Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 19 002
The Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) funding opportunity (RFA-ES-19-002) is an NIH grant solicitation from the Department of Health and Human Services focused on a fast-growing area of biology known as epitranscriptomics, meaning chemical modifications on RNA. The basic premise behind the opportunity is that chemical modifications to biomolecules (proteins, DNA, and RNA nucleosides) are not just decorative marks; they actively help control gene expression and other fundamental cellular behaviors. In particular, the FOA highlights that RNA modifications are increasingly being recognized as important regulators of normal biology, and that they may change in response to external conditions in ways that matter for health and disease.
A central scientific motivation for FRAMED is the emerging evidence, drawn from model systems such as yeast, Drosophila, and rodents, that environmental stressors can induce measurable changes in RNA modifications. The announcement emphasizes that these changes are not necessarily random; some studies suggest there can be selective "reprogramming" of the epitranscriptome, including in certain regulatory RNAs. In practical terms, this points to a potentially important mechanism by which environmental exposures (for example, toxicants, pollutants, diet-related exposures, oxidative stress, or other stress-inducing conditions) could influence cell state, gene regulation, and downstream disease processes through an RNA-based regulatory layer that sits between DNA and protein.
FRAMED is designed to support R21 projects, which are typically used by NIH to back early-stage, exploratory, and potentially transformative ideas. The FOA explicitly seeks innovative, high-risk, high-reward research rather than incremental work, with the goal of expanding understanding of how environmental exposures affect RNA modifications and the functional consequences of those changes. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation means the supported studies are not intended to test interventions in human participants as clinical trials; instead, the program is oriented toward basic, mechanistic, and experimental research that clarifies biological pathways, establishes proof of concept, develops new approaches, or generates compelling preliminary evidence for later-stage funding.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the environment and health space (CFDA 93.113). The listed award ceiling is $150,000, and the opportunity expected to make about four awards. The original closing date was May 16, 2019, with an NIH creation date of February 8, 2019, indicating it was a time-bound solicitation from that period. Even though the dates are historical, the content signals the type of science NIEHS and NIH were prioritizing: connecting environmental exposure biology with epitranscriptomic regulation.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations that commonly apply for NIH funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions under those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses, plus other entities as clarified in the full eligibility text. This breadth is consistent with NIH's intent to draw in diverse scientific teams and institutional settings capable of tackling technically demanding questions about RNA chemistry, exposure biology, and functional effects.
Overall, FRAMED can be summarized as an NIH effort to catalyze exploratory projects that link environmental exposures to changes in RNA chemical modifications and to determine how those changes alter cellular regulation in ways that could ultimately help explain disease mechanisms. The program sits at the intersection of environmental health sciences, gene regulation, and RNA biology, and it encourages applicants to pursue bold, hypothesis-generating ideas and enabling methods that could open up new directions for understanding how the environment gets "written into" biological regulation at the RNA level.Apply for RFA ES 19 002
- 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) (R21 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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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).
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FRAMED (RFA-ES-19-002) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the FRAMED funding opportunity?
FRAMED stands for Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease. It is an NIH grant solicitation (RFA-ES-19-002) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focused on research into RNA chemical modifications (epitranscriptomics) and how those modifications relate to environmental exposures, health, and disease.
Which scientific area does FRAMED focus on?
The opportunity focuses on epitranscriptomics, meaning chemical modifications on RNA. The FOA emphasizes that chemical modifications to biomolecules (including RNA nucleosides) can actively regulate gene expression and other core cellular behaviors, rather than being merely decorative marks.
Why are RNA modifications considered important in this FOA?
The FOA highlights that RNA modifications are increasingly recognized as regulators of normal biology and that these modifications may change in response to external conditions in ways that matter for health and disease.
What is the main scientific motivation behind FRAMED?
A central motivation is emerging evidence from model systems (including yeast, Drosophila, and rodents) that environmental stressors can produce measurable changes in RNA modifications. The announcement notes that such changes may not be random and that some studies suggest selective "reprogramming" of the epitranscriptome, including in certain regulatory RNAs.
What types of environmental factors are relevant to this opportunity?
The FOA is oriented around environmental exposures and stressors that could influence RNA modifications, including examples such as toxicants, pollutants, diet-related exposures, oxidative stress, and other stress-inducing conditions.
What kinds of research questions is FRAMED trying to address?
