Research to Improve Native American Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 17 464

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 464

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR-17-464, titled "Research to Improve Native American Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)," supports exploratory and developmental projects aimed at improving health outcomes for Native American populations. For this announcement, "Native Americans" is defined broadly to include Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian communities, with "Native Hawaiian" specifically referring to individuals whose ancestors were native to the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778. The overall emphasis is on early-stage, hypothesis-generating, or proof-of-concept work that can build a foundation for larger studies and practical interventions that fit the cultural and community contexts of the populations being served.

The FOA is designed for R21-style research, which typically funds smaller, shorter-term projects that test new ideas, establish feasibility, or refine research tools and approaches. The announcement encourages several types of work: secondary analyses of existing datasets (including data collected by Tribal Epidemiology Centers), merging or linking multiple data sources to answer high-priority health questions, pilot and feasibility studies that help determine whether a larger effort is workable, and the assessment or validation of measures that are being created or adapted for Native American communities. The "clinical trial optional" language signals that applicants may propose a clinical trial if it fits the project goals, but a clinical trial is not required.

Projects are expected to be culturally appropriate and tied to real-world improvements in health and quality of life. Priority areas described in the announcement include research that promotes healthy lifestyles; improves health behaviors and social conditions; and/or strengthens environmental conditions connected to chronic disease prevention and management. It also highlights prevention or reduction of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; improvements in mental health outcomes; reduced risk of HIV infection; better treatment adherence; and enhancements to health-care delivery and systems so that standards of care are adopted and quality of life improves. In practice, this means proposals should not only address important health problems but also demonstrate an understanding of community context, relevance, and the pathways by which the research could translate into meaningful change.

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic organization types that commonly apply to NIH grants. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), 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, and U.S. territories or possessions. While foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, the FOA allows foreign components only in a narrow circumstance: when the ancestral catchment areas of tribes cross U.S. national boundaries, consistent with NIH policy definitions.

From a funding details standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH with activity categories spanning education, environment, and health, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.113, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, and 93.393). The listed award ceiling is $200,000. The opportunity was originally created on September 29, 2017, and the provided original closing date is August 14, 2020. Overall, the announcement is structured to help researchers and community-serving organizations test promising approaches, make better use of existing data resources, and develop culturally grounded evidence that can be scaled into stronger interventions and healthier systems for Native American communities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research to Improve Native American Health (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): 93.113, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.393.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-09-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-14. (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.

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