Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 18 002
The Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development FOA (RFA-HG-18-002) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R21 funding opportunity focused on pushing nucleic acid sequencing beyond the current state of the art. Its core purpose is to support early-stage, exploratory research that can deliver a truly substantial leap in capability, specifically defined as an improvement of no less than an order of magnitude in DNA sequencing performance. In parallel, the FOA also places strong emphasis on creating practical methods for direct RNA sequencing, reflecting a major unmet need in being able to read RNA molecules directly (rather than relying on indirect approaches that convert RNA to cDNA).
The scientific scope is intentionally broad, but the bar for impact is high. Applicants can propose entirely new, end-to-end sequencing platforms, or they can focus on solving the toughest bottlenecks that prevent new systems from working (for example, a novel sensor, chemistry, nanopore, polymerase, surface, labeling strategy, sample handling method, signal processing pipeline, or other critical subsystem). The FOA also allows proposals that improve existing sequencing systems, but only if the proposed changes are expected to produce at least a tenfold gain compared to current performance. The announcement explicitly encourages applicants to explore sequencing approaches that are different from those dominating the field at the time, signaling that unconventional ideas and alternative physical or biochemical readout strategies are welcome.
This opportunity is structured as an R21, which generally aligns with high-risk, high-reward projects where strong preliminary data may be limited but the conceptual payoff could be transformative. The FOA reinforces that point by stating that high-risk/high-payoff applications are appropriate, essentially inviting proposals that might be too speculative for more conservative mechanisms. Importantly, clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, so applications should remain in the technology development and preclinical validation space rather than moving into testing interventions in human participants.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant in the health funding category, under CFDA 93.172, administered by NIH (and programmatically aligned with genomics and sequencing technology development). The listed award ceiling is $200,000, indicating a relatively modest budget consistent with the R21 mechanism and its role in seeding bold, early-stage concepts. The original closing date shown is September 10, 2020, with a creation date of April 18, 2018, which places it in a specific historical context for applicants who may be looking for related or successor announcements.
Eligibility is broad and spans a wide range of organization types. Eligible applicants include federal, state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; and Native American tribal governments and organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations). The FOA also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. It further highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs). Faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies are also included, and the FOA indicates that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions may apply, underscoring NIH interest in pulling in the best ideas regardless of geography or institutional type.
Taken together, this FOA is best understood as a targeted push to catalyze breakthrough sequencing technologies rather than incremental optimization. Competitive projects would be expected to articulate a credible path to at least a tenfold improvement in key sequencing metrics (such as accuracy, throughput, read length, cost, speed, input requirements, or other performance drivers), or to produce practical, direct RNA sequencing methods that can work reliably outside of narrowly controlled demonstrations. The announcement’s repeated emphasis on novelty, alternative approaches, and high-risk/high-payoff work makes it especially relevant for teams proposing fundamentally new measurement physics, new molecular strategies, or novel integrated systems that could reset what is considered feasible in DNA and RNA sequencing.Apply for RFA HG 18 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development (R21 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): 93.172.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-10. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- 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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FAQs: Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development (RFA-HG-18-002)
What is the Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development FOA (RFA-HG-18-002)?
RFA-HG-18-002 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) using the R21 mechanism to support early-stage, exploratory research aimed at advancing nucleic acid sequencing technology beyond the current state of the art.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to catalyze breakthrough sequencing technologies by funding projects expected to deliver a truly substantial leap in capability, defined in the FOA as an improvement of no less than an order of magnitude (at least 10x) in DNA sequencing performance. The FOA also strongly emphasizes developing practical approaches for direct RNA sequencing.
What level of improvement is required for DNA sequencing performance?
The FOA sets a high bar: proposed DNA sequencing advances are expected to achieve at least a tenfold (order-of-magnitude) improvement compared to current performance.
Does the FOA focus only on DNA sequencing, or also RNA sequencing?
It covers both. In addition to requiring at least a 10x improvement for DNA sequencing performance, the FOA places strong emphasis on creating practical methods for direct RNA sequencing, reflecting a major unmet need in reading RNA molecules directly rather than via conversion to cDNA.
What does "direct RNA sequencing" mean in the context of this FOA?
Within the information provided, direct RNA sequencing refers to reading RNA molecules directly instead of relying on indirect approaches that first convert RNA to cDNA.
What types of projects are encouraged under this FOA?
The scientific scope is intentionally broad but expects high impact. Applicants may propose entirely new end-to-end sequencing platforms or focus on solving key bottlenecks that prevent new systems from working (for example, novel sensors, chemistries, nanopores, polymerases, surfaces, labeling strategies, sample handling methods, or signal processing pipelines).
Can an applicant propose improvements to an existing sequencing system?
Yes, proposals may improve existing sequencing systems, but only if the expected improvement is at least tenfold compared to current performance.
Are unconventional or alternative sequencing approaches welcomed?
Yes. The FOA explicitly encourages approaches different from those dominating the field at the time, signaling that unconventional ideas and alternative physical or biochemical readout strategies are welcome.
Is this FOA intended for high-risk, high-reward research?
Yes. This is an R21 opportunity, which generally aligns with high-risk, high-reward projects. The FOA reinforces that high-risk/high-payoff applications are appropriate and indicates that proposals may be more speculative than what might be competitive under more conservative mechanisms.
Are clinical trials allowed under this announcement?
No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA, so applications should remain focused on technology development and preclinical validation rather than testing interventions in human participants.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The FOA uses the NIH R21 mechanism.
What is the award ceiling for this grant opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
What is the funding category and CFDA number?
It is described as a discretionary grant in the health funding category, under CFDA 93.172.
Which agency administers this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is programmatically aligned with genomics and sequencing technology development.
What kinds of technical components or subsystems might be funded?
Examples explicitly referenced include a novel sensor, chemistry, nanopore, polymerase, surface, labeling strategy, sample handling method, signal processing pipeline, or other critical subsystem that removes major bottlenecks for next-generation sequencing systems.
What performance metrics could a project improve to meet the FOA's intent?
The FOA description indicates that competitive projects would be expected to articulate a credible path to at least a tenfold improvement in key sequencing metrics such as accuracy, throughput, read length, cost, speed, input requirements, or other performance drivers.
How broad is eligibility for applicants?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry, as well as certain designated institution categories and international/non-U.S. entities as described in the FOA summary provided.
Are federal, state, or local government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federal, state, county, and local governments, as well as special district governments.
Are educational institutions eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts and public and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes Native American tribal governments (including federally recognized tribal governments) and other tribal organizations.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status are included as eligible applicants (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories, as stated in the information provided).
Are for-profit organizations eligible, and are small businesses eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are included, and small businesses are also explicitly listed as eligible applicants.
Does the FOA highlight eligibility for specific institution types like HBCUs or Hispanic-serving institutions?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicant categories including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are included among eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions may apply.
What are the key dates associated with this FOA?
The information provided lists a creation date of April 18, 2018 and an original closing date of September 10, 2020.
How should applicants think about competitiveness for this FOA?
Based on the information provided, competitive projects would be those that are clearly positioned to produce transformative (not incremental) advances, including a credible path to at least a 10x improvement in DNA sequencing performance and/or practical, reliable direct RNA sequencing methods.
Is this FOA more about incremental optimization or breakthrough technology development?
It is positioned as a targeted push to catalyze breakthrough sequencing technologies rather than incremental optimization, with repeated emphasis on novelty, alternative approaches, and high-risk/high-payoff work.
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