Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 258
The NIH funding opportunity "PsychENCODE: Non-coding Functional Elements in the Human Brain and their Role in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders (Collaborative U01)" (PAR-17-258) is a discretionary, cooperative agreement (U01) designed to push forward large, team-based research that clarifies how non-coding parts of the human genome shape brain function and contribute to psychiatric illness. The central aim is to discover and characterize the full range of human-specific, non-coding functional genomic elements across different brain regions, across distinct cell types, and across key developmental windows. In practice, the program is trying to move beyond simply listing genetic risk variants and instead build a mechanistic picture of how gene regulation in the brain works in health, how it changes over development, and how those regulatory systems go off-track in mental disorders.
A major expectation of projects under this FOA is that they use unbiased, genome-wide strategies rather than focusing narrowly on a small set of candidate genes. Applicants are expected to combine computational analyses with experimental assays to identify functional genomic elements in human brain tissue, and to do so in both healthy and diseased brains when possible. The goal is to connect these functional elements and regulatory signatures to molecular pathophysiology, meaning the underlying molecular changes that can help explain symptoms, disease trajectories, and outcomes relevant to brain function and dysfunction. Because many psychiatric disorder associations from GWAS land in non-coding DNA, this opportunity is essentially about turning those statistical signals into interpretable biology by mapping what the non-coding genome is doing in real brain contexts.
The FOA emphasizes building comprehensive maps of functional elements and regulatory features. Examples explicitly called out include classic regulatory DNA elements such as enhancers, promoters, silencers, and insulators, as well as transcription factor binding sites and broader transcription binding factor activity. It also highlights multiple classes of non-coding RNAs that can regulate gene expression, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). Beyond the DNA sequence itself, the program underscores the importance of epigenetic and chromatin-level regulation and RNA biology, including DNA methylation patterns, long-range chromatin interactions that connect distal enhancers to target genes, RNA modifications, and the diversity of RNA splice isoforms (spliceoforms). Taken together, this signals that the NIH is looking for multi-layer functional genomics that can describe regulation from chromatin architecture to transcription to post-transcriptional processing.
Because this is a "Collaborative U01" run as a cooperative agreement, awardees should expect substantial NIH involvement in coordinating efforts, aligning standards, and supporting cross-project integration typical of consortium-style programs. The collaborative framing also implies that projects are expected to generate resources, reference maps, and broadly usable datasets or analytical frameworks that can be leveraged by the wider community, not just answer a single narrow biological question. The emphasis on multiple brain regions, cell types, and developmental periods further suggests an interest in atlases and integrative analyses that can distinguish what is shared versus what is specific to certain neural cell populations or developmental stages, and how those patterns intersect with psychiatric disease.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), and tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized governments). It also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, as well as an "Other" category. The announcement also explicitly notes additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth is meant to encourage participation from a wide range of research organizations and communities, including those historically underrepresented in large genomics consortia.
Key administrative details from the source information include the agency (National Institutes of Health), the CFDA number (93.242), and the original posting timeline (created April 18, 2017) with an original closing date of June 6, 2019. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a concerted effort to map and functionally interpret the non-coding regulatory genome of the human brain at high resolution, then use those maps to explain how regulatory variation and dysregulation can contribute to psychiatric disorders.Apply for PAR 17 258
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PsychENCODE: Non-coding Functional Elements in the Human Brain and their Role in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders (Collaborative U01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-04-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-06-06. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "PsychENCODE: Non-coding Functional Elements in the Human Brain and their Role in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders (Collaborative U01)" and is identified as PAR-17-258.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of award mechanism is used?
This opportunity uses a U01 cooperative agreement mechanism and is described as a discretionary, cooperative agreement designed for large, team-based research.
What does "Collaborative U01" and "cooperative agreement" imply for awardees?
Because it is a cooperative agreement with a collaborative, consortium-style structure, awardees should expect substantial NIH involvement in coordination, alignment of standards, and support for cross-project integration.
What is the overall scientific goal of this program?
The central goal is to discover and characterize the full range of human-specific, non-coding functional genomic elements in the human brain and clarify how these elements shape brain function and contribute to psychiatric illness.
What is the program trying to achieve beyond identifying genetic risk variants?
The program aims to move beyond listing genetic risk variants and instead build a mechanistic picture of how gene regulation in the brain operates in health, changes across development, and becomes dysregulated in psychiatric disorders.
What parts of the genome are the focus of this opportunity?
The focus is on non-coding portions of the human genome, particularly non-coding functional elements that regulate gene activity in the brain.
Which brain contexts are emphasized (regions, cell types, development)?
The FOA emphasizes mapping functional elements across different brain regions, across distinct cell types, and across key developmental windows.
Are applicants expected to use genome-wide approaches?
Yes. A major expectation is the use of unbiased, genome-wide strategies rather than narrow, candidate-gene approaches.
What kinds of methods are applicants expected to combine?
Applicants are expected to combine computational analyses with experimental assays to identify and characterize functional genomic elements in human brain tissue.
Does the FOA encourage work in both healthy and diseased brain tissue?
Yes. Projects are expected to map functional elements in human brain tissue, and to do so in both healthy and diseased brains when possible.
How does this opportunity relate to GWAS findings in psychiatric disorders?
Because many psychiatric disorder associations identified by GWAS fall in non-coding DNA, this program aims to translate those statistical associations into interpretable biology by mapping what the non-coding genome is doing in real brain contexts.
