Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program (US)

Deadline: 11-Jan-24

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants (BRAG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2024 to support environmental assessment research concerning the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) organisms into the environment.

The BRAG program supports research designed to identify and develop appropriate management practices to minimize physical and biological risks associated with genetically engineered animals, plants, and microorganisms. NIFA and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly administer the BRAG program, while USDA-NIFA, USDA-ARS and USDA-Forest Service (FS) provide annual funding for the BRAG program.

Purpose and Priorities

• The purpose of the BRAG program, Assistance Listing 10.219, is to support the generation of new information that will assist Federal regulatory agencies [USDA’s – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Biotechnology Regulatory Services (APHIS-BRS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)] in making science-based decisions about the environmental effects of introducing genetically engineered (GE) organisms by techniques that use recombinant, synthesized, or amplified nucleic acids to modify or create a genome. The organisms include plants, microorganisms (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses), arthropods, fish, birds, livestock, and other animals. These include related wild and agricultural organisms. The statutory program goals and objectives are to authorize and support environmental assessment research to help identify and analyze environmental effects of biotechnology and to authorize research to help regulators develop long-term policies concerning the introduction of such technology.
• The BRAG program supports applied and/or fundamental research relevant to environmental risk assessment, including biological risk, and the Federal regulatory process. When evaluating GE organisms, Federal regulators must answer the following four general questions:
  • Is there a hazard? (Potential hazard identification.)
  • How likely is the hazard to occur? (Quantifying the probability of occurrence; identifying likely exposure scenarios.)
  • What is the severity and extent of the hazard if it occurs? (Quantifying the effects) and
  • Is there an effect beyond what might occur with an unmodified organism or an organism that has similar traits, but was developed using other technologies?
• The BRAG program will also support risk management research, which is defined as either:
  • Research aimed primarily at reducing negative effects of specific biotechnology derived agents; or
  • A policy and decision-making process that uses risk assessment data in deciding how to avoid or mitigate the negative consequences identified in a risk assessment.
• The BRAG program is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026 goals:
  • Strategic Goal 2: Ensure America’s Agricultural System is Equitable, Resilient, and Prosperous.
  • Strategic Goal 3: Foster an Equitable and Competitive Marketplace for All Agricultural Producers
  • Strategic Goal 4: Provide all Americans Safe, Nutritious Food
• The BRAG program is aligned with the following USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023–2026 priorities:
  • Priority 1: Accelerating Innovative Technologies & Practices
  • Priority 4: Cultivating Resilient Ecosystems
  • Priority 5: Translating Research Into Action

Proposals Type

• Applications to the BRAG program must address one of the following standard research program areas or seek funding for a conference/workshop. In addition, applicants must state in the first sentence of their Project Summary which single standard research program area aligns best with their proposed project.
• Standard Research Proposals
  • Address issues related to newly developed GE organisms that are animals, plants, insects, and/or microorganisms. Research proposals can be applied and/or fundamental and must address one of the following five program areas:
    • Management Practices to Minimize Environmental Risk of GE Organisms.
    • Methods to Monitor and Understand the Dispersal of GE Organisms.
    • Gene Transfer between Genetically Engineered Animals, Plants, and Microorganisms and Related Wild and Agricultural Organisms.
    • Environmental Effects of GE Organisms relative to Non-GE Organisms in the Context of Production Systems.
    • Other Research Topics Designed to Support the Purposes of this Program.
• Conference Proposals
  • Applicants to the BRAG program may request partial funding to organize a conference or workshop that brings together scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders to review science-based data relevant to gene flow and co-existence, emerging technologies related to biotechnology (such as genome editing and gene drives), risk assessment, or risk management of GE organisms released into the environment. To be eligible for funding, the steering committee for the proposed conference should include representatives from a variety of relevant and appropriate scientific disciplines. BRAG conference applications must include the following:
    • Describe the relevance of the proposed conference to biotechnology risk assessment in U.S. agriculture;
    • Explain the uniqueness and timeliness of the conference;
    • Outline the qualifications of the organizing committee and the appropriateness of the invited speakers to the topic areas to be covered;
    • State clearly the goals of the conference and the likely outcomes;
    • Explain the need for the various elements of the budget;
    • Provide a clear plan to disseminate the outcome of the conference to the public; and
    • Describe how the organizers will make up the total costs of the conference from other sources.

Funding Information

• This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2024. Enactment of a continuing resolution, appropriations act, or other authorizing legislation may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. The amount available for BRAG in FY 2024 is approximately $5,500,000. USDA is not committed to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards.
• Standard Proposals: Standard research proposals should not exceed $650,000 (including indirect costs) for project periods up to four (4) years of support. Proposal requests exceeding these limits will be excluded from review.
• Conference Proposals: Conference proposals should not exceed $50,000. Indirect costs are not allowed on conference grants. Proposal requests exceeding these limits will be excluded from review.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility Requirements
  • Applicants for the BRAG program are limited to public or private research or educational institutions or organizations and must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award.
• Cost Sharing or Matching
  • No Match Required – The BRAG program has no matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.