Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA ES 24 004
The Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental Health Research (RIVER) program (R35 Clinical Trial Optional), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-ES-24-004, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity administered through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Its core purpose is to back exceptional investigators in the Environmental Health Sciences by giving them longer-term, more stable support and, importantly, more freedom to steer their work as new ideas and discoveries emerge. Rather than forcing investigators to carve their research into multiple narrowly defined projects, RIVER is designed to consolidate much of an investigator's independent, investigator-initiated environmental health research into a single award. The intent is to reduce administrative burden, increase intellectual flexibility, and encourage bold, high-impact directions that may not fit neatly into traditional, highly specified project structures.
Programmatically, RIVER is investigator-focused rather than topic-restrictive. NIEHS is looking to identify individuals with clear potential for continued innovation and meaningful scientific impact in environmental health sciences, regardless of career stage. In practical terms, that means applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong track record and compelling vision for where their science is headed, while also showing that the R35 mechanism will meaningfully support the majority of their independent research program in environmental health. Because the announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," applicants can propose studies that include clinical trials, but they are not required to do so; the mechanism can support both clinical-trial and non-clinical-trial research paths as long as they fit NIEHS priorities and the environmental health sciences scope.
Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types across the United States. 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; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The opportunity also explicitly 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions. This emphasis signals an interest in broad participation and capacity across many types of institutions that contribute to environmental health research.
There are also important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. At the same time, the announcement allows foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization may, under NIH rules and with appropriate justification, include certain foreign collaborations or performance sites as part of the project structure even though a foreign organization cannot serve as the primary applicant.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, uses the grant funding instrument, and falls under the environment and health activity area (CFDA number 93.113). The original closing date listed is November 1, 2024, and the posting creation date is July 26, 2024. While specific budget ceilings and the anticipated number of awards are not provided in the source information here, the defining feature of this FOA is the R35-style emphasis on sustained investigator-level support and flexibility rather than a one-off, tightly bounded project. The overall message is that NIEHS wants to invest in people with a strong environmental health research trajectory and give them room to pursue ambitious, potentially transformative work with less fragmentation and less administrative friction.Apply for RFA ES 24 004
- 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 Optional)" 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 2024-07-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the RIVER program (R35 Clinical Trial Optional)?
The Revolutionizing Innovative, Visionary Environmental Health Research (RIVER) program is an NIH grant opportunity administered by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). It is designed to support exceptional investigators in Environmental Health Sciences with longer-term, more stable funding and added flexibility to adjust their research direction as new findings and ideas emerge.
2. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-ES-24-004.
3. Which NIH institute administers this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
4. What is the main purpose of the RIVER mechanism?
The core purpose is to invest in investigators (rather than narrowly defined topics) by providing sustained support that reduces administrative burden and increases intellectual flexibility. The program is intended to encourage bold, high-impact research that may not fit neatly into traditional, tightly specified project structures.
5. How is RIVER different from traditional project-based grants?
RIVER is intended to consolidate much of an investigator's independent, investigator-initiated environmental health research into a single award. Instead of requiring multiple separate applications for distinct projects, the R35-style approach aims to support a broader research program and allow shifts in direction as the science develops.
6. Is this opportunity topic-restrictive?
No. The program is described as investigator-focused rather than topic-restrictive. Applicants are expected to be working within the environmental health sciences scope and aligned with NIEHS priorities, but the emphasis is on the investigator's track record and vision for future impact rather than a narrow topic list.
7. Who is the program meant to support?
NIEHS is looking to identify individuals with clear potential for continued innovation and meaningful scientific impact in environmental health sciences. The description indicates this is true regardless of career stage, as long as the applicant can demonstrate a strong track record and a compelling vision for their research trajectory.
8. What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean for this FOA?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials, but they are not required to do so. The mechanism can support both clinical trial and non-clinical trial research paths, as long as the work fits NIEHS priorities and the environmental health sciences scope.
9. What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across the United States. Eligible applicant organizations include:
- State governments, county governments, and city or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when not institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities
10. Does the FOA encourage participation from specific institution types?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights additional eligible categories, signaling broad participation interest, including:
- 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
- Regional organizations
- Eligible federal agencies
- Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities
- U.S. territories or possessions
11. Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply as the main applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations under this opportunity.
12. Can a U.S. organization apply if it has a non-U.S. component?
Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant entities. However, the announcement allows foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may be able to include certain foreign collaborations or performance sites with appropriate justification under NIH rules, even though a foreign organization cannot be the primary applicant.
13. What is the funding instrument and funding type?
The opportunity uses the grant funding instrument and is categorized as discretionary funding.
14. What is the activity area and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The activity area is environment and health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.113.
15. What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is November 1, 2024.
16. When was this opportunity posted/created?
The posting creation date listed is July 26, 2024.
17. Does the provided information list a budget cap or the number of awards?
No. Based on the information provided here, specific budget ceilings and the anticipated number of awards are not included.
18. What kinds of research does RIVER aim to enable?
The program is intended to enable ambitious, potentially transformative environmental health science by reducing fragmentation (fewer separate awards for separate projects), lowering administrative friction, and giving investigators room to pursue new directions as discoveries emerge.
19. What is NIEHS trying to achieve by consolidating work into a single award?
The intent is to reduce administrative burden, increase intellectual flexibility, and encourage high-impact research directions that may be harder to pursue under traditional structures that require narrowly defined, highly specified project plans.
20. What is the basic expectation for applicants under an investigator-focused program like this?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong track record in environmental health sciences and present a compelling vision for where their science is headed, while also showing that the R35 mechanism will meaningfully support the majority of their independent research program in environmental health.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment, Health
Next opportunity: FAS Agricultural Export Market Challenge
Previous opportunity: FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Airport Terminal Program (ATP) Grants
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 RFA ES 24 004
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA ES 24 004) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Epitranscriptomics Crosstalks and Toxicants (EPCOT) (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 25 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 25 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers Program (P30 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA ES 25 002 Funding Number: RFA ES 25 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience: Coordination Center for Interoception Research (BPCCIR) (U24, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AT 25 004 Funding Number: RFA AT 25 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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 "RFA ES 24 004", 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.