is HHEAR meant to support?
HHEAR is intended to support NIH-funded researchers in the NIH extramural community, particularly those who have existing cohorts, biorepositories, or ongoing human health studies and want to incorporate standardized, high-quality exposure measurements.
29) What is the overall program concept in plain terms?
The opportunity is best understood as NIH building a service-oriented laboratory network that can rapidly and consistently generate targeted exposure biomarker data for many NIH-supported studies, while also evolving the laboratory toolbox and making the resulting data broadly usable by the research community.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA ES 18 011) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource: Environmental Exposure Analysis Laboratories (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 013 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Maintain and Enrich Resource Infrastructure for Existing Environmental Epidemiology Cohorts (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA ES 18 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Enhancing Data Management and Sharing in NIEHS-Funded Research Grants (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 19 025 Funding Number: PA 19 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Early Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 19 120 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 120 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 19 014 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunotherapy Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 19 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Global Noncommunicable Diseases and Injury Across the Lifespan: Exploratory Research (R21 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 19 059 Funding Number: PAR 19 059 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Bioengineering Research Partnerships (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 156 Funding Number: PAR 19 156 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovative Approaches for Improving Environmental Health Literacy (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovative Approaches for Improving Environmental Health Literacy (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 005 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Award (K01 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PAR 19 225 Funding Number: PAR 19 225 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) (R35 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) (R35 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for RFA ES 19 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Environmental Influences on Aging: Effects of Extreme Weather and Disaster Events on Aging Processes (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 249 Funding Number: PAR 19 249 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR E-Learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Undergraduate Research Education Program (UP) to Enhance Diversity in the Environmental Health Sciences (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 010 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| HAZMAT Training at DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex (UH4 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (U45 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Pregnancy as a Vulnerable Time Period for Women's Health (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 20 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 20 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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