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NIH Challenge Grants - NIEHS Areas

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research (RFA-OD-09-003)

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NIH has received new funds for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Pub. L. No. 111-5. The NIH has designated at least $200 million in FYs 2009 - 2010 for a new initiative called the NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/challenge_award/) Exit NIEHS.

This new program will support research on topic areas that address specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral research that would benefit from significant 2-year jumpstart funds.

The NIH has identified a range of Challenge Areas that focus on specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. Each NIH Institute, Center, and Office has selected specific Challenge Topics within the broad Challenge Areas related to its mission. The research in these Challenge Areas should have a high impact in biomedical or behavioral science and/or public health.

NIH anticipates funding 200 or more grants, each of up to $1 million in total costs, pending the number and quality of applications and availability of funds. Additional funds may be available to support additional grants, particularly in the Challenge Area of Comparative Effectiveness Research.

The application due date is April 27, 2009.

Broad Challenge Areas and Specific Challenge Topics

Note: Those marked with an asterisk (*) are the highest priority topics; however, applicants may apply to any of the topics.

For NIEHS, these Challenge Topics are:

(01) Behavior, Behavioral Change, and Prevention

  • 01-ES-101
    The role of environmental exposure on genotype-phenotype interaction in behavioral toxicology.
    Support research to elucidate the role of gene-environment interactions by incorporating behavior as a parameter in toxicology study in model systems such as c. elegans, drosophila, zebrafish, and rodents. These more clearly defined genetic models have considerable advantages for understanding the relationship between toxicant actions and genetics on neurobehavioral function.
    Contact: Dr. Annette Kirshner, kirshner@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-0488

  • 01-OD(OBSSR)-102*
    Methods for studying the interactions among behaviors, environments, and genetic/epigenetic processes.
    Research is needed to develop analytic methods, systems science approaches, or computational models designed to address the interactions among individual behaviors, social and physical environments and genetic/epigenetic processes during critical developmental periods and over time. This research is essential to incorporating the dynamic complexity of behavior and environments in the study of gene-environment interactions in health.
    OBSSR Contact: Kay Wanke, wankek@od.nih.gov, (301) 435-3718;
    NIEHS Contact: Dr. Kimberly McAllister, mcallis2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-4528

(02) Bioethics

  • 02-ES-101
    Responsible dissemination of research results.
    The health effects of environmental exposures are of great interest to public health officials, affected communities and to the general public, yet the quality of reporting and interpretation of research results is uneven and leads to much confusion and uncertainty. There is an urgent need to develop and evaluate methods and strategies to promote more responsible dissemination and improved understanding of scientific research results emerging from studies in environmental health sciences. Partnerships with community are essential to tackle community concerns regarding reporting results to individuals who participate in studies of exposures in their home, school and community and who provide biospecimens for studies of exposure and disease relationships.
    Contact: Mr. Liam O'Fallon, ofallon@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7733

  • 02-OD(OSP)-101*
    Unique Ethical Issues Posed by Emerging Technologies.
    Advances in biotechnology and biomedical science raise novel ethical, legal, and social issues. Research in this area is needed to understand the unique ethical concerns related to emerging technologies (e.g. biotechnology, tissue engineering, nanomedicine, and synthetic biology). These include issues such as dual use research, privacy, safety, intellectual property, commercialization and conflict of interest, among others. Research is also needed to assess how these novel issues are addressed under current oversight and regulatory structures and identify where there may be gaps and/or need for revised or new oversight approaches.
    OD(OSP) Contact: Abigail Rives, rivesa@od.nih.gov, (301) 594-1976;
    NIEHS Contact: Dr. David Balshaw, balshaw@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-2448

  • OD(OSP)-102*
    Ethical Issues in Health Disparities and Access to Participation in Research.
    Research is needed to assess the under-representation in biomedical and clinical research of U.S. minority populations, underserved populations, and populations who may be vulnerable to coercion or undue influence, to identify barriers to participation in research and to develop approaches for overcoming them. Additionally, studies are needed to assess the impact and ethical considerations of conducting biomedical and clinical research internationally in resource-limited countries.
    OD(OSP) Contact: Abigail Rives, rivesa@od.nih.gov, (301) 594-1976;
    NIEHS Contact: Mr. Liam O'Fallon, ofallon@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7733

