Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 23 003

Maintaining and Enriching Environmental Epidemiology Cohorts to Support Scientific and Workforce Diversity (RFA-ES-23-003) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) funding opportunity that uses the cooperative agreement mechanism (U24) and explicitly does not allow clinical trials. The program is designed to protect and extend the value of prior NIEHS investments in long-running environmental epidemiology cohorts by funding projects that keep these cohorts viable, improve their supporting infrastructure, and make their data more usable and shareable across the broader research community. In practical terms, it is aimed at sustaining existing Environmental Epidemiology Cohorts (EECs) rather than creating brand-new cohorts, while also modernizing the cohort resources so they can support more collaborative and inclusive science.

A central focus of the FOA is twofold. First, applicants are expected to propose plans that maintain and enrich the infrastructure of existing cohorts. This can include activities that keep cohort operations stable and scientifically productive, such as strengthening participant follow-up capacity, enhancing exposure and outcome data collection systems, updating biospecimen or metadata practices where relevant, and improving operational tools that help a cohort remain a dependable platform for environmental health research. Second, applicants must strengthen data management and data sharing in ways that expand access and usefulness. The intent is not just to store data, but to make it easier to find, understand, harmonize, and use responsibly, while supporting broad scientific collaborations.

Equity and inclusion are not side themes here; they are part of the main purpose. The FOA emphasizes improving data collection on under-represented populations in environmental health studies, which reflects a longstanding gap in who is represented in many epidemiologic datasets and who benefits from the insights they produce. In addition, NIEHS is explicitly trying to strengthen scientific workforce diversity by promoting collaborations that include under-resourced minority-serving institutions and under-represented minority researchers. The goal is to lower practical barriers to participation in large cohort science, such as limited access to curated datasets, harmonization tools, governance structures, analytic support, or partnership pathways that make it feasible for a wider range of investigators and institutions to contribute and lead.

Because the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, recipients should expect substantial NIH program involvement compared with a standard research grant. While the specific structure of that involvement is defined in the full FOA and award terms, the cooperative model generally means NIEHS will work closely with awardees on shared goals like data sharing practices, collaboration strategies, and cohort resource enhancements to ensure the funded activities align with the program’s overall objectives and deliverables.

Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types, reflecting the FOA’s interest in both scientific capacity and inclusive partnerships. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/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/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicants aligned with the diversity and inclusion goals, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are important limits related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the main applicant, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign elements in the project when justified and compliant with NIH policy.

Key administrative details from the source information include the funding instrument type (cooperative agreement), activity category (Environment, Health), and CFDA number 93.113. The opportunity was created on 2023-02-15, and the original application closing date listed is 2024-02-13. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided text, so applicants would need to consult the full FOA for budget limits, anticipated award counts, and any required milestones or deliverables.

Overall, this opportunity is about keeping established environmental epidemiology cohorts healthy and scientifically competitive, while upgrading the data and collaboration ecosystem around them so that the resulting science is more open, more collaborative, and more representative. It is aimed at increasing the reach and impact of cohort resources by building stronger data sharing and management practices and by intentionally bringing more under-resourced institutions and under-represented researchers into meaningful scientific collaboration and leadership.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Maintaining and Enriching Environmental Epidemiology Cohorts to Support Scientific and Workforce Diversity (U24 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 2023-02-15.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • 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.
Apply for RFA ES 23 003

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:

Browse more business programs for Environmental Groups

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institutes of Health

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment, Health

Next opportunity: Advancing Psychedelics Research for Treating Addiction (R61/R33 Basic Experimental Study with Humans Required)

Previous opportunity: F24AS00003 - NAWCA 2024-1 US Standard Grants

Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for RFA ES 23 003

 

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA ES 23 003) also looked into and applied for these:

Funding Opportunity
SBIR E-Learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 23 005

Funding Number: RFA ES 23 005
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Strategies for Responsibly Reporting Back Environmental Health and Non-Genomic Research Results (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA ES 23 006

Funding Number: RFA ES 23 006
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
CCRP Initiative: Chemical Threat Agent Exposure Resource and Coordination Core (ExRC) (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 23 009

Funding Number: RFA ES 23 009
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: $750,000
Undergraduate Research Education Program (UP) to Enhance Diversity in the Environmental Health Sciences (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 23 012

Funding Number: RFA ES 23 012
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: $125,000
Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (U45 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 24 001

Funding Number: RFA ES 24 001
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 24 003

Funding Number: RFA ES 24 003
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
HAZMAT Training at DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex (UH4 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 24 002

Funding Number: RFA ES 24 002
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
CCRP Initiative: Chemical Threat Agent-induced Pulmonary and Ocular Pathophysiological Mechanisms (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 24 005

Funding Number: RFA ES 24 005
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental Health Research (RIVER) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA ES 24 004

Funding Number: RFA ES 24 004
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Epitranscriptomics Crosstalks and Toxicants (EPCOT) (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 25 001

Funding Number: RFA ES 25 001
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: $500,000
Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers Program (P30 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA ES 25 002

Funding Number: RFA ES 25 002
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience: Coordination Center for Interoception Research (BPCCIR) (U24, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AT 25 004

Funding Number: RFA AT 25 004
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Environment, Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

Inside Our Applicants Portal

  • Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
  • Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
  • Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Access Applicants Portal

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Learn More

 

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA ES 23 003", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.

 

Ask a Question: