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The Process and Reaction Engineering program supports fundamental and applied research on: Rates and mechanisms of important classes of catalyzed and uncatalyzed chemical reactions as they relate to the design, production, and application of catalysts, chemical processes, biochemical processes, and specialized materials Chemical and biochemical phenomena occurring at or near solid surfaces and interfaces Electrochemical and photochemical processes of engineering significance or with commercial potential Design and optimization of complex chemical and biochemical processes Dynamic modeling and control of process systems and individual process units Reactive processing of polymers, ceramics, and thin films Interactions between chemical reactions and transport processes in reactive systems, and the use of this information in the design of complex chemical and biochemical reactors  Recent emphasis on the development of sustainable energy technologies means that the support of projects on the processing aspects of chemical systems that further such technologies have high priority when funding decisions are made. Areas that focus on reactors of all types - fuel cells, batteries, microreactors, biochemical reactors, etc.; reactor design in general; and design and control of all systems associated with energy from renewable sources, have high priority for funding.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Agreement (U01) Research Projects for research on the identification of small molecule or biologic lead compounds that are excellent candidates for therapeutic development. The mission of the CounterACT program is to foster and support research and development of new and improved therapeutics for chemical threats. Chemical threats are toxic chemicals that could be used in a terrorist attack or accidentally released from industrial production, storage or shipping. They include traditional chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical-based agents, and pesticides. The scope of research supported by this FOA includes confirmation of molecular targets for therapeutic development, demonstration of in vitro activity of candidate therapeutics, preliminary in vivo proof-of-concept efficacy data, preliminary adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME/Tox) evaluations and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) data. These studies should result in the identification of at least one lead compound ready for optimization. Lead compounds are biologically active and synthetically feasible compounds where specificity, affinity, potency, target selectivity, efficacy, and safety have been established. Lead compounds should be ready for more advanced development under possible support from other programs such as the one described in the companion FOA "CounterACT Optimization of Therapeutic Lead Compound (U01)" (PAR-18-NNN). The scope of this FOA encompasses Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 1-3 - see TRLs. Each project must include annual milestones that create discrete go or no-go decision points in a progressive translational study plan.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages grant applications for Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Research Projects (U01s). The mission of the CounterACT U01 program is to develop new and improved therapeutics for chemical threats. Chemical threats are toxic chemicals that could be used in a terrorist attack or accidentally released from industrial production, storage or shipping. They include traditional chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and pesticides. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Officials listed in this FOA to determine if their proposed threat agent(s) or countermeasure(s) is of high program priority for one of the participating Institutes. The scope of the research to be supported includes target and candidate identification and characterization, through candidate optimization and demonstration of in vivo efficacy, through Investigational New Drug (IND) submission when appropriate. Each project must include milestones that create discrete go or no-go decision points in a progressive translational study plan.

Examples of fundamental research topics of interest in SusChEM include the replacement of rare, expensive, and/or toxic chemicals/materials with earth-abundant, inexpensive, and benign chemicals/materials; recycling of chemicals/materials that cannot be replaced; development of non-petroleum based sources of important raw materials; chemicals/materials for food and/or water sustainability; the elimination of waste products and enhancement in efficiencies of chemical reactions and processes; discovery of new separation science that will facilitate recycling and production of valuable chemicals/materials; and development and characterization of low cost, sustainable and scalable-manufactured materials with improved properties.

The Catalysis program is part of the Chemical Process Systems cluster, which also includes: 1) the Electrochemical Systems program; 2) the Interfacial Engineering program; and 3) the Process Systems, Reaction Engineering, and Molecular Thermodynamics program. The goals of the Catalysis program are to increase fundamental understanding in catalytic engineering science and to advance the development of catalytic materials and reactions that are beneficial to society. Research in this program should focus on new concepts for catalytic materials and reactions, utilizing synthetic, theoretical, and experimental approaches. Target applications include fuels, specialty and bulk chemicals, environmental catalysis, biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals, conversion of greenhouse gases, and generation of solar hydrogen, as well as efficient routes to energy utilization. Heterogeneous catalysis represents the main thrust of the program. Proposals related to both gas-solid and liquid-solid heterogeneous catalysis are welcome, as are proposals that incorporate concepts from homogeneous catalysis. Topic areas that are of particular interest include: · Renewable energy-related catalysis with applications in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and catalytic conversion of biomass-derived chemicals. Catalysis aimed at closing the carbon cycle (especially conversion of CO2, methane, and natural gas to fuels and chemical intermediates). · Catalytic alternatives to traditionally non-catalytic reaction processes, as well as new catalyst designs for established catalytic processes. · Environmental catalysis (including energy-efficient and green routes to fuels and chemicals). ·

The mission of the CounterACT U01 program is to develop new and improved therapeutics for chemical threats. Chemical threats are toxic chemicals that could be used in a terrorist attack or accidentally released from industrial production, storage or shipping. They include traditional chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and pesticides.