FRAMED aims to expand understanding of how environmental exposures affect RNA modifications and what the functional consequences of those changes are. In practical terms, the FOA frames RNA modification changes as a potential mechanism linking environmental exposures to cell state, gene regulation, and downstream disease processes through an RNA-based regulatory layer between DNA and protein.
What grant mechanism does FRAMED use?
FRAMED is designed to support R21 projects. R21 awards are typically used by NIH to support early-stage, exploratory, and potentially transformative ideas.
Is FRAMED intended for incremental research or more exploratory work?
The FOA explicitly seeks innovative, high-risk, high-reward research rather than incremental work. The stated goal is to catalyze exploratory projects that could open new directions in understanding exposure biology through RNA chemical modification.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the supported studies are not intended to test interventions in human participants as clinical trials. The program is oriented toward basic, mechanistic, and experimental research that clarifies pathways, establishes proof of concept, develops new approaches, or generates preliminary evidence that could support later-stage funding.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.113.
How much funding is available per award?
The listed award ceiling is $150,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The opportunity expected to make about four awards.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The NIH creation date is February 8, 2019, and the original closing date was May 16, 2019. This indicates it was a time-bound solicitation from that period.
Even though the dates are historical, what does the FOA signal about NIH priorities?
The content signals a research priority around connecting environmental exposure biology with epitranscriptomic regulation, especially understanding how the environment could influence disease mechanisms through RNA modification changes.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations commonly eligible for NIH funding. Examples listed include state, county, and city governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions under those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses, plus other entities as clarified in the full eligibility text.
Why does the FOA include such a broad eligibility list?
The breadth is consistent with NIH's intent to attract diverse scientific teams and institutional settings capable of addressing technically demanding questions about RNA chemistry, exposure biology, and functional outcomes.
What kinds of model systems are referenced in the FOA?
The FOA references evidence drawn from model systems such as yeast, Drosophila, and rodents as part of the scientific rationale for studying exposure-related changes in RNA modifications.
What is meant by "selective reprogramming" of the epitranscriptome in this context?
As described in the FOA summary, selective reprogramming refers to findings suggesting that RNA modification changes induced by environmental stressors may follow non-random patterns and may occur in ways that affect certain RNAs, including regulatory RNAs.
What is the overall goal of the FRAMED program?
Overall, FRAMED is intended to catalyze exploratory NIH-funded projects that link environmental exposures to changes in RNA chemical modifications and determine how those changes alter cellular regulation in ways that could help explain disease mechanisms.
Where does FRAMED sit scientifically (what fields does it connect)?
The program sits at the intersection of environmental health sciences, gene regulation, and RNA biology, with a specific focus on RNA chemical modifications as a mechanistic bridge between environmental exposures and biological outcomes.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA ES 19 002) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Functional RNA Modifications Environment and Disease (FRAMED) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| NIEHS Research Intensive Short Courses and Educational Opportunities (NIEHS RISE) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 20 015 Funding Number: RFA ES 20 015 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2022 Apply for PAS JOR FY22 003 Funding Number: PAS JOR FY22 003 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jordan Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| SBIR E-learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 16 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Preconception Exposure Window and Health of the Offspring (R01) Apply for RFA ES 16 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Transition Award (K01) Apply for PAR 16 360 Funding Number: PAR 16 360 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) (R35) Apply for RFA ES 16 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Environmental Health Cohorts Maintenance and Infrastructure (R24) Apply for RFA ES 16 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Novel Methods for Obtaining Molecular Information from Archived Tissue Samples (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 16 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Powering Research through Innovative Methods for mixtures in Epidemiology (PRIME) (R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| NIH Revision Awards for Creating Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER)(R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Summer Research Experiences for Students and Science Teachers (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 055 Funding Number: PA 17 055 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers for Oceans and Human Health 3: Impacts of Climate Change on Oceans and Great Lakes (COHH3) (P01) Apply for RFA ES 16 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 16 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Environmental influences on Placental Origins of Development (ePOD) (R01) Apply for RFA ES 17 005 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers (EHS CC) (P30) Apply for RFA ES 17 003 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR E-learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44) Apply for RFA ES 17 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Exposure Analysis Services for the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 17 308 Funding Number: PA 17 308 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21) Apply for PAR 17 313 Funding Number: PAR 17 313 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01) Apply for PAR 17 314 Funding Number: PAR 17 314 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Assays for Screening the Effects of Chemical Toxicants on Cell Differentiation (SBIR R44) Apply for RFA ES 17 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 17 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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