CCRP Initiative: Chemical Threat Agent Exposure Resource and Coordination Core (ExRC) (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA ES 23 009

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 23 009

This funding opportunity, RFA-ES-23-009, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement aimed at creating and operating a Chemical Threat Agent Exposure Resource and Coordination Core (ExRC) to support the Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP). The central goal is not to fund a single standalone research project, but to build a shared, service-oriented core that provides the infrastructure, coordination, and technical support CCRP-funded investigators need to study specific "Chemicals of Concern" (CoC). The ExRC is meant to function as an enabling hub: it helps researchers generate consistent, high-quality exposure data and carry out early-stage work that can inform the development and evaluation of potential medical countermeasures. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this U2C mechanism, reinforcing that the focus is preclinical and translational groundwork rather than human testing.

A major emphasis of the FOA is building practical exposure capabilities and standardized protocols for selected toxicants so that multiple CCRP investigators can use comparable methods and measurements. The ExRC is expected to provide access to facilities and resources that allow investigators to use diverse experimental models to characterize how chemical threat agents drive disease processes and injury mechanisms (pathophysiological mechanisms). In parallel, the core is intended to help accelerate early-stage countermeasure development by supporting studies that can screen, refine, or evaluate candidate interventions in controlled exposure settings. Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH anticipates substantial programmatic involvement, meaning the awardee will likely coordinate closely with NIH/CCRP staff and align the core's priorities, services, and workflows with CCRP program needs.

The FOA also signals that the ExRC should be established across diverse geographic regions, suggesting the program values broad accessibility and the ability to serve investigators in different locations. In practice, that typically means the core is expected to function as an organized, responsive resource that can coordinate scheduling, service requests, protocol harmonization, quality control, and potentially training or consultation so that CCRP researchers can reliably conduct exposure-related studies without each lab having to independently recreate specialized infrastructure.

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic organization types: 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 Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement highlights 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws clear limits on foreign participation: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicants, though foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement (generally meaning a domestic applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or activities if justified and permitted under NIH policy).

Key administrative details included in the source information are that this is a discretionary funding opportunity using the cooperative agreement funding instrument, categorized under environment and health activities, with CFDA numbers listed as 93.113, 93.853, 93.855, and 93.867. The opportunity was created on June 21, 2023, with an original closing date of September 28, 2023. The stated award ceiling is $750,000. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided data.

• The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CCRP Initiative: Chemical Threat Agent Exposure Resource and Coordination Core (ExRC) (U2C 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): 93.113, 93.853, 93.855, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-28. (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 $750,000.00 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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