Pilot Projects Investigating Understudied G Protein-Coupled Receptors, Ion Channels, and Protein Kinases (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA RM 19 011

FAQs: NIH Common Fund RFA-RM-19-011 (IDG) R03 Pilot Projects

What is this funding opportunity (RFA-RM-19-011) about?

RFA-RM-19-011 is an NIH Common Fund funding opportunity under the Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG) program. It supports small, focused pilot projects that generate new data and/or research tools for "understudied" but potentially high-impact drug targets, specifically non-olfactory G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels, and protein kinases.

What is the main goal of the program?

The goal is to accelerate early-stage biological understanding of understudied druggable proteins by connecting protein function to human disease mechanisms and by encouraging practical use, validation, and extension of IDG-generated tools, datasets, and experimental approaches.

Which types of protein targets does this FOA focus on?

The FOA targets IDG-eligible understudied proteins in three classes: non-olfactory GPCRs, ion channels, and protein kinases.

What does "understudied" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, "understudied" refers to druggable proteins that are known to exist but lack enough functional characterization and biological context to be confidently pursued as therapeutic targets. The supported work is meant to move these targets toward being "understood well enough to pursue therapeutically."

What kinds of projects is NIH trying to support?

NIH is looking for small, focused pilot projects that go beyond what the IDG Centers can do on their own and that make practical use of IDG tools, datasets, and experimental approaches, while generating incremental but useful new knowledge and/or tools for the broader community.

What types of research activities are considered responsive to the FOA?

Examples described include producing evidence of biochemical activity, mapping signaling pathways, identifying cellular phenotypes, developing or validating assays, testing perturbations in cell or animal models, and other experiments that build a clearer functional picture of an IDG-eligible understudied protein.

Is the FOA looking for new tools, new data, or both?

Both. Projects are expected to generate new, incremental data and/or research tools around one or more IDG-eligible understudied proteins, with an emphasis on producing usable, shareable knowledge for the research community.

How important is it to use IDG resources in the proposed work?

Using and validating IDG outputs is a major emphasis. Applicants are encouraged to leverage IDG reagents, data, and platforms, and then extend them with additional experiments that demonstrate their utility and create additional community-useful outputs.

What is meant by "validating and demonstrating the utility of IDG outputs"?

Within the information provided, this means designing projects that actively use IDG-generated tools, datasets, or experimental approaches, and then producing results that show these resources work as intended and are valuable for understanding understudied targets.

What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?

This FOA uses the NIH R03 mechanism, which is intended for short, limited-scope studies that can quickly establish feasibility or produce a discrete set of results that can justify larger follow-on projects.

What is the maximum award amount mentioned for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $100,000, reflecting the small pilot nature of an R03 project under this announcement.

Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

No. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so proposed work must remain non-clinical (for example, laboratory studies, computational work, or studies in model systems rather than interventional studies in humans).

What kinds of non-clinical work would fit the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" requirement?

Based on the description, appropriate work could include laboratory experiments, computational analyses, assay development/validation, pathway mapping, cellular phenotype studies, and testing perturbations in cell or animal models.

Who administers this funding opportunity?

This is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a discretionary grant opportunity in the health area.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.310.

Is this opportunity still open?

The original closing date shown is 2019-10-28, and the opportunity record was created on 2019-07-10. That indicates the information provided corresponds to a past deadline cycle rather than an open, ongoing solicitation.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based entities, such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other eligible entities.

Are small businesses eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes small businesses.

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses.

Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?

No. The eligibility description includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligibility description.

Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligible applicant categories?

Yes. The FOA highlights U.S. territories or possessions among the additional eligible applicant categories commonly emphasized by NIH.

Does the FOA highlight any specific institution types as eligible?

Yes. It highlights categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and also mentions faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Can a foreign organization apply as the applicant institution?

No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations or foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicants under the rules described.

Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply or be included as the applicant component?

No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are stated as not eligible.

Are any international elements allowed at all?

Yes, in a limited way. "Foreign components" (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may be able to include justified international elements while remaining compliant with NIH policy.

How does this FOA relate to the broader IDG mission?

The FOA aligns with IDG's mission to catalyze research in neglected areas of biology with potential to affect human health, including identifying phenotypes in biochemical, cellular, or animal contexts; enabling further investigation by supplying tools and reagents; and building and maintaining a mineable knowledge base so information is findable and reusable.

What kinds of outputs is NIH trying to encourage for the community?

The description emphasizes producing usable, shareable knowledge, including incremental data and research tools that help clarify function, link targets to disease biology, and increase the value and adoption of IDG resources across the broader research community.

Is the FOA intended to fund large, long-term projects?

No. It uses the R03 mechanism, which is intended for short, limited-scope pilot studies that generate feasibility evidence or a discrete set of results suitable for supporting future, larger follow-on work.

What is the practical "fit" test for a potential project under this FOA?

Based on the information provided, a good fit is a small pilot study focused on one or more IDG-eligible understudied targets that (1) leverages IDG tools/data/approaches, (2) produces incremental but meaningful functional insight (biochemical activity, pathways, phenotypes, assay validation, model perturbations, etc.), and (3) results in outputs that are practical and useful for others to build on.