The Role of Stem/Progenitor Cells in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Gynecologic Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HD 20 007

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 20 007

The NIH funding opportunity titled "The Role of Stem/Progenitor Cells in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Gynecologic Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (RFA-HD-20-007) supports early-stage, exploratory research that uses modern stem cell science to clarify how stem and progenitor cells behave in gynecologic tissues that are diseased or injured. The program is built around the idea that many common gynecologic conditions may be driven, at least in part, by abnormal stem/progenitor cell function, including how these cells self-renew, differentiate, respond to injury, interact with hormones and inflammation, and communicate with surrounding tissue environments. The overarching purpose is to speed up mechanistic understanding so the field can move toward better prevention, improved diagnostics, and more effective therapies that directly reflect the biology of these disorders rather than only treating symptoms.

The FOA is narrowly focused on five conditions: uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, endometrial polyps, and pelvic organ prolapse. NIH highlights these disorders because they are widespread, cause substantial morbidity, and generate significant healthcare costs. Within that scope, the opportunity encourages studies that apply state-of-the-art concepts, technologies, and methodologies from the stem cell field. In practical terms, this points to projects that might leverage cutting-edge approaches such as advanced cell isolation and lineage tracing strategies, single-cell and spatial profiling, organoid or tissue engineering models, stem cell niche biology, and other modern tools that can reveal which progenitor populations are present, what states they occupy, and how those states change during disease initiation and progression. The goal is not simply to catalog cells, but to connect stem/progenitor cell behavior to clinically meaningful outcomes like disease onset, severity, recurrence, and response to treatment.

Because it uses the NIH R21 mechanism, the grant is designed for high-impact, hypothesis-generating work that can open new directions quickly, rather than large, multi-year definitive programs. The listing shows an award ceiling of $200,000, consistent with an R21-style exploratory budget. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means applicants may propose projects that include a clinical trial if it is scientifically appropriate, but they are not required to do so. That flexibility allows both preclinical mechanistic studies and carefully scoped human-focused studies, as long as the work directly advances understanding of stem/progenitor cells in the specified gynecologic disorders and supports the long-term objective of translating biology into prevention, diagnostic, or therapeutic strategies.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and certain tribal organizations. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible groups 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), eligible federal agencies, and faith-based or community-based organizations, as well as regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws clear boundaries around foreign participation: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, though foreign components as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning certain forms of collaboration or specific project elements may be carried out abroad under NIH rules even when the applicant institution is U.S.-based.

Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary grant in the Health, Income Security and Social Services category (CFDA 93.865) and is run by the National Institutes of Health. The source data lists an original closing date of 2019-11-07 and a creation date of 2019-07-30, which situates this as a time-bound solicitation rather than an always-open program announcement. Taken as a whole, the FOA is essentially an invitation for teams to bring the best available stem cell and progenitor cell tools to some of the most burdensome gynecologic disorders, with an emphasis on uncovering disease-driving cell populations and pathways that can eventually be targeted to reduce suffering and improve long-term gynecologic health.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Role of Stem/Progenitor Cells in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Gynecologic Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2019-07-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-07. (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 $200,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA HD 20 007

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