The New York City-based Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation is accepting nominations from academic institutions for its Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program. The annual program supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences at undergraduate institutions. Based on institutional nominations, the program provides discretionary funding to faculty at an early stage in their careers. The award is based on accomplishment in scholarly research with undergraduates, as well as a compelling commitment to teaching, and provides an unrestricted research grant of $60,000. The program is open to academic institutions in the states, districts, and territories of the United States that grant a bachelor's or master's degree in the chemical sciences, including biochemistry, materials chemistry, and chemical engineering. Nominees must hold a full-time tenure-track academic appointment; be after the fourth and not after the twelfth years of their independent academic careers; and be engaged in research and teaching primarily with undergraduates.

A primary focus of these programs is on the use of in vitro methods and assays using lower organisms to screen thousands of chemicals for toxicity in order to identify mechanisms of compound-induced biological activity, characterize toxicity pathways, facilitate cross-species extrapolation, and provide input to models for low-dose extrapolation.  Data generated by these methods will be used to prioritize compounds for more extensive toxicological evaluation and to develop predictive models for biological response in humans. Current approaches are limited in terms of incorporating genetic variability in toxicity testing and in assessing the effects of chemicals in multiple normal tissue and cell types, relying on immortalized cell lines or primary cell lines derived from tissues. Thus, there is a need for novel, medium- to high-throughput assays (at least a 96-well format) to evaluate the effects of chemical compounds on the differentiation of pluripotent or multi-potent stem cells as well as the effects of chemical exposures on differentiated cell types representative of various in vivo tissues. Approaches can include the use of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, approved human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, or ES or iPS cells derived from genetically characterized mouse strains. Assays should be able to measure the effects of toxicants on the differentiation process and/or on the differentiated cells themselves; cell types of high priority include but are not limited to cardiomyocytes, neural cells, hepatocytes, endothelial cells, lung (airway or alveolar) cells, and hormonally-responsive tissues such as reproductive tissues or breast epithelial cells.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support investigators who have interest and capability to join efforts for the discovery of in vivo chemical probes for novel brain targets. It is expected that applicants will have, in hand, the starting compounds ("validated hits") for chemical optimization and bioassays for testing new analog compounds. Through this FOA, NIH wishes to stimulate research in 1) discovery and development of novel, small molecules for their potential use in understanding biological processes relevant to the missions of NIMH, NIDA, NEI, and/or NIA and 2) discovery and/or validation of novel, biological targets that will inform studies of brain disease mechanisms. Emphasis will be placed on projects that provide new insight into important disease-related biological targets and biological processes. The main emphasis of projects submitted under this FOA should be the discovery of in vivo chemical probes. Applicants interested in developing cell-based chemical probes may wish to apply using the companion R21 mechanism, (PAR-21-028).

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) was established within the Department of Health and Human Services and charged with coordinating toxicological testing programs within the Public Health Service of the Department. The NTP, as part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), is responsible for evaluating the toxic and carcinogenic potential of environmental agents that may pose a health hazard to citizens of the United States. The NTP requires support for the conduct of short- and long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity studies following exposure to a variety of test agents by various routes of exposure. This requirement is designed to study diverse agents that may include: environmental chemicals; chemicals used in manufacturing or industrial settings; naturally occurring chemicals; food additives, preservatives, colorants or flavorings; pharmaceuticals, botanically- and non botanically-based dietary supplements; herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides; ingredients found in a wide variety of consumer products including soaps, lotions, perfumes and cosmetics; chemicals used in detergents and cleaners, etc.; naturally occurring and synthetic fibers, nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes; metals; plasticizers; flame retardants; mold or mold components; or other agents not specified at this time.

The Dreyfus program for Machine Learning in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering, initiated in 2020, provides funding for innovative projects in any area of Machine Learning (ML) consistent with the Foundation's broad objective to advance the chemical sciences and engineering. The Foundation anticipates that these projects will contribute new fundamental chemical insight and innovation in the field.

The Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) program supports fundamental research on novel methods and materials for separation processes.  These processes are central to the chemical, biochemical, materials, energy, and pharmaceutical industries.  A fundamental understanding of the interfacial, transport, and thermodynamic behavior of multiphase chemical systems as well as quantitative descriptions of processing characteristics in the process-oriented industries is critical for efficient resource management and effective environmental protection.  The program encourages proposals that address emerging research areas and technologies, have a high degree of interdisciplinary thought coupled with knowledge creation, and integrate education and research. Research topics OF PARTICULAR INTEREST in CBS include fundamental molecular-level work on: Nanostructured materials for separations Biorenewable resource separation processes Purification of drinking water Field (flow, magnetic, electrical) induced separations Separation of molecular constituents from blood The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years.  The average annual award size for the program is $80,000.  Proposals requesting a substantially higher amount than this, without prior consultation with the Program Director, may be returned without review.  Small equipment proposals of less than $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during the annual submission window. 