  • OD(OSP)-104*
    Ethical Issues in the Translation of Genetic Knowledge to Clinical Practice.
    Genetics and genomics have great promise for the development of personalized medicine, yet the ethical, legal and social implications of both the research and application of genetic and genomic knowledge and technology are far reaching. Studies are needed to better understand the factors that influence the translation of genetic information to improved human health and the associated ethical issues. Examples of studies include those to address ethical issues related to broad sharing and use of new genetic information and technologies for research to improve human health, human subjects protection in genetic and genomic research, the identifiability of genetic/genomic information and how our understanding of identifiability is evolving, return of research results and incidental findings to subjects, alternative models of informed consent for broad data sharing for research, and the impact of intellectual property (IP) issues on development of new technologies.
    OD(OSP) Contact: Abigail Rives, rivesa@od.nih.gov, (301) 594-1976;
    NIEHS Contact: Dr. Kimberly McAllister, mcallis2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-4528

  • 02-OD(OSP)-105*
    Ethical Issues Raised by the Blurring between Treatment and Research.
    The distinction between clinical practice and research is growing less clear, a trend that may be more pronounced with respect to genetic information and medical records research. Studies are needed to better understand the ethical issues associated with this trend. Examples of studies include those to identify how this blurring in roles affects traditional human subjects protections, including, for example, essential practices such as informed consent, conceptions of the doctor/patient and investigator/subject relationship, and privacy protections.
    OD(OSP) Contact: Abigail Rives, rivesa@od.nih.gov, (301) 594-1976;
    NIEHS Contact: Dr. Kim Gray, gray6@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-0293

(03) Biomarker Discovery and Validation

  • 03-ES-101
    Validation of new exposure assessment methodologies.
    NIEHS supports research in the development of biosensors, biomarkers and signatures of response to environmental exposures. An important aspect of this research is the validation of biomarkers and analytical methods in on-going cohorts, studies preferably with well-characterized exposures. Support is needed for pilot studies to test biomarkers of exposure and response in archived samples from previous or ongoing population studies.
    Contact: Dr. Daniel Shaughnessy, shaughn1@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-2506

  • 03-OD(OBSSR)-101*
    Developing high-throughput biomarker assays from finger-stick dried blood spots.
    Develop, using finger-stick dried blood spots, novel high-throughput biomarker assays, to identify lipids, proteins, metabolites, and genetic information to expand the array of available biomarkers for use in large community-based biosocial surveys.
    OBSSR Contact: Kay Wanke, wankek@od.nih.gov, (301) 435-3718;
    NIEHS Contact: Dr. Daniel Shaughnessy, shaughn1@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-2506

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(04) Clinical Research

  • 04-ES-101
    Intervention strategies for environmentally-induced diseases.
    Capitalizing on the knowledge that has been gained to understand the relationship between environmental exposures and disease, studies are being sought to initiate the development of prevention/intervention strategies that can reduce the body burden of chemicals and/or reduce its adverse effects on biological systems through dietary, nutritional or other treatments. Studies that use animal models and/or build on current human studies will be considered appropriate. Prevention/intervention strategies that focus on modulating absorption, disposition, metabolism and excretion of chemicals or modify signaling and other stress induced pathways that lead to disease are examples of approaches that could be considered.
    Contact: Dr. Claudia Thompson, thomps14@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541- 4638

  • 04-ES-102
    Investigating gene x environment interaction using controlled human exposures.
    Carefully controlled exposures of human subjects to low levels of environmental toxicants, such as ambient particulate matter, ozone, or diesel exhaust, provide an opportunity to help augment animal studies and population-based studies to better understand the interaction of genetics and exposure (GxE). Valuable GxE data could be generated in two-year projects by 1) exposing previously genotyped individuals to environmental agents and measuring appropriate endpoints or 2) genotyping individuals who have been exposed to environmental agents and subsequently evaluated.
    Contact: Dr. Sri Nadadur, nadadurs@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-5327

(05) Comparative Effectiveness Research

  • For this RFA, there is no NIEHS-specific Challenge Topic in this Challenge Area.

