Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 257
PsychENCODE: Non-coding Functional Elements in the Human Brain and their Role in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders (U01) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement funding opportunity (PAR-17-257; CFDA 93.242) focused on building a deeper, genome-wide understanding of how non-coding parts of the human genome function in the brain and how they contribute to psychiatric disorders. The central goal is to discover and characterize the full range of human-specific non-coding functional genomic elements across multiple brain regions, diverse cell types, and key developmental windows. By looking across space (regions), cellular context (cell classes and states), and time (developmental stages), the program aims to clarify how these regulatory components shape brain biology and how disruptions may lead to mental illness.
A major emphasis of the opportunity is on unbiased, genome-wide strategies rather than narrowly targeted candidate approaches. Projects are expected to combine computational methods with experimental assays to identify functional genomic elements in both healthy and diseased human brain tissues, then connect those findings to disease development and brain-relevant outcomes tied to function and dysfunction. In practice, this means generating comprehensive, high-resolution maps of regulatory and other functional elements that can explain how genetic and epigenetic variation influences gene regulation in the brain, potentially illuminating molecular mechanisms that underlie psychiatric conditions.
The FOA highlights a broad spectrum of elements and mechanisms that applicants should work toward mapping and characterizing. This includes classic regulatory DNA features such as enhancers, promoters, silencers, and insulators, as well as transcription factor binding and other protein-DNA interactions that control when and where genes are expressed. It also places strong attention on non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), recognizing that RNA-based regulation is a key layer of gene control in the brain. Beyond identifying the elements themselves, the program encourages capturing additional regulatory complexity such as RNA modifications, alternative splicing and RNA splice isoforms, long-range chromatin interactions (which link distant genomic regions in three-dimensional space), and epigenetic marks like DNA methylation. Together, these data types are intended to produce integrated functional maps that help explain how regulatory networks operate in neurodevelopment and in psychiatric disease states.
Because this is a U01 cooperative agreement, awardees should expect a more collaborative, programmatic relationship with NIH compared with standard investigator-initiated grants. Cooperative agreements typically involve substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from the funding agency, which fits the large-scale, consortium-style nature implied by PsychENCODE goals: generating shared, comprehensive reference maps and datasets that can be used broadly by the research community to study mental illness biology.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic applicants: state, county, city/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; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status) other than institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA explicitly notes additional eligible applicant categories such as 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); Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized; eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility signals an intent to encourage participation across many institutional settings, including those serving underrepresented communities and international partners where appropriate.
Key administrative details provided include the original posting timeframe (creation date April 18, 2017) and an original closing date of June 6, 2019. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing, suggesting applicants would need to consult the full FOA text or NIH notices for budget expectations, project period limits, and program-specific guidance. Overall, the opportunity is designed for research teams capable of integrating large-scale genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and chromatin architecture measurements with strong computational analysis, with the explicit aim of linking non-coding functional elements to brain development, brain circuitry-relevant biology, and the molecular pathology of psychiatric disorders.Apply for PAR 17 257
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PsychENCODE: Non-coding Functional Elements in the Human Brain and their Role in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders (U01)" 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 2017-04-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-06-06. (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 this funding opportunity?
It is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity titled PsychENCODE: Non-coding Functional Elements in the Human Brain and their Role in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders (U01). It is identified as PAR-17-257 with CFDA 93.242.
What is the main goal of the PsychENCODE U01 program described here?
The central goal is to discover and characterize the full range of human-specific non-coding functional genomic elements across multiple brain regions, diverse cell types, and key developmental windows, and to clarify how disruptions in these elements may contribute to psychiatric disorders.
What does "non-coding functional elements" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, non-coding functional elements refer to genome features outside protein-coding regions that regulate and shape gene expression and genome function in the brain. The description highlights regulatory DNA elements (such as enhancers and promoters), protein-DNA interactions (such as transcription factor binding), and multiple classes of non-coding RNAs and regulatory mechanisms.
Which dimensions of brain biology does the FOA emphasize (space, cell type, and time)?
