Grants / Department of the Interior / Geological Survey

G22AS00423: Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

Closed Closed August 30, 2022 Opportunity G22AS00423 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (G27AS00066). Status: Closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left). It is in our archive of Geological Survey notices from 2022.

• Award ceiling$200,000
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESU’s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection awards averaged $557,251; this notice allows up to $200,000 per award.
• Most of the program's money (84% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in point of use environmental DNA tools for points of entry, in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), P.L. 117-58. One of the most effective action in invasive species management is to prevent initial introductions or to prevent spread into additional areas. Surveillance for invasive species at points of entry is an important way to limit this spread yet recognizing presence of invasives in shipments or other modes of transport can be challenging. In many cases, invasives may be difficult to detect visually or identify to species. Environmental DNA methods have potential to improve surveillance at points of entry assuming some key conditions are met. These conditions include eDNA assays that can be deployed in the field, provide rapid results, and be able to be easily and consistently implemented by personnel without laboratory experience. Currently there do not exist rapid eDNA assays that are widely used at federal and state points of entry. However, recent work with lyophilized LAMP assays have shown promise to implement eDNA assays in field environments, with assays developed for invasive carp and dreissenid mussels that have been used on bait tanks and imported moss balls, respectively. This initial work has demonstrated the promise of isothermal eDNA detection approaches and can be deployed completely at the point of entry. Despite this, questions remain regarding the most efficient and sensitive methods for isolating and amplifying eDNA, and this likely varies depending on the sample template (water, plant, soil, etc.). Even if a method does not require laboratory equipment, it may not meet all personnel’s standards for ease of implementation and time for sample preparation. Ultimately, a highly sensitive one-tube collection and amplification approach would provide the greatest utility and facilitate the use of eDNA at ports of entry. Any method would require validation using known isothermal assays already developed for invasive species.

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, G27AS00066, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.