(06) Enabling Technologies

  • 06-ES-101*
    Measuring the body burden of emerging contaminants: Biosensors and lab "on-chip" technology for measuring in vivo environmental agents.
    New advances in biosensors and lab-on-chip technology create novel ways to measure the body burden and sub-clinical health effects of emerging contaminants in the environment in large study populations. Additional research funds would support field testing of the most promising sensors and analysis techniques through collaboration with existing epidemiologic studies taking advantage of both new and banked tissue specimens.
    Contact: Dr. David Balshaw, balshaw@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-2448

  • 06-ES-102*
    3-D or virtual models to reduce use of animals in research: Creation of miniature multi-cellular organs for high throughput screening for chemical toxicity testing.
    Development of novel micro-scale systems of multiple cell types that replicate the macro-scale structure and function of major organ systems in response to environmental stressors linked with development of computational models of organ system function can accelerate testing of the multitude of chemicals in our environment for toxicity. Research which furthers the generation of 3-D biological models will provide new assays for rapid screening of toxicity in organs such as the lung and liver. Cell types, such as human stem cells, used in these systems would reduce the use of animals and improve our assessment of chemical hazards in the environment.
    Contact: Dr. David Balshaw, balshaw@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-2448

  • 06-ES-103
    Markers of DNA repair capacity and response.
    Development of enabling technologies that will facilitate and stimulate translation of basic research in DNA damage and repair to human population and clinical studies are needed to facilitate improved studies of disease. The new tools should develop practical measures of global DNA repair capacity in individuals or responses in individual DNA repair pathways that are activated following DNA damaging exposures. These assays need to be scalable for use in clinical and population studies. Validation studies would also be deemed appropriate.
    Contact: Dr. Les Reinlib, reinlib@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-4998

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(07) Enhancing Clinical Trials

  • For this RFA, there is no NIEHS-specific Challenge Topic in this Challenge Area.

(08) Genomics

  • 08-ES-101
    Replication of GWAS findings in populations with known environmental exposures.
    Conduct replication studies in populations with known levels of environmentally relevant exposures to validate GWAS studies or to discover gene x environment interactions that were not apparent from GWAS methods.
    Contact: Dr. Kimberly McAllister, mcallis2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-4528

  • 08-ES-102
    Explore the functional analysis of environmentally-responsive genes through high-throughput approaches.
    The value of the existing epidemiologic and genotyping data for investigation of gene-environment interactions will be increased substantially by understanding and characterizing functional mechanisms caused by the genetic variants that are currently being identified through GWAS studies and other gene discovery methods. The goal of this proposal would be to develop or refine high-throughput tests (e.g. yeast, C. elegans, cell culture systems, or computational approaches) to look at different aspects of variant function in environmentally-responsive genes.
    Contact: Dr. Kimberly McAllister, mcallis2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-4528

  • 08-ES-103
    Statistical tools for GxE analysis.
    Develop new statistical tools and software to design and analyze data from studies which can tease out the role of genes which are involved in garnering susceptibility to environmental agents which would not be found using traditional GWAS methods.
    Contact: Dr. Kimberly McAllister, mcallis2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-4528

  • 08-ES-104
    Identification of alterations in epigenetic marks related to environmental exposures.
    Recent data show the environmental exposures can alter epigenetic marks on chromosomes, but there is still a strong need to investigate the epigenetic status of specific genes associated with environmental exposures. The NIH Roadmap sponsors research to identify epigenome-wide changes related to diseases or exposures, but research to identify epigenetic changes in genes or chromosomal regions known or suspected to be associated with responses to environmental exposures is also needed. Proposals can address epigenetic changes over the entire lifespan of experimental animals including prenatal exposures leading to developmental changes or increased risk in adult life, as well as epigenetic changes that persist across multiple generations causing increased disease risk in subsequent generations.
    Contact: Dr. Fred Tyson, tyson2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-0176

  • 08-ES-105
    Demonstration of the functional consequences of changes in epigenetic marks resulting from environmental exposures.
    Functional consequences of environmental exposure induced alterations in epigenetic marks or profiles may include changes in transcription which can consist of unscheduled transcription, alternative transcription resulting in transcripts with varying length and function, gene silencing or elevated/repressed levels of transcription. Studies may focus on specific genes or more globally with genome wide studies and may utilize model systems, e.g., yeast, C. elegans, in vitro, in vivo or in silica models.
    Contact: Dr. Fred Tyson, tyson2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-0176

