Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 325
The Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomics Research Project Grant Program (R01) (Funding Opportunity Number PA-17-325) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity that supports full-scale research projects examining the real-world ethical, legal, and social questions raised by human genomics and human genome research. The core purpose is to fund studies that do more than describe concerns in the abstract; applicants are encouraged to investigate how genomics affects people, communities, institutions, and policies, and to generate evidence and analysis that can guide responsible research practices, clinical translation, and governance. Because it uses the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism, the program is geared toward substantial, hypothesis-driven or clearly articulated research aims with a well-developed plan, appropriate expertise, and a feasible timeline and budget.
The FOA is methodologically broad and explicitly welcomes both single-method and mixed-method studies. In practice, that means an application can be built around empirical data collection, conceptual scholarship, or a combination of the two, as long as the approach is rigorous and appropriate for the ELSI question being asked. The announcement lists a wide range of acceptable approaches, including qualitative and quantitative data-generating research (for example, interviews, focus groups, surveys, observational studies, or experiments), as well as legal analysis, economic analysis, and normative or philosophical work that clarifies values, obligations, rights, and ethical tradeoffs. It also highlights analytical and conceptual methodologies that involve direct engagement with stakeholders, which can include patients, research participants, clinicians, laboratory and data scientists, institutional review boards, community leaders, tribal representatives, policymakers, industry partners, or others affected by genomics. The overall signal is that NIH is open to interdisciplinary work and expects proposals to select methods that match the question rather than forcing ELSI into a single disciplinary mold.
The topical scope is broadly framed around the implications of human genome research, which commonly includes issues such as privacy and confidentiality in genetic and genomic data sharing, informed consent models (including broad consent and dynamic consent), return of individual research results and incidental or secondary findings, equity and access in genomic medicine, risks of discrimination and stigma, community and group harms, governance of biobanks and large-scale datasets, intellectual property and commercialization questions, regulatory and legal compliance challenges, and public trust and communication around genomics. While the FOA text provided does not enumerate specific topic areas, the program’s framing makes clear that projects can address both current and emerging challenges as genomics technologies, data infrastructures, and clinical uses evolve.
Eligibility is expansive and includes a wide spectrum of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Standard eligible applicants listed in the source data include state, county, city or 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that category); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), and Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized. This breadth is meant to encourage participation from institutions and communities that are often central to ELSI work, particularly when studies involve culturally grounded governance, community engagement, and research that addresses inequities in genomics.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as a grant under NIH’s discretionary funding, with activity areas spanning education, environment, and health. The source data lists multiple CFDA numbers (93.113, 93.172, 93.173, 93.307, 93.399, 93.853, 93.866), reflecting that ELSI-relevant research can align with different NIH institutes, centers, or program areas. The original closing date shown is 2017-08-01, and the posting (creation) date is 2017-07-10, indicating this particular FOA record corresponds to a specific announcement cycle. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source fields, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA and NIH budget guidance for details on allowable costs, project period expectations, and institute-specific funding considerations.
Taken together, this FOA is essentially an invitation to bring rigorous research tools to the human side of genomics: how policies are made, how rights and responsibilities are balanced, how benefits and burdens are distributed, and how stakeholders experience and shape genomic research and its applications. Competitive applications under this program generally align a clearly defined ELSI problem with an appropriately interdisciplinary team, a strong methodological plan (empirical, conceptual, or mixed), and a realistic strategy for producing findings that are useful to researchers, clinicians, communities, and decision-makers navigating the rapidly changing landscape of human genomics.Apply for PA 17 325
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomics Research Project Grant Program (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.172, 93.173, 93.307, 93.399, 93.853, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-07-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-08-01. (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 ELSI of Genomics Research Project Grant Program (R01)?
The Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomics Research Project Grant Program (R01) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-17-325) that supports full-scale research projects focused on real-world ethical, legal, and social questions raised by human genomics and human genome research.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to fund studies that move beyond describing ELSI concerns in the abstract. Applicants are encouraged to examine how genomics affects people, communities, institutions, and policies, and to produce evidence and analysis that can inform responsible research practices, clinical translation, and governance.
What grant mechanism is used for this program?
This opportunity uses the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism, which is intended for substantial research projects with clearly articulated aims, a well-developed research plan, appropriate expertise, and a feasible timeline and budget.
