Identification of Reproductive-Tract Specific Proteins/Transcripts for the Development of Male and Female Non-Hormonal Contraceptives (R01) | RFA HD 18 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 18 002

This NIH grant opportunity (RFA-HD-18-002) is an R01 research funding announcement focused on early-stage discovery work that could enable the development of new, non-hormonal contraceptives for both males and females. The central goal is to identify proteins and gene transcripts that are specific to the reproductive tract, using bioinformatics approaches paired with strong analytical methods. The logic behind the program is that contraceptive targets with highly restricted expression in reproductive tissues may offer a better safety profile and fewer off-target effects than targets that are widely expressed throughout the body. By emphasizing non-steroidal and non-hormonal strategies, the FOA is aimed at expanding contraceptive options beyond traditional hormone-based methods and supporting a pipeline of novel targets that could eventually be translated into drug, biologic, or device concepts.

The work encouraged under this announcement is strongly data-driven. Applicants are expected to use computational biology, bioinformatics, and related analytics to mine and integrate large-scale datasets in order to pinpoint reproductive-tract-enriched or reproductive-tract-exclusive transcripts and proteins. In practice, that can include leveraging existing genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and single-cell datasets; comparing expression profiles across tissues; prioritizing candidates based on specificity, predicted function, cellular localization, and druggability; and applying rigorous statistical or machine learning techniques to reduce false positives. The intended output is not simply a list of genes, but a prioritized set of well-supported candidate targets that plausibly play critical roles in fertility or reproductive function and could be suitable for non-hormonal contraceptive development.

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity falls under the broad federal assistance area of Health, Income Security, and Social Services (CFDA 93.865). The funding instrument is a discretionary grant using the NIH R01 mechanism, which typically supports a defined research plan with clear aims, methods, and milestones appropriate for an established or emerging research program. The FOA listed an expected number of awards of one, suggesting a highly competitive, narrowly scoped funding action where the agency anticipated supporting a single project that best matched the scientific and programmatic priorities.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and spans many common NIH applicant types. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and a range of nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses were also listed as eligible. In addition, NIH highlighted categories of “other eligible applicants” that commonly include mission-driven and underrepresented institutional types, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) were included in the main eligibility list, and the additional categories explicitly referenced Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized as well.

At the same time, the FOA clearly restricted foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions were not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations were also not eligible. In addition, foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement were not allowed. Practically, this means the proposed project needed to be fully domestic in terms of the applicant organization and the funded project components, without supported foreign subprojects or foreign research components under NIH’s definitions.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on April 13, 2017, with an original closing date of June 30, 2017. No award ceiling amount was provided in the source summary you shared, which can happen in NIH postings where budgets are governed by mechanism norms, program expectations, and applicant-justified needs rather than a single posted cap. Overall, the announcement is best read as an NIH effort to seed a targeted, computationally anchored discovery program: using modern bioinformatics and analytics to surface high-confidence, reproductive-tract-specific molecular targets that could form the foundation for future, non-hormonal contraceptive research and development.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Identification of Reproductive-Tract Specific Proteins/Transcripts for the Development of Male and Female Non-Hormonal Contraceptives (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-04-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-06-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA HD 18 002

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