Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 18 004
The Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) program is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity run through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). It is designed to back outstanding investigators in the Environmental Health Sciences by supporting most of their independent research program under one long-term award. The central idea is to give investigators more intellectual and administrative freedom than they typically get with multiple separate project grants, so they can push their science in new directions, take calculated risks, and pursue emerging opportunities that could lead to bigger, longer-lasting impacts in environmental health.
This opportunity uses the R35 mechanism and is explicitly marked "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the research supported under this award cannot be structured as a clinical trial. Instead, it is meant to support an investigator-driven research program in environmental health science, consolidating existing, investigator-initiated work into a single coherent program. A key feature is flexibility: rather than being locked into narrowly defined aims across multiple grants, awardees are intended to have the room to evolve their research as new findings, technologies, or environmental health challenges arise.
The program is open to individuals "regardless of career stage," with the emphasis placed on identifying investigators who show strong potential for continued innovation and high impact. In practice, the award is meant to recognize and empower researchers with a demonstrated trajectory or clear promise of producing influential environmental health science, and then provide stable support that enables sustained productivity and creativity.
In terms of funding structure and scale, RIVER offers a project period of up to eight years, which is unusually long compared to many standard NIH awards. The direct cost level is listed at $600,000, with the notice indicating it could potentially be up to $750,000 depending on the current NIEHS funding that would be consolidated into the single award. This reflects the program goal of combining what might otherwise be spread across multiple investigator-initiated grants into one consolidated, longer-duration grant. The listed award ceiling is $600,000 in direct costs, with the higher amount described as a possibility tied to consolidation based on current NIEHS support.
The funding opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the broad activity area of environment and health, associated with CFDA number 93.113. The sponsoring agency is NIH (via NIEHS). The specific opportunity information provided includes Funding Opportunity Number RFA ES 18 004, with an original closing date of June 20, 2018, and a creation date of February 7, 2018.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicant organizations. Standard 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities. It also includes Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses, as well as an "Others" category. In addition, the opportunity explicitly highlights several other eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal government agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
Overall, RIVER is best understood as a long-horizon, investigator-centered NIEHS program intended to simplify and strengthen support for high-performing or high-potential environmental health scientists. By consolidating much of an investigator's research support into one extended award with substantial annual direct costs, it aims to reduce administrative burden, encourage ambitious and creative science, and ultimately accelerate progress on environmental factors that affect human health.Apply for RFA ES 18 004
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research (RIVER) (R35 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-06-20. (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 $600,000.00 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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RIVER (NIEHS/NIH) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the RIVER program?
RIVER stands for Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental health Research. It is an NIH funding opportunity run through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) designed to support outstanding investigators in the Environmental Health Sciences by backing most of their independent research program under a single long-term award.
Which agency runs this funding opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), administered through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
What is the main goal of RIVER?
The central goal is to provide investigators more intellectual and administrative freedom than they typically have when managing multiple separate project grants. The program is intended to help investigators push their science in new directions, take calculated risks, and pursue emerging opportunities with the potential for bigger, longer-lasting impacts in environmental health.
What grant mechanism does RIVER use?
This opportunity uses the R35 mechanism.
Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?
No. The opportunity is explicitly marked "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the research supported under this award cannot be structured as a clinical trial.
What kind of research does RIVER support?
RIVER is intended to support an investigator-driven research program in environmental health science. A key concept is consolidating existing, investigator-initiated work into a single coherent program while allowing the investigator to evolve the program as new findings, technologies, or environmental health challenges arise.
How is RIVER different from having multiple separate project grants?
RIVER is designed to reduce administrative burden by consolidating much of an investigator's research support into one extended award. It also emphasizes flexibility, so investigators are not locked into narrowly defined aims spread across multiple grants and can adapt as the science develops.
Who is eligible to apply (in general terms)?
Eligibility is broad. The opportunity includes many types of applicant organizations across government, higher education, nonprofits, and businesses, and it also includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
Is RIVER limited to a specific career stage?
No. The program is described as open to individuals "regardless of career stage," with an emphasis on identifying investigators who show strong potential for continued innovation and high impact in environmental health science.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicant organizations 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and an "Others" category.
Are minority-serving institutions and similar entities specifically included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); and additional community-based or regional entity categories.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicant categories.
Can U.S. territories or possessions apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) among eligible applicants.
What is the maximum project period?
The project period can be up to eight years, which is unusually long compared to many standard NIH awards.
How much funding is available per year (direct costs)?
The direct cost level is listed at $600,000. The notice also indicates it could potentially be up to $750,000 depending on the current NIEHS funding that would be consolidated into the single award.
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $600,000 in direct costs, with the higher amount (up to $750,000) described as a possibility tied to consolidation based on current NIEHS support.
Why does the opportunity mention consolidating current NIEHS support?
RIVER is designed to combine what might otherwise be spread across multiple investigator-initiated grants into one consolidated, longer-duration award. The potential increase above $600,000 in direct costs is described as tied to the amount of current NIEHS funding being consolidated.
What activity area and grant type is this opportunity associated with?
The funding opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the broad activity area of environment and health.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.113.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is RFA ES 18 004.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The creation date listed is February 7, 2018. The original closing date listed is June 20, 2018.
What outcomes is RIVER trying to encourage?
Based on the description provided, the program aims to encourage ambitious and creative environmental health science by providing stable, long-horizon support, reducing administrative burden, and giving investigators room to evolve their research in response to emerging opportunities and challenges that affect human health.
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| SBIR E-learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Exposure Analysis Services for the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 783 Funding Number: PA 18 783 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Approaches for Characterizing Exposure and Response to Engineered Nanomaterials (R43 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 008 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Chronic, Non-Communicable Diseases and Disorders Across the Lifespan: Fogarty International Research Training Award (NCD-LIFESPAN) (D43)(Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 901 Funding Number: PAR 18 901 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Telomeres as Sentinels of Environmental Exposures, Psychosocial Stress, and Disease Susceptibility: A Methods Comparison Study (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AG 19 023 Funding Number: RFA AG 19 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research Network on Telomeres as Sentinels of Environmental Exposures, Psychosocial Stress, and Disease Susceptibility (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AG 19 022 Funding Number: RFA AG 19 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $345,000 |
| Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource: Data Repository, Analysis and Science Center (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 014 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $1,700,000 |
| Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource: Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 010 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource: UnTargeted Exposure Analysis Laboratories (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 012 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource: Targeted Exposure Analysis Laboratories (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 011 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource: Environmental Exposure Analysis Laboratories (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 013 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Maintain and Enrich Resource Infrastructure for Existing Environmental Epidemiology Cohorts (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 18 009 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA ES 18 007 Funding Number: RFA ES 18 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Enhancing Data Management and Sharing in NIEHS-Funded Research Grants (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 19 025 Funding Number: PA 19 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Early Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 19 120 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 120 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 19 014 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunotherapy Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 19 015 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Global Noncommunicable Diseases and Injury Across the Lifespan: Exploratory Research (R21 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 19 059 Funding Number: PAR 19 059 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Bioengineering Research Partnerships (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 156 Funding Number: PAR 19 156 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovative Approaches for Improving Environmental Health Literacy (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 19 006 Funding Number: RFA ES 19 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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