Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA TS 21 001
The grant opportunity titled "Identify and Evaluate Potential Risk Factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA TS 21 001) is a discretionary federal grant sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Its central purpose is to fund investigator-initiated research that improves understanding of potential factors that may contribute to ALS and, in doing so, directly supports the broader mission of the National ALS Registry.
This funding call is closely tied to the National ALS Registry's core public health objectives. Those objectives include estimating ALS occurrence in two key ways: the number of new cases each year (incidence) and the number of people living with ALS at a given time (prevalence). Beyond counting cases, the Registry aims to deepen knowledge about who develops ALS by characterizing patterns across populations and to identify contributing factors that could influence ALS risk, including environmental contributors. In practical terms, the research ATSDR is seeking should help the Registry move from measuring the burden of ALS to better explaining why ALS occurs in certain groups and under certain exposures or life experiences.
ATSDR is specifically looking for studies that identify and evaluate risk factors associated with ALS, with a stated preference for several focus areas highlighted in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. These preferred topics include factors related to military service, participation in contact sports, traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, and infectious agents. The emphasis suggests a strong interest in projects that can clarify whether and how these exposures or biological pathways might be linked to ALS development, severity, or timing, and that can add credible evidence to areas where there is ongoing scientific and public concern.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this opportunity is offered as a grant under the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.161. The posting indicates an expected five awards, with an award ceiling of $500,000 per award. The opportunity was created on January 8, 2021, and the original application closing date was March 29, 2021, with electronic submissions due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline. These details frame both the scale of support (moderate-sized research awards) and the competitive scope (a limited number of awards anticipated).
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that commonly conduct or support public health and biomedical research. Eligible applicants include 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 and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). The listing also includes an "Others" category, with the implication that additional eligibility clarifications may exist in the full announcement text. Overall, the applicant pool is designed to allow participation by universities, public health agencies, and research-capable nonprofit entities, including those serving tribal communities.
In summary, this grant opportunity is designed to generate targeted, investigator-driven research that strengthens the evidence base on ALS risk factors and feeds into the National ALS Registry's mission to track ALS and understand who is affected and why. The preferred research areas signal a particular interest in service-related and exposure-related risks (such as military service and contact sports), injury-related mechanisms (traumatic brain injury), and biological mechanisms that could plausibly connect exposures to disease (neuroinflammation and infectious agents). The anticipated outcome is not just new academic knowledge, but actionable public health insight that improves surveillance, risk characterization, and the ability to identify contributing factors to ALS.Apply for RFA TS 21 001
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Identify and Evaluate Potential Risk Factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.161.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 08, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 29, 2021 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 500 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Identify and Evaluate Potential Risk Factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)." The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA TS 21 001.
Which federal agency is sponsoring this grant?
This is a discretionary federal grant sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to fund investigator-initiated research that improves understanding of potential factors that may contribute to ALS, while directly supporting the broader mission of the National ALS Registry.
How does this grant relate to the National ALS Registry?
The research supported by this funding call is intended to advance the Registry's public health mission. It is meant to help strengthen knowledge about who develops ALS and to identify potential contributing factors (including environmental contributors), supporting the Registry's shift from measuring ALS burden to better explaining patterns of risk.
What public health objectives of the National ALS Registry are referenced in the opportunity?
The opportunity references objectives that include estimating ALS occurrence by measuring incidence (new cases each year) and prevalence (the number of people living with ALS at a given time). It also highlights objectives related to characterizing patterns across populations and identifying factors that could influence ALS risk, including environmental factors.
What types of research projects are being requested?
ATSDR is seeking studies that identify and evaluate risk factors associated with ALS, with the goal of improving the evidence base around exposures, experiences, or biological pathways that may contribute to ALS risk, severity, or timing.
Are there preferred research focus areas?
Yes. The Notice of Funding Opportunity indicates a stated preference for studies focused on factors related to military service, participation in contact sports, traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, and infectious agents.
Does the opportunity emphasize any particular kinds of risk factors?
Based on the preferred topics listed, the opportunity emphasizes service-related and exposure-related risks (such as military service and contact sports), injury-related mechanisms (traumatic brain injury), and biological mechanisms that could connect exposures to disease (neuroinflammation and infectious agents).
What is the funding mechanism and activity category?
The opportunity is offered as a grant under the health funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.161.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The posting indicates an expected five awards.
What is the maximum funding amount per award?
The award ceiling is $500,000 per award.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on January 8, 2021.
What was the application deadline and submission timing?
The original application closing date was March 29, 2021. Electronic submissions were due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline.
Who is 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 and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). The listing also includes an "Others" category, suggesting additional clarifications may appear in the full announcement.
Can universities apply for this funding?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are specifically listed as eligible applicant types.
Can government agencies apply?
Yes. State, county, and local governments are eligible, along with special district governments and independent school districts.
Can tribal governments and tribal organizations apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are explicitly listed as eligible.
Can nonprofit organizations apply?
Yes. Nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status are included as eligible applicant types, with the noted exception that institutions of higher education are excluded from those nonprofit categories.
What is the intended impact or outcome of the funded research?
The intended outcome is to generate credible evidence and actionable public health insight that improves surveillance, risk characterization, and the ability to identify contributing factors to ALS, supporting the National ALS Registry's mission.
Is the research expected to be investigator-initiated?
Yes. The opportunity is described as funding investigator-initiated research.
Does the opportunity indicate whether projects should focus on ALS incidence and prevalence?
The opportunity ties the work to the Registry's objectives, which include incidence and prevalence estimation. It also emphasizes going beyond counting cases to understanding patterns and contributing factors.
What does the opportunity suggest about the competitiveness or scale of the program?
It suggests a limited number of awards (five expected) and a moderate award size (up to $500,000 per award), indicating a competitive program supporting targeted research projects.
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