What types of non-coding regulatory DNA elements are explicitly mentioned?
Examples include enhancers, promoters, silencers, and insulators, as well as transcription factor binding sites and broader transcription binding factor activity.
What types of non-coding RNAs are highlighted?
The FOA highlights multiple classes of non-coding RNAs involved in regulation, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs).
What epigenetic and chromatin-level features are emphasized?
The opportunity underscores epigenetic and chromatin regulation such as DNA methylation patterns and long-range chromatin interactions that link distal enhancers to their target genes.
What RNA-level regulatory layers are mentioned besides RNA abundance?
The FOA mentions RNA modifications and the diversity of RNA splice isoforms (spliceoforms) as important regulatory layers to characterize.
What does "multi-layer functional genomics" mean in the context of this FOA?
It signals interest in integrated approaches that describe regulation across multiple layers, including chromatin architecture, transcriptional regulation, and post-transcriptional processing.
What is meant by connecting regulatory elements to "molecular pathophysiology"?
The goal is to connect functional elements and regulatory signatures to underlying molecular changes that can help explain symptoms, disease trajectories, and outcomes relevant to brain function and dysfunction.
Are projects expected to produce community resources, not just answer a narrow research question?
Yes. The collaborative framing implies projects are expected to generate resources, reference maps, and broadly usable datasets or analytical frameworks that can be leveraged by the wider community.
Why does the FOA emphasize multiple regions, cell types, and developmental periods?
This emphasis supports atlas-style efforts and integrative analyses that can distinguish shared patterns from features that are specific to particular neural cell populations or developmental stages, and relate those patterns to psychiatric disease.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. governmental entities, public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized governments), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and an "Other" category.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Does the announcement encourage participation from specific institution types?
Yes. It explicitly notes additional eligible applicants including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among eligible applicants.
Are eligible federal agencies included as applicants?
Yes. The eligibility list includes eligible federal agencies.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 93.242.
When was the opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The source information indicates it was created on April 18, 2017, with an original closing date of June 6, 2019.
Is the award ceiling specified in the provided information?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided source data.
Is the expected number of awards specified?
No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source data.
What is the simplest way to summarize what this FOA is trying to fund?
It is funding coordinated, large-scale efforts to map and functionally interpret the non-coding regulatory genome of the human brain at high resolution, and to use those maps to explain how regulatory variation and dysregulation can contribute to psychiatric disorders.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 17 258) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| PsychENCODE: Non-coding Functional Elements in the Human Brain and their Role in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders (U01) Apply for PAR 17 257 Funding Number: PAR 17 257 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Developing New Clinical Decision Support to Disseminate and Implement Evidence-Based Research Findings (R18) Apply for PA 17 261 Funding Number: PA 17 261 Agency: Agency for Health Care Research and Quality Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Director's Transformative Research Awards (R01) Apply for RFA RM 17 007 Funding Number: RFA RM 17 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Scaling Established Clinical Decision Support to Facilitate the Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence-Based Research Findings (R18) Apply for PA 17 260 Funding Number: PA 17 260 Agency: Agency for Health Care Research and Quality Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Cell Non-autonomous Mechanisms of Aging (R01) Apply for RFA AG 18 009 Funding Number: RFA AG 18 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging (K76) Apply for RFA AG 18 006 Funding Number: RFA AG 18 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Translational Outcomes Project in Neurotrauma (TOP-NT) (UG3/UH3) Apply for RFA NS 17 023 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery (R01) Apply for PAR 17 263 Funding Number: PAR 17 263 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Innovative Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R01) Apply for PAR 17 264 Funding Number: PAR 17 264 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanistic Ancillary Studies to Ongoing Interventional Clinical Trials (R21) Apply for RFA AR 18 003 Funding Number: RFA AR 18 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Mechanistic Ancillary Studies to Ongoing Interventional Clinical Trials (R01) Apply for RFA AR 18 002 Funding Number: RFA AR 18 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Initiation of a Mental Health Family Navigator Model to Promote Early Access, Engagement and Coordination of Needed Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents (R01) Apply for PAR 17 265 Funding Number: PAR 17 265 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) High Throughput Sequencing and Genotyping Resource Access (X01) Apply for PAR 17 269 Funding Number: PAR 17 269 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Planning Grants for Clinical Trials of High Relevance to the NIGMS Mission (R34) Apply for PAR 17 268 Funding Number: PAR 17 268 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Pilot Effectivness Trials for Post-Acute Interventions and Services to Optimize Longer-term Outcomes (R34) Apply for PAR 17 271 Funding Number: PAR 17 271 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Effectiveness Trials for Post-Acute Interventions and Services to Optimize Longer-term Outcomes (R01) Apply for PAR 17 272 Funding Number: PAR 17 272 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modeling of Infectious Disease Agent Study Research Projects (R01) Apply for PAR 17 267 Funding Number: PAR 17 267 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH StrokeNet Clinical Trials and Biomarker Studies for Stroke Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention (U01) Apply for PAR 17 274 Funding Number: PAR 17 274 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH StrokeNet Clinical Trials and Biomarker Studies for Stroke Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention Infrastructure Resource Access (X01) Apply for PAR 17 277 Funding Number: PAR 17 277 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH StrokeNet Small Business Innovation Clinical Trials and Biomarker Studies for Stroke Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention (U44) Apply for PAR 17 275 Funding Number: PAR 17 275 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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