Discovery and Biological Signatures of Diet Derived Microbial Metabolites (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AT 18 003

FAQs: Discovery and Biological Signatures of Diet Derived Microbial Metabolites (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

What is the official title of this NIH funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Discovery and Biological Signatures of Diet Derived Microbial Metabolites (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AT-18-003.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.213.

What type of grant mechanism is being used?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research grant mechanism.

Is a clinical trial required?

No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning a clinical trial may be included if appropriate, but it is not required to be responsive.

What kind of research does this funding opportunity support?

It supports research on small, low molecular weight compounds produced when the human microbiome metabolizes dietary constituents, especially dietary phytochemicals and other natural products, and on the biological activity and measurable effects of those metabolites.

What is the core premise or rationale behind the initiative?

The initiative is based on growing evidence (noted from animal models) that microbially derived metabolites from diet can have meaningful biological activity. By identifying what these compounds are, where they come from, and how they act, the program aims to strengthen mechanistic links between diet, the microbiome, and health-related outcomes.

What are the main scientific priorities of the program?

The program emphasizes three connected priorities: (1) discovery and chemical characterization of diet-derived microbial metabolites, (2) identifying which commensal bacteria produce specific metabolites, and (3) establishing biological signatures that describe measurable host or system responses to these metabolites.

What does "discover and chemically characterize metabolites" mean in this context?

It refers to identifying and mapping the relevant low molecular weight products that result from microbial metabolism of diet-derived compounds, with an emphasis on defining the actual chemical intermediates rather than treating the microbiome as a black box.

What does the opportunity mean by focusing on "commensal" bacteria?

"Commensal" refers to normal, non-pathogenic bacteria. The opportunity encourages work that links specific metabolites to the commensal organisms responsible for producing them.

What kinds of links between microbes and metabolites are encouraged?

The opportunity encourages connecting metabolite profiles to particular microbial taxa, strains, genes, or functional pathways to determine which commensal bacteria produce which metabolites.

What are "biological signatures" in this program?

"Biological signatures" are measurable indicators that describe how the metabolites interact with a biological system. Examples given include molecular, cellular, physiological, or other system-level responses that can help define or track metabolite-host interactions.

What problem is this program trying to solve compared to basic correlation studies?

It is designed to move beyond correlations between diet and microbiome composition by pinpointing the chemical intermediates (the metabolites) and the biological readouts (signatures) that explain mechanism.

What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $250,000.

What kind of funding category is this opportunity?

It is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the standard NIH grant funding instrument.

When was the opportunity created?

The creation date listed is December 15, 2017.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date listed for the competition was March 19, 2018.

Which U.S. organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and local governments; 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 and 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 those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities categorized as "other."

Are minority-serving institutions and similar organizations included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly notes eligibility for organizations such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among eligible applicant types.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The opportunity notes that eligible federal government agencies are included among eligible applicant types.

Can a non-U.S. (foreign) institution apply as the main applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are stated as not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.

Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply as the applicant?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also stated as not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.

Are collaborations or work performed outside the U.S. allowed at all?

Yes, but only as allowable "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. A U.S. applicant organization may include certain foreign collaborations or work performed outside the U.S. when it meets NIH policy requirements and is properly justified and described in the application.

What does the opportunity ultimately aim to produce or enable?

The intended outcome is a more mechanistic, molecule-level understanding of how diet-microbiome interactions translate into biological activity by identifying specific microbial metabolites from dietary compounds, linking them to the organisms that produce them, and defining measurable biological signatures of their effects.