Computational Methods for Integrating Tissue and Single Cell Genomic Data from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA MH 20 300

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 20 300

The grant opportunity titled "Computational Methods for Integrating Tissue and Single Cell Genomic Data from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-20-300) is a discretionary NIH research grant in the health area (CFDA 93.242) focused on advancing computational and statistical approaches for neuroscience and mental health research. Its central goal is to support projects that either develop new methods or apply cutting-edge existing methods to integrate two major types of genomic information from the brain: bulk or region-level tissue data and single-cell genomic data. By combining these data sources, NIH is aiming to accelerate progress in understanding how specific brain cell types contribute to mental disorders, particularly through identifying cell type-specific gene regulatory networks and the biological pathways that drive disease development (pathogenesis) and disease mechanisms (pathophysiology).

A core theme of the announcement is integration across data scales. Traditional tissue-level genomic assays can capture broad molecular signals across brain regions but often blur together the contributions of many different cell types. Single-cell genomic methods, by contrast, can separate signals by cell type or even cell state but may be limited by sampling, sparsity, batch effects, and other technical issues. This FOA targets computational solutions that can meaningfully connect these complementary perspectives, with the end result being clearer, more mechanistic models of how gene regulation operates within specific neuronal and non-neuronal populations and how those regulatory programs relate to mental illness biology. Projects responsive to the FOA would be expected to produce tools, pipelines, statistical frameworks, or integrative analyses that improve inference about cell type-specific regulation, network structure, and pathway involvement from complex brain genomic datasets.

The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, meaning the supported work should be computational, statistical, and/or based on existing or newly generated genomic data rather than interventional studies that prospectively assign human participants to interventions. The opportunity was published by the National Institutes of Health, with an original closing date of September 3, 2019, and a creation date of June 26, 2019. While the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source fields, applicants would typically shape budgets and timelines to match an R01 scope, emphasizing rigorous methodology, feasibility, and clear deliverables such as software, reproducible workflows, validated models, or high-impact integrative findings.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed 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; nonprofit organizations 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. In addition, the FOA explicitly highlights further eligible categories 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); federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations (as well as tribal governments that are not federally recognized); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects an intent to attract strong computational genomics and neuroscience expertise from diverse institutional settings, including international groups and organizations that serve historically underrepresented communities.

In practical terms, a competitive application under this FOA would be expected to clearly define the computational problem in brain genomics integration, explain why existing approaches are insufficient, and propose well-justified methods for integrating tissue-level and single-cell datasets. Strong projects would typically address common challenges in these data such as cell type deconvolution, batch correction, cross-platform harmonization, linking regulatory elements to target genes, network inference, pathway analysis, and validation strategies using independent datasets or orthogonal evidence. The broader scientific payoff NIH is seeking is a more detailed, cell-resolved understanding of molecular circuitry in the brain that can clarify how mental disorders arise and persist, and that can ultimately inform better hypotheses for future experimental work and therapeutic discovery, even though this particular funding announcement is not intended to support clinical trials.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Computational Methods for Integrating Tissue and Single Cell Genomic Data from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2019-06-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-03. (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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