The Chemical Oceanography Program supports research into the chemical components, reaction mechanisms, and geochemical pathways within the ocean and at its interfaces with the solid earth and the atmosphere. Major emphases include: studies of material inputs to and outputs from marine waters; orthochemical and biological production and transformation of chemical compounds and phases within the marine system; and the determination of reaction rates and study of equilibria. The Program encourages research into the chemistry, distribution, and fate of inorganic and organic substances introduced into or produced within marine environments including those from estuarine waters to the deep sea.

Chemical modifications of protein, DNA and RNA nucleoside moieties play critical roles in regulating gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests RNA modifications have substantive roles in multiple basic biological processes. Epitranscriptomics can be defined as the aggregate suite of functional biochemical modifications to the transcriptome within a cell. Recent studies in yeast, Drosophila, rodent and human models demonstrate that stressors can induce RNA modifications, with specific reprogramming of some regulatory RNAs. The NIEHS seeks to solicit innovative, mechanistic research applications that are focused on how environmental exposures are associated and involved with the functional activities of RNA modifications and pathways that may be modified or misregulated, associated with adverse health outcomes and/or be useful as biomarkers of exposure and/or exposure-induced pathologies. The study of functional chemical RNA modification has identified important emerging roles in cellular regulation and gene expression. However, the impact of environmental exposures on functional RNA modifications has been relatively understudied and may present a new mechanism for enhanced understanding the relationships between exposures and the development of complex human diseases. The NIEHS will use the R01 mechanism to support hypothesis driven research using approaches that incorporate principles of toxicology with RNA modification biological and/or chemical expertise and utilizes state of the art technologies.

The Molecular Separations program is part of the Chemical Process Systems cluster, which also includes 1) Catalysis; 2) Electrochemical Systems; and 3) Process Systems, Reaction Engineering, and Molecular Thermodynamics. The Molecular Separations program supports research focused on novel methods and materials for separation processes, such as those central to the chemical, biochemical, bioprocessing, materials, energy, and pharmaceutical industries. A fundamental understanding of the interfacial, transport, and thermodynamic behavior of multiphase chemical systems as well as quantitative descriptions of processing characteristics in the process-oriented industries is critical for efficient resource management and effective environmental protection. The program encourages proposals that address long standing challenges and emerging research areas and technologies, have a high degree of interdisciplinary work coupled with the generation of fundamental knowledge, and the integration of education and research. Research topics of particular interest include fundamental, molecular-level work.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) to develop medium- to high-throughput assays to evaluate the effects of toxicants on pluripotent or induced pluripotent cells with respect to cell differentiation and the resulting differentiated cell populations. The ability to incorporate genetic diversity in these assays would be useful.  These assays will provide information on mechanisms of chemically-induced biological activity, help to prioritize chemicals for more extensive toxicological evaluation, support more predictive models of in vivo biological response, and potentially inform on the role of genetic diversity in toxicological effects.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) intends to support investigators who have interest and capability to join efforts for the discovery of in vivo chemical probes. It is expected that applicants will have in hand the starting compounds (validated hits) for chemical optimization and bioassays for testing new analog compounds. Through this FOA, NIH wishes to stimulate research in 1) discovery and development of novel, small molecules for their potential use in studying disease treatment relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes, and 2) discovery and/or validation of novel, biological targets that will inform studies of disease mechanisms.Emphasis will be placed on projects that provide new insight into important disease targets and processes.

The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD) is organized into five Joint Project Management Offices (JPMO), each responsible for specific commodity areas. General information on the JPEO-CBD and subordinate JPMOs can be obtained from the JPEO-CBD website at http://www.jpeocbd.osd.mil/. The medical CBRN countermeasures developed by the Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems (JPM MCS) office directly support the current, near-term, and far-term challenges by providing the capability to prevent, diagnose and treat the effects of chemical, radiological and biological warfare agents. Mission areas and technical points of contact for the product management offices within the JPM MCS are shown in Section VII of this BAA. Proposals are sought from all eligible sources as specified herein, including educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private industry. This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) provides general information, proposal preparation instructions, evaluation and selection criteria, and award administration.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing research to study life stage and/or genetic susceptibility in order to better characterize the sources of human variability in response to chemical exposure. The adverse outcome pathways (AOP) concept has the potential to serve as a framework for using susceptibility indicators, biomonitoring, and high throughput screening (HTS) data in an integrated manner to predict population responses to novel, potentially harmful, chemicals. While much emphasis has been placed on improved biomonitoring and HTS approaches, research is needed to understand the underlying factors that influence human susceptibility and to develop tools and methods for the identification and use of susceptibility indicators in this context. This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages basic research into the role of RNA chemical modifications and their corresponding writers, readers and erasers in the initiation and progression of cancer. Chemical modifications of RNA bases have been reported to regulate the fate and function of both coding and noncoding RNAs and are emerging as a critical element of post-transcriptional gene regulation. This FOA will utilize the Exploratory/Developmental (R21) mechanism which supports investigation of novel scientific ideas or new model systems, tools or technologies that have the potential for significant impact on biomedical or biobehavioral research.