Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA ES 19 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 19 001

The Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) funding opportunity (RFA-ES-19-001) is a National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) R01 grant program designed to push forward mechanistic research on how environmental exposures influence RNA chemical modifications and how those changes may contribute to disease. The scientific premise behind the opportunity is that chemical modifications to nucleic acids and proteins are central regulators of gene expression, and that RNA modifications in particular are increasingly recognized as active, functional layers of regulation rather than static decorations. This field is often described as epitranscriptomics, meaning the full set of biochemical modifications on RNA transcripts within a cell and the pathways that write, erase, and interpret those marks.

The opportunity emphasizes that a growing body of work across model systems (including yeast, Drosophila, rodents, and humans) shows stressors can induce changes in RNA modifications, sometimes in a targeted way that reshapes regulatory RNAs and gene expression programs. NIEHS is specifically interested in connecting those observations to environmental health by supporting hypothesis-driven projects that ask how real-world environmental exposures (broadly defined) are associated with changes in functional RNA modifications, how those modifications alter cellular pathways, and how such changes may lead to adverse health outcomes. A second major emphasis is biomarker potential: applicants can propose work where RNA modification patterns, or components of RNA modification pathways, serve as measurable indicators of exposure or early indicators of exposure-related pathology.

FRAMED is geared toward innovative, mechanistic studies rather than descriptive surveys. Competitive projects are expected to link exposure to a specific RNA modification or modification pathway, then demonstrate functional consequences using modern methods. The announcement explicitly signals interest in research that combines toxicology principles with strong RNA modification biology and/or chemical expertise, and that uses state-of-the-art technologies. In practice, that can include advanced mapping and quantification approaches for RNA modifications, functional perturbation of writer/eraser/reader enzymes, and integrated designs that connect molecular changes to cellular phenotypes or organism-level outcomes relevant to environmental disease. The goal is to open up RNA modification biology as a relatively underexplored mechanism that could clarify how exposures translate into complex disease processes.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant funding opportunity under the NIH R01 mechanism, and it is labeled “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” meaning applicants should not propose clinical trials as defined by NIH policy. The funding activity category is Environment, Health, and the CFDA number is 93.113. The listed award ceiling is $250,000, and NIEHS anticipated making about five awards under this announcement. The original posting dates indicate it was created February 8, 2019, with an original closing date of May 16, 2019.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types: state, county, and 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 and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education where specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as described in the additional eligibility text in the full notice. Overall, FRAMED is aimed at building rigorous causal understanding of how environmental factors reshape RNA modification landscapes and how those shifts help explain, predict, or measure environmentally influenced disease.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) (R01 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 Feb 08, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2019. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA ES 19 001

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