The opportunity emphasizes studying regulation across:
- Space: multiple brain regions
- Cellular context: diverse cell types, including cell classes and states
- Time: key developmental windows (developmental stages)
Is the program focused on targeted candidate regions/genes, or genome-wide discovery?
A major emphasis is on unbiased, genome-wide strategies rather than narrowly targeted candidate approaches. Projects are expected to build comprehensive maps and analyses at genome scale.
What types of methods are projects expected to use?
Projects are expected to combine computational methods with experimental assays to identify and characterize functional genomic elements in human brain tissue and connect those findings to psychiatric disease development and brain-relevant functional outcomes.
What kinds of samples or conditions are expected to be studied?
The FOA describes identifying functional genomic elements in both healthy and diseased human brain tissues, then linking those results to psychiatric disorder development and related outcomes.
What specific regulatory DNA elements are highlighted?
The FOA highlights mapping and characterizing classic regulatory DNA features, including:
- Enhancers
- Promoters
- Silencers
- Insulators
What protein-DNA interactions are called out?
The program explicitly mentions transcription factor binding and other protein-DNA interactions that control when and where genes are expressed.
Which non-coding RNA classes are specifically mentioned?
The FOA places strong attention on non-coding RNAs, including:
- Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs)
- Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs)
Beyond identifying elements, what additional regulatory mechanisms does the FOA encourage capturing?
The description encourages capturing additional regulatory complexity such as:
- RNA modifications
- Alternative splicing and RNA splice isoforms
- Long-range chromatin interactions (3D genome links between distant regions)
- Epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation
What types of integrated outputs is the program aiming for?
The program aims to produce integrated functional maps and high-resolution, genome-wide regulatory maps that explain how genetic and epigenetic variation influences gene regulation in the brain and helps illuminate molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric conditions.
How does this opportunity connect genomics findings to psychiatric disorders?
Projects are expected to identify functional non-coding elements and then connect those elements to disease development and brain-relevant outcomes tied to function and dysfunction, helping explain how regulatory disruptions may lead to mental illness.
What does it mean that this is a U01 cooperative agreement?
A U01 is a cooperative agreement, meaning awardees should expect a more collaborative and programmatic relationship with NIH than with standard investigator-initiated grants, including substantial scientific or programmatic involvement from the funding agency.
Why does the FOA emphasize collaboration and a consortium-style approach?
The description notes that the cooperative agreement structure fits the large-scale, shared-resource nature implied by PsychENCODE goals, including generating shared, comprehensive reference maps and datasets intended to be broadly useful to the research community.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants, such as domestic government entities, higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The listing also explicitly includes a wide range of additional categories (including certain minority-serving institutions, tribal organizations, U.S. territories, eligible federal agencies, and foreign organizations).
Are state and local governments eligible?
Yes. The listing includes state, county, city/township, and special district governments as eligible applicants.
Are universities and colleges eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity includes nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status) other than institutions of higher education.
Are for-profit organizations and small businesses eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses and also includes small businesses as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal-serving institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are minority-serving institutions mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The listing explicitly notes eligibility for categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The listing explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The listing includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The listing explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicants.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The listing provides CFDA 93.242.
What are the key dates provided in the listing?
The listing notes a creation date of April 18, 2017 and an original closing date of June 6, 2019.
Does the listing provide the award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing.
Where should applicants look for budget expectations and project period limits?
Based on the listing, applicants would need to consult the full FOA text or relevant NIH notices for budget expectations, project period limits, and additional program-specific guidance.
What kind of research team is this opportunity designed for?
The listing describes an opportunity designed for teams capable of integrating large-scale genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and chromatin architecture measurements with strong computational analysis to link non-coding functional elements to brain development and psychiatric disorder biology.
What broader impact is the program aiming to achieve?
The program is aiming to generate comprehensive datasets and reference maps that can be used broadly by the research community to understand brain regulatory networks and the molecular pathology of psychiatric disorders.
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