  • 08-ES-106
    The role of environmental exposure in copy number variation (CNV).
    Microscopic deletions and replications of the genome have attracted increasing attention for their potential role in many complex human diseases. Of particular interest are spontaneous CNVs, defined as those present in an affected individual, but absent in both parents. There is limited understanding of how spontaneous CNVs arise. Studies are needed that will determine whether environmental exposures can affect risk for copy number variation and other structural variations that have been implicated in complex diseases. Given the early stage of this research area, studies should focus on changes in cells exposed in vitro.
    Contact: Dr. Cindy Lawler, lawler@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 316-4671

  • 08-ES-107
    Integrated analysis of epigenetic and genetics alterations in human disease.
    Recent analysis of environmentally altered epigenetic profiles suggest that both genetic and epigenetic regulation of the genome is important for complex disease pathogenesis. The integration of genomic sequence data in cis or in trans with epigenetic marks in existing data sets or the overlaying of epigenetic data in existing human population studies with extensive whole genome analysis is necessary to understand the mechanisms of complex biological networks implicated in diseases with environmental risk factors. This computational analysis of integrating existing genetic and epigenetic datasets can be completed in two years and will be critically important to further enhance our understanding of gene-environment interactions in complex human diseases.
    Contacts: Dr. Kimberly McAllister, mcallis2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-4528 and Dr. Fred Tyson, tyson2@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-0176

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(09) Health Disparities

  • 09-ES-101*
    Building trust between researchers and communities through capacity building in Environmental Public Health.
    Building partnerships between researchers and community members is essential to conduct research which is responsive to the needs of communities for public health changes to protect human health. Two years of support will nurture newly evolving partnerships focusing on building trust and creating a common vocabulary with which to discuss community concerns arising from exposures to hazardous agents, needs to adapt to climate change, barriers to health care and services, and food insecurity. Building knowledge about health promotion behaviors will provide a new source of jobs to communities.
    Contact: Mr. Liam O'Fallon, ofallon@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7733

  • 09-ES-102
    Environmental justice and public health.
    Conduct studies to understand the environmental justice concerns of communities regarding emerging exposures such as the impact of climate change, levels of brominated flame retardants such as PBDEs and perfluorinated chemicals such as PFOAs by creating multidisciplinary teams of environmental scientists and community members.
    Contact: Dr. Caroline Dilworth, dilworthch@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7727

  • 09-ES-103
    Improving Environmental Health literacy.
    Improve health literacy by creating outreach and education materials on emerging environmental health concerns in order to raise awareness of these issues in affected communities. Partnerships involving community members are encouraged.
    Contact: Mr. Liam O'Fallon, ofallon@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7733

(10) Information Technology for Processing Health Care Data for Research

  • For this RFA, there is no NIEHS-specific Challenge Topic in this Challenge Area.

(11) Regenerative Medicine

  • For this RFA, there is no NIEHS-specific Challenge Topic in this Challenge Area.

(12) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education

  • 12-ES-101
    Material development for Environmental Health curriculum.
    Develop education curriculum materials for grades K-12 in the area of the causes of environmentally related diseases such as asthma, autism, cancer, and Parkinson's disease. Use of new technologies is encouraged - Web-based simulations, social media, computer/video games, etc. - as well as use of innovative delivery methods - (e.g., mobile labs/buses, mobile communications devices).
    Contact: Mr. Liam O'Fallon, ofallon@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7733

  • 12-ES-102
    Professional development in issues in Environmental Health.
    Establish programs to support effective STEM teaching which include in-service professional development of STEM teachers, pre-service programs for future STEM teachers, and summer research opportunities for teachers in research laboratories in order to understand contemporary and emerging issues in environmental health.
    Contact: Mr. Liam O'Fallon, ofallon@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7733

  • 12-ES-103
    Engagement of scientists in Environmental Health science education.
    Develop programs that encourage environmental health scientists to become advocates for better science education in their local communities, assist scientists in translating/communicating research to teachers and students, provide tools and resources for scientists to increase their effectiveness when they engage with school systems, and seek ways to remove barriers to participation and reward scientists for engaging in K-12 activities.
    Contact: Mr. Liam O'Fallon, ofallon@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7733