What kinds of research projects does an R01 support in this program?
Based on the program description provided, the R01 is geared toward full-scale, rigorous projects that are hypothesis-driven or have clearly defined research aims, supported by a strong methodological plan and an interdisciplinary team where appropriate.
Does the program require a specific research method (qualitative vs. quantitative)?
No. The FOA is methodologically broad and welcomes single-method or mixed-method studies. The expectation is that applicants choose rigorous methods that match the ELSI question being asked.
What empirical (data-generating) methods are considered appropriate?
The announcement indicates that many types of qualitative and quantitative approaches are acceptable, including interviews, focus groups, surveys, observational studies, and experiments, as long as they are rigorous and appropriate for the project aims.
Are non-empirical approaches allowed (for example, legal or philosophical analysis)?
Yes. The FOA explicitly welcomes conceptual scholarship and analytical approaches such as legal analysis, economic analysis, and normative or philosophical work that clarifies values, obligations, rights, and ethical tradeoffs. Projects can be purely conceptual, purely empirical, or combine both.
Is stakeholder engagement encouraged or required?
The FOA highlights analytical and conceptual methodologies that directly engage stakeholders. While the provided summary does not state this is mandatory for every project, it clearly signals that NIH welcomes and values stakeholder-engaged approaches when appropriate to the research question.
Who counts as a stakeholder for ELSI genomics research?
The opportunity description lists examples of stakeholders that may be engaged, including patients, research participants, clinicians, laboratory and data scientists, institutional review boards (IRBs), community leaders, tribal representatives, policymakers, industry partners, and others affected by genomics.
What topic areas are considered within scope?
The topical scope is broadly framed around the implications of human genome research. Common ELSI issues mentioned include privacy and confidentiality in genetic/genomic data sharing; informed consent models (including broad consent and dynamic consent); return of individual research results and incidental or secondary findings; equity and access in genomic medicine; discrimination and stigma risks; community and group harms; governance of biobanks and large-scale datasets; intellectual property and commercialization; regulatory and legal compliance; and public trust and communication around genomics.
Does the FOA limit projects to current issues only?
No. The framing indicates that projects may address both current and emerging challenges as genomics technologies, data infrastructures, and clinical uses evolve.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is expansive and includes a wide spectrum of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. The provided information lists eligible applicants such as various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district), independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. The information provided explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) among eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories and possessions eligible?
Yes. The opportunity description includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicants.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The additional eligible applicants listed include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible even if they are not federally recognized?
Yes. The information provided includes Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments.
Is this opportunity a grant or a contract?
This opportunity is categorized as a grant under NIH discretionary funding.
What activity areas does this opportunity relate to?
The source information characterizes the activity areas as spanning education, environment, and health.
Are CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
Yes. The source data lists multiple CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.172, 93.173, 93.307, 93.399, 93.853, and 93.866. This reflects that ELSI-related research may align with different NIH institutes, centers, or program areas.
When was this FOA posted, and what closing date is shown?
The posting (creation) date shown is 2017-07-10, and the closing date shown is 2017-08-01. This indicates the record corresponds to a specific announcement cycle.
Does the provided information specify the award ceiling?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided source fields.
Does the provided information specify the expected number of awards?
No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source fields.
What does it mean that the award ceiling and number of awards are not specified here?
Based on the description provided, it typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA and NIH budget guidance for details such as allowable costs, project period expectations, and institute-specific funding considerations.
What kind of team does NIH appear to expect for competitive applications?
The description suggests competitive applications generally align a clearly defined ELSI problem with an appropriately interdisciplinary team, a strong methodological plan (empirical, conceptual, or mixed), and a realistic strategy for producing findings useful to researchers, clinicians, communities, and decision-makers.
How does this program define the kind of impact it wants?
The program emphasizes generating evidence and analysis that can guide responsible genomics research practices, support clinical translation, and strengthen governance approaches as genomics continues to evolve.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is PA-17-325.
What is the program fundamentally inviting researchers to do?
It is essentially an invitation to apply rigorous research tools to the human side of genomics, including how policies are made, how rights and responsibilities are balanced, how benefits and burdens are distributed, and how stakeholders experience and shape genomic research and its applications.
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