Comparative Genomics Research Program (R01) | PAR 17 482

Comparative Genomics Research Program (R01) (PAR-17-482) - FAQs

1) What is the Comparative Genomics Research Program (R01)?

The Comparative Genomics Research Program (R01) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). It supports research that uses comparative genomics (comparing genomes across a wide range of species) to better understand how genomes are built, how they function, and how specific genomic features connect to observable traits (phenotypes). The program also emphasizes development of analytical methods, computational tools, and community resources that strengthen the broader comparative genomics field.

2) Which NIH institute leads this opportunity?

This funding opportunity is led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at NIH.

3) What is the funding mechanism used for this program?

The opportunity is offered as an NIH R01 research project grant.

4) What is the core scientific idea behind comparative genomics in this program?

The central idea is that comparing genomes across many species helps researchers identify conserved and divergent genomic elements, clarify the biological roles of genes and regulatory regions, and uncover principles of genome organization. These insights can help explain mechanisms relevant to human health and disease.

5) What kinds of research topics does the program aim to support?

The program supports research that uses multiple species to illuminate basic biological processes relevant to disease and health, including work focused on interpreting functional elements in the genome, understanding genome evolution and structure, and linking genomic variation to phenotypic differences.

6) Does the program support hypothesis-driven biological studies?

Yes. In addition to tool and resource development, the program explicitly supports hypothesis-driven biological studies that use comparative genomics to understand genome function, evolution, and phenotype connections.

7) Does the program fund tool, method, or resource development?

Yes. A clear emphasis of the program is the development of new analytical methods, computational tools, and community resources that improve how complex multi-species genomic data are analyzed and interpreted.

8) What types of tools or resources are specifically mentioned as in scope?

Examples listed in the opportunity description include novel algorithms, statistical approaches, software pipelines, databases, reference resources, and other widely useful assets for the comparative genomics community.

9) What are the two main "lanes" or scientific tracks described for this program?

The opportunity describes two main focus areas: (1) multi-species comparative studies that illuminate basic biological processes relevant to health and disease, and (2) development of tools and resources (methods, software, databases, reference resources) that broadly enable comparative genomics research.

10) How does comparative genomics help interpret functional elements in the genome?

The program description highlights approaches such as leveraging evolutionary conservation to pinpoint functional regions, using phylogenetic comparisons to infer function, and employing cross-species models to help interpret human genomic findings.

11) What is the official funding opportunity title?

The official title is "Comparative Genomics Research Program (R01)."

12) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is PAR-17-482.

13) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.172.

14) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on September 12, 2017.

15) What is the closing date listed in the provided information?

The original closing date listed in the provided source information is January 7, 2021.

16) Is the award ceiling stated in the provided information?

No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling.

17) Is the expected number of awards provided?

No. The provided source data does not specify the expected number of awards.

18) What category is this funding opportunity associated with?

Administratively, the opportunity is described as an NIH R01 research project grant under a discretionary funding category focused on health.

19) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. The provided information indicates that applicants may include various government entities, higher education institutions (public and private), tribal governments and tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized), nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other entities.

20) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations.

21) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The announcement highlights eligibility for U.S. territories or possessions.

22) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicants.

23) Are federally recognized tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.

24) Are tribal organizations or non-federally recognized tribal governments eligible?

Yes. The provided eligibility list includes Native American tribal organizations and tribal governments that are not federally recognized.

25) Are public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included in the eligible applicant types.

26) Are institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

27) Are minority-serving institutions specifically encouraged or included?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights several categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

28) Are small businesses and for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. Small businesses are listed as eligible, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are also listed as eligible.

29) Are government agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligibility includes state, county, city/township, and special district governments, and the announcement also highlights eligible federal government agencies.

30) Does the opportunity say anything about why eligibility is so broad?

The provided information indicates that the eligibility language signals NHGRI's intent to encourage participation from a diverse set of institutions and communities, including groups that may bring unique comparative species expertise, specialized data resources, or perspectives that broaden the impact of comparative genomics research.

31) Does the provided information include budget expectations or submission details?

No. The provided information notes that because an award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified, applicants would typically need to consult the full announcement or NIH guidance for budget expectations, scope alignment, and submission details.