Elucidation and Validation of the role of Transporters in the Placenta, Lactating Mammary Gland, Developing Gut, and Blood Brain Barrier

The funding opportunity titled Elucidation and Validation of the role of Transporters in the Placenta, Lactating Mammary Gland, Developing Gut, and Blood Brain Barrier is issued by the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, it is administered through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which focuses on advancing knowledge related to maternal, fetal, and child health. This forecasted opportunity represents a continuation and expansion of the Transporter Elucidation Network, a coordinated research effort designed to deepen understanding of biological transport mechanisms across critical developmental systems. The primary objective of this grant is to support research that clarifies how transporters and local biotransformation processes regulate the movement of nutrients, medications, environmental chemicals, and other compounds across key biological barriers. These barriers include the placenta, lactating mammary gland, maternal and infant gut, and the infant blood brain barrier. The initiative seeks to build integrated, multi compartment models that capture the complex interactions across maternal and infant systems, moving beyond prior organ specific approaches. This effort is intended to generate a mechanistic understanding of transporter function, including kinetics, polarity, and transformation capacity, particularly as they relate to pregnancy, lactation, and early development. Funding will support the development of standardized methods, shared resources, and advanced modeling approaches that enable researchers to investigate transporter activity across interconnected biological systems. The program emphasizes the creation of community accessible tools and datasets that can be used in future studies examining perinatal exposure, risk assessment, and intervention strategies. Allowable uses of funds include research activities aligned with these goals, such as experimental studies, computational modeling, and collaborative data sharing initiatives. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, which lowers the financial barrier for participation across a wide range of institutions. Eligibility for this grant is broad and inclusive, encompassing a wide range of entity types. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with and without federal tax exempt status, public and private institutions of higher education, small businesses, for profit organizations, and various levels of government including state, county, city, and special district entities. Tribal governments and tribal organizations are also eligible, as are public housing authorities and independent school districts. Additional eligible entities include federal agencies, U.S. territories, faith based and community organizations, regional organizations, and foreign institutions. This wide eligibility scope reflects the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the research goals. The application process is expected to follow standard NIH submission procedures, although specific components are not detailed in the forecast notice. Applicants should anticipate preparing a comprehensive research proposal that outlines objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and alignment with program goals. While no pre application requirements are specified, applicants typically must submit through designated federal systems and adhere to NIH guidelines for proposal structure and compliance. Evaluation criteria are expected to focus on scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and relevance to the program’s objectives, as well as the potential for advancing knowledge in maternal and child health. The opportunity is currently in a forecast stage, with an estimated application due date of October 20, 2027. The estimated posting date is July 24, 2027, with anticipated awards issued around July 1, 2028. Projects are expected to begin on or around the same date as the award. The total estimated program funding is three million dollars, although specific award sizes and number of awards have not yet been defined. As a federal research initiative, this program is likely to recur in future cycles, supporting ongoing advancements in transporter research and perinatal health systems. For additional information or inquiries, applicants may contact the Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development via email. This contact serves as the primary point of communication for questions related to program scope, eligibility, and application requirements. Overall, this opportunity represents a significant investment in advancing integrated biological research that informs maternal, fetal, and child health outcomes.