(13) Smart Biomaterials - Theranostics

  • 13-ES-101*
    Methods to evaluate the health and safety of nanomaterials.
    Evaluation of the health and safety risks of nanoscale products is critical as nanomaterials are being used in applications as diverse as medical devices, drug delivery, cosmetics, and textiles. The development of novel tools and approaches to determine the impact on biological systems and health outcomes of an array of engineered nanomaterials is necessary to protect human health. Biological, physical and chemical characterization of selected nanomaterials will be conducted to aid in setting standards for health and safety and developing computational models for the prediction of long term secondary effects.
    Contact: Dr. Sri Nadadur, nadadurs@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-5327

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(14) Stem Cells

  • 14-ES-101
    Effects of exposures to pluripotent cells growth, development and function.
    Tissues that have the potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types during maturation may be especially sensitive to the effects of environmental exposures. Support for research that determines the effects of environmentally relevant exposures on differentiation, proliferation, function and survival of multi-potent cells in targeted tissues during a range of windows of susceptibility would increase our understanding of the cellular targets for insult and how the cells respond during different life stages could provide value insight into both prevention and treatment strategies for a variety of diseases.
    Contact: Dr. Les Reinlib, reinlib@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-4998

  • 14-ES-102
    Use of stem cells for predictive toxicology.
    A recently released National Academy of Sciences committee report entitled "Toxicity Testing in the Twenty-first Century: A Vision and a Strategy" concluded that a transformative paradigm shift is needed to: (1) provide broad coverage of chemicals, chemical mixtures, outcomes, and life stages, (2) reduce the cost and time of testing, (3)use fewer animals and cause minimal suffering in the animals used, and (4) develop a more robust scientific basis for assessing health effects of environmental agents. Human stem cells or cell lines have the potential to revolutionize toxicity evaluation and risk assessment, reducing the necessity for disease development. Studies are being sought that capitalize on the unique properties of human stem cells to develop high through-put predictive toxicology screens for environmental toxicants.
    Contact: Dr. William Suk, suk@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-0797

(15) Translational Science

  • 15-ES-101*
    Effects of environmental exposures on phenotypic outcomes using non-human models.
    The complex etiology of many chronic diseases is difficult to explain. If most diseases arise from an interaction between genetic factors and environmental exposures, experiments that challenge animal models, such as rodents and alternate species, which mimic human disease phenotypes with stressors from the physical and social environment, can provide new information to help elucidate etiology. Non-human models now exist for many diseases and critical phenotypes and can be strategically exploited to understand the basic mechanisms of action in key organ systems. The results from these experiments can lead to enhanced mechanistic understanding of the underlying biology and opportunities for prevention and/or intervention.
    Contact: Dr. Cindy Lawler, lawler@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 316-4671

  • 15-ES-102
    The developmental basis of human disease.
    Developmental exposures to a variety of environmental chemicals can lead to disease later in life. There are significant data from animal models which support this paradigm developmental in various reproductive and neurodegenerative diseases. However, there is a paucity of data for obesity/metabolic syndrome, immune system disregulation (leading to increased susceptibility to infections), cardiovascular diseases and altered behavior despite efforts to stimulate these research areas. It is critical to conduct research to define the parameters (timing and dose) by which environmental chemical exposures can alter the susceptibility and incidence of these diseases.
    Contact: Dr. Jerry Heindel, heindelj@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-0781

  • 15-TW-101
    Models to predict health effects of climate change.
    Quantitative and predictive models of effects of climate change on disease burden and health outcomes are needed. Approaches may include statistical, spatial or other modeling methods to quantify the current impacts of climate on a diversity of communicable or non-communicable diseases, or project impacts of different climate and socio-economic scenarios on health. For example, new and innovative approaches to develop projections of changes in disease burden in specific regions or populations will facilitate public health planning. Existing databases on population and environmental variables, such as air quality and climatologic episodes should be used to test the utility of these models where possible.
    Contact: Dr. Joshua Rosenthal, joshua_rosenthal@nih.gov, (301) 496-1653;
    NIEHS Contact: Dr. Caroline Dilworth, dilworthch@niehs.nih.gov, (919) 541-7727

Contact

For general information on NIEHS implementation of NIH Challenge Grants, contact:

Gwen Collman, Ph.D.
Interim Director, Division of Extramural Research & Training
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institutes of Health
Tel (919) 541-4980
collman@niehs.nih.gov

For Financial or Grants Management questions, contact:

Dorothy Duke
Chief, Grants Management
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institutes of Health
Tel (919) 541-2749
duke3@niehs.nih.gov

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Last Reviewed: March 12, 2009