Collaborative Research in Genomics, Epigenomics, and Bioinformatics in Gynecologic Health and Disease (R21) | RFA HD 16 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 16 004

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released this discretionary grant opportunity, RFA HD 16 004, titled "Collaborative Research in Genomics, Epigenomics, and Bioinformatics in Gynecologic Health and Disease (R21)." It is designed to stimulate short, exploratory, and potentially high-impact projects that apply established or newly emerging genomics, epigenomics, and bioinformatics approaches to gynecologic health and disease. The central aim is to generate novel biological and clinical insights into how selected gynecologic disorders develop, how they progress over time, and how they might be better prevented, diagnosed, or treated by leveraging modern genomic-scale methods and advanced computational analyses.

This FOA emphasizes the use of genomic and epigenomic technologies (for example, approaches that interrogate DNA sequence variation, gene expression programs, regulatory elements, and epigenetic marks) alongside bioinformatics methods capable of integrating and interpreting complex datasets. In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to encourage research teams to bring powerful data-driven tools to gynecologic conditions where the underlying mechanisms or clinically actionable pathways are not yet fully understood, and where new analyses could reveal targets, biomarkers, or mechanistic pathways relevant to disease trajectory and therapeutic response. The word "collaborative" in the title signals that multi-investigator or multi-disciplinary efforts are particularly relevant, especially those combining wet-lab data generation with sophisticated computational or statistical expertise.

The funding instrument is an NIH grant using the R21 activity code, which typically supports early-stage, exploratory research meant to produce proof-of-concept findings, feasibility data, or a strong rationale for subsequent, larger studies. The posted award ceiling for this opportunity is $200,000. The opportunity falls under the Health, Income Security and Social Services activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.865. The original closing date listed for applications was December 10, 2015, and the FOA record shows a creation date of September 22, 2015.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based applicant organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; and independent school districts. Academic institutions are eligible, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal entities are also included, such as federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows applications from public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Both nonprofit and for-profit organizations may apply, including nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education), as well as for-profit organizations other than small businesses and small businesses. The listing also includes a general "other" category, which NIH sometimes uses to capture additional eligible organizational types consistent with the FOA terms.

In addition, NIH explicitly highlights several categories of "other eligible applicants," reinforcing its openness to a wide range of institutions and community-rooted organizations. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal government agencies; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities. This emphasis signals an intent to broaden participation and encourage research capacity and collaborations across diverse institutional settings, including those serving historically underrepresented communities.

Foreign eligibility is restricted in a specific way. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as the main applicant organization. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain foreign activities or collaborators as part of the project when they meet NIH definitions and requirements for foreign components. This structure keeps the applicant organization U.S.-based while still allowing international collaboration or access to unique expertise, populations, or resources when justified and compliant with NIH policy.

Overall, this R21 FOA is a targeted NIH effort to accelerate innovative, collaborative research that uses genomics, epigenomics, and bioinformatics to answer unresolved questions in gynecologic health and disease, with a focus on generating new insights that can inform understanding of disease biology and support future advances in clinical care.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Research in Genomics, Epigenomics, and Bioinformatics in Gynecologic Health and Disease (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-12-10. (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 $200,000.00 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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