Addressing Health Disparities in NIDDK Diseases (R01) | PA 17 021

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 021

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), offered the grant opportunity "Addressing Health Disparities in NIDDK Diseases (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-17-021). This announcement supports investigator-initiated research using the NIH R01 mechanism, with the central goal of improving understanding of why certain high-priority diseases disproportionately affect specific populations in the United States and generating knowledge that can help reduce or ultimately eliminate those health disparities. The focus is on research that clarifies underlying causes and drivers of disparities, including biological, behavioral, environmental, social, and health-system factors that contribute to unequal disease risk, severity, outcomes, and access to effective prevention and care.

The FOA encourages projects aligned with NIDDK mission areas, particularly in diseases and conditions where disparities are prominent. Priority topics include diabetes; obesity and nutrition-related disorders; hepatitis C; gallbladder disease; and Helicobacter pylori infection. It also highlights sickle cell disease, with an emphasis on studies of complications that fall within NIDDK scientific scope, such as kidney-related and other organ complications. Additional encouraged areas include kidney diseases, urologic diseases, and hematologic diseases, including disorders involving abnormal hemoglobin synthesis. The announcement further calls attention to metabolic diseases and to gastrointestinal, hepatic, and renal complications associated with HIV infection, reflecting NIDDK interests in how infections and chronic conditions intersect to worsen outcomes in disproportionately affected groups.

A key restriction is that clinical trials are not permitted under this specific FOA. In practical terms, applicants would need to propose research approaches that do not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial, such as observational studies, mechanistic studies, analyses of existing datasets or biospecimens, epidemiologic or health services research not involving prospective assignment to an intervention, and other non-trial designs that still directly advance understanding of disparities and the pathways producing them. The aim is to fund rigorous research that can identify actionable targets for future interventions, even if the R01 projects themselves do not test interventions through clinical trial designs.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health and food/nutrition activity area and is associated with CFDA number 93.847. Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of U.S. organizations and governments, such as state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and a wide range of nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, as are other applicant types recognized by NIH policy.

Beyond the standard eligibility categories, the FOA explicitly notes additional eligible applicant groups that are often central to health disparities research and community-engaged work. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and 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; eligible federal agencies; tribal governments other than federally recognized entities; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations. This breadth signals an intent to support research capacity and partnerships in settings that are closely connected to populations experiencing disparities, and to enable multi-site or multinational collaborations when they are scientifically justified and relevant.

Administratively, the opportunity was created on October 19, 2016, and listed an original closing date of November 17, 2017. The posting does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, which typically means budget levels and award counts would depend on NIH appropriations, NIDDK program priorities, and the merit of applications received in each cycle. Overall, the FOA is best understood as an R01 pathway for in-depth, hypothesis-driven disparities research across major NIDDK disease areas, with a strong emphasis on uncovering root causes and mechanisms of unequal health outcomes while excluding clinical trial designs.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Addressing Health Disparities in NIDDK Diseases (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-10-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-11-17. (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.

Apply for PA 17 021

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: