Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00077
This grant opportunity, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00077), was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. It is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the work would be carried out collaboratively with substantial involvement from the federal partner rather than as a simple pass-through award. The program sits in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category (CFDA 15.808) and is specifically limited to eligible partners within the relevant Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, with eligibility clarified in the full announcement under the additional eligibility information.
The purpose of the award is to support the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in developing and optimizing Real-time Quaking Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) assay procedures for detecting Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) prions in fecal and environmental samples. RT-QuIC is a laboratory technique designed to amplify and detect very small amounts of misfolded prion proteins by leveraging their ability to seed the conversion of normal prion protein into an abnormal form, allowing sensitive, real-time detection. The focus here is not simply running existing tests, but refining and standardizing procedures so that detection from challenging sample types like feces and environmental matrices (for example, contaminated soil, surfaces, or other materials exposed to infected animals) becomes more reliable and practical.
The disease target, Chronic Wasting Disease, is emphasized as an invariably fatal neurodegenerative prion disease affecting cervids such as elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and moose. The opportunity highlights why improved detection matters: research has shown CWD can meaningfully affect free-ranging wildlife populations, and the disease continues to expand geographically across North America. It is also being identified in new contexts and species, with the announcement pointing to detection in reindeer in Norway as a notable example. That broader spread raises concerns for wildlife management, surveillance programs, and ecological impacts, increasing the value of diagnostic tools that can identify prions outside of traditional tissue-based sampling.
In practical terms, the funded partner would be assisting USGS NWHC with method development work to make RT-QuIC better suited for non-invasive and environmental surveillance. Detecting prions from fecal samples could support approaches that avoid lethal sampling and can be applied to live-animal monitoring or population-level surveillance. Environmental detection would help assess contamination and persistence of prions in habitats, which is important because prions can remain infectious in the environment and contribute to ongoing transmission risk. The announcement frames this as part of an assigned tasking for USGS NWHC to explore RT-QuIC for these sample types, indicating the work is intended to advance agency capacity and improve tools available for CWD monitoring and response.
The funding parameters are modest and targeted: the award ceiling is $49,670, with an expectation of a single award. The opportunity was created on July 8, 2019, with an original closing date of July 22, 2019, reflecting a short application window typical of some CESU partner competitions. Overall, the grant is best understood as a small, focused research-and-methods development collaboration intended to improve sensitive laboratory detection of CWD prions from fecal and environmental sources using optimized RT-QuIC procedures, thereby strengthening surveillance capabilities as CWD continues to expand in range and host species.Apply for G19AS00077
- The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 08, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 22, 2019. (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 $49,670.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G19AS00077.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior.
What type of award is this?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement. That means the project is expected to be carried out collaboratively with substantial involvement from the federal partner (USGS), rather than being a simple pass-through award.
What program category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is in the Science and Technology / Research and Development category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.808.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to eligible partners within the relevant Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. The announcement notes that eligibility details are clarified in the full announcement under the additional eligibility information.
Which CESU is referenced in this opportunity?
The opportunity references the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU.
What is the main purpose of the award?
The purpose is to support the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in developing and optimizing Real-time Quaking Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) assay procedures for detecting Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) prions in fecal and environmental samples.
Which USGS center is the project supporting?
The project is intended to support the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC).
What is RT-QuIC?
RT-QuIC (Real-time Quaking Induced Conversion) is a laboratory technique designed to amplify and detect very small amounts of misfolded prion proteins. It uses the ability of misfolded prions to seed the conversion of normal prion protein into an abnormal form, enabling sensitive, real-time detection.
What disease is the focus of the work?
The work focuses on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a prion disease.
Which animals are associated with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in this announcement?
The announcement describes CWD as affecting cervids such as elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and moose.
Why is improved CWD detection emphasized?
The opportunity notes that CWD can meaningfully affect free-ranging wildlife populations and that it continues to expand geographically across North America. It also highlights detection in new contexts and species, including reindeer in Norway, which increases the need for better diagnostic tools.
What sample types are specifically targeted for RT-QuIC optimization?
The funded work focuses on improving detection from fecal samples and environmental samples (environmental matrices), such as contaminated soil, surfaces, or other materials exposed to infected animals.
Is the project about running existing tests or improving methods?
The focus is on refining, optimizing, and standardizing RT-QuIC procedures so detection from challenging sample types like feces and environmental matrices becomes more reliable and practical, rather than simply running existing tests.
Why are fecal samples an important target for method development?
Detecting prions from fecal samples could support non-invasive surveillance approaches that avoid lethal sampling and may be applied to live-animal monitoring or population-level surveillance.
Why are environmental samples an important target for method development?
Environmental detection can help assess contamination and persistence of prions in habitats. The announcement notes that prions can remain infectious in the environment and contribute to ongoing transmission risk, so environmental testing can support surveillance and response efforts.
How does the announcement frame the need for this work within USGS?
The announcement describes the work as part of an assigned tasking for USGS NWHC to explore RT-QuIC for fecal and environmental sample types, indicating the effort is intended to advance agency capacity and improve tools available for CWD monitoring and response.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $49,670.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of a single award.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 8, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was July 22, 2019.
How long was the application window based on the dates provided?
Based on the creation date (July 8, 2019) and the original closing date (July 22, 2019), the application window was short and consistent with some CESU partner competitions.
What is the overall scope of the project in plain terms?
This is a small, targeted research and methods-development collaboration to improve sensitive laboratory detection of CWD prions from fecal and environmental sources by optimizing RT-QuIC procedures, with the goal of strengthening surveillance capabilities as CWD expands in range and host species.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Building Resources for the Basic Biology of Aging in Health Disparities Research (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Previous opportunity: Strengthening the Public Health System in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for G19AS00077
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (G19AS00077) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Great Rivers CESU Apply for G19AS00073 Funding Number: G19AS00073 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $120,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00089 Funding Number: G19AS00089 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $317,500 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unti, Rocky Mountian CESU Apply for G19AS00088 Funding Number: G19AS00088 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $206,350 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes - Northern Forests CESU Apply for G19AS00084 Funding Number: G19AS00084 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $45,500 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00087 Funding Number: G19AS00087 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $48,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00083 Funding Number: G19AS00083 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $27,025 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU Apply for G19AS00081 Funding Number: G19AS00081 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $106,441 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU Apply for G19AS00075 Funding Number: G19AS00075 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $17,625 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU Apply for G19AS00080 Funding Number: G19AS00080 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $78,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain Apply for G19AS00079 Funding Number: G19AS00079 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Piedmont South Atlantic Coast CESU Apply for G19AS00078 Funding Number: G19AS00078 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $70,500 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU Apply for G19AS00076 Funding Number: G19AS00076 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $48,929 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Great Lakes Northern Forests Apply for G19AS00071 Funding Number: G19AS00071 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Plains CESU Apply for G19AS00085 Funding Number: G19AS00085 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00072 Funding Number: G19AS00072 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $49,300 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unti, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00090 Funding Number: G19AS00090 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $201,200 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00091 Funding Number: G19AS00091 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $223,940 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Desert Southwest CESU Apply for G19AS00093 Funding Number: G19AS00093 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Desert Southwest CESU Apply for G19AS00095 Funding Number: G19AS00095 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00096 Funding Number: G19AS00096 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $47,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "G19AS00077", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.