Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 305
The NIH funding opportunity "Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (PAR-21-305) is designed to fund rapid, real-world evaluations of newly implemented or imminently launching policies and programs that could affect obesity-related behaviors and outcomes. The central idea is that some policy or program changes create a narrow window to collect credible evidence (for example, right before and right after rollout), and a standard grant timeline would miss that window. Projects supported under this FOA should focus on impacts related to dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and/or weight-related outcomes, with the broader goal of preventing obesity or reducing obesity prevalence and associated harms.
A key requirement is that the proposed study must be genuinely time-sensitive and scientifically compelling in a way that would not be possible without expedited funding. Applications must make a strong case that the policy or program being evaluated presents an uncommon opportunity for rigorous empirical study, and that the opportunity will disappear or be severely weakened if the research does not begin quickly. Because the program is built around urgency, the FOA uses an accelerated review and award process, with the intent (though not a guarantee) that selected projects will be funded within about four months of the application due date. The FOA also emphasizes that administrative steps or unforeseen issues could push award dates later than planned, so applicants should factor that risk into feasibility planning.
This mechanism uses the R01 grant format and explicitly does not allow clinical trials, meaning the supported work should be structured as policy or program evaluation research rather than a clinical intervention trial. In practice, this points applicants toward quasi-experimental, natural experiment, or other rigorous observational and evaluation designs that can credibly estimate policy or program effects as they occur in real communities, schools, workplaces, health systems, or other settings influenced by public or organizational policy.
Another distinctive feature is that resubmissions are not allowed. If an application is not funded, it cannot be revised and resubmitted to this same time-sensitive FOA later, which underscores the expectation that applications arrive ready for rapid consideration and that the policy window will not wait for a second round. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate readiness to start quickly, including access to data sources, partners, sites, and any needed approvals or agreements that could otherwise slow launch.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental units. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Foreign participation is tightly restricted. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. In effect, the work must be led and carried out within eligible U.S.-based organizational structures without foreign components.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary NIH grant within activity areas spanning education, food and nutrition, health, and social services, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.399, 93.847, and 93.865. The original closing date shown is 2025-01-09, and the FOA record indicates it was created on 2021-08-11. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing, which usually means applicants should rely on NIH guidance for typical R01 budgeting expectations and align requests with the scope and urgency of the proposed evaluation.
Overall, this FOA is best viewed as a rapid-response funding pathway for teams ready to evaluate an emerging obesity-relevant policy or program in a way that produces timely, actionable evidence. Competitive applications will typically combine a clear description of the policy/program change and its timeline, a rigorous evaluation design that can be deployed quickly, realistic plans for data collection and analysis during the limited window, and a strong justification for why waiting for a standard cycle would make the research opportunity impossible or far less informative.Apply for PAR 21 305
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.399, 93.847, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-09. (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.
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FAQs: Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-21-305)
What is the main purpose of this NIH funding opportunity?
This funding opportunity supports rapid, real-world evaluations of newly implemented or imminently launching policies and programs that may affect obesity-related behaviors and outcomes. It is meant for situations where there is a narrow window to collect credible evidence (for example, data right before and right after rollout) and a standard grant timeline would likely miss that opportunity.
What kinds of outcomes or behaviors should projects focus on?
Projects should focus on impacts related to dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and/or weight-related outcomes. The broader aim is preventing obesity or reducing obesity prevalence and associated harms.
What does "time-sensitive" mean in the context of this FOA?
"Time-sensitive" means the policy or program creates an uncommon, short-lived opportunity to do a rigorous empirical study. Applicants must justify that the research would be impossible or substantially weakened if it does not begin quickly, because key pre/post or rollout-period evidence would be lost.
What makes an application "genuinely time-sensitive" for eligibility/competitiveness?
The application needs to make a strong, scientifically compelling case that (1) the policy or program change is newly implemented or imminent, (2) there is a limited window for high-quality evaluation, and (3) expedited funding is necessary to capture credible evidence during that window.
How fast is the award timeline supposed to be?
The FOA uses an accelerated review and award process with the intent (but not a guarantee) that selected projects may be funded within about four months of the application due date.
Is the approximately four-month award timeline guaranteed?
No. The FOA notes that administrative steps or unforeseen issues can push award dates later than planned, so applicants should account for that risk when planning feasibility and launch timing.
What grant mechanism is used?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 grant format.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." The work should be structured as policy or program evaluation research rather than a clinical intervention trial.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what kinds of study designs fit best?
The FOA points applicants toward quasi-experimental, natural experiment, or other rigorous observational and evaluation designs that can credibly estimate policy or program effects as they occur in real-world settings.
What types of policies or programs are appropriate to evaluate?
Appropriate targets are newly implemented or soon-to-launch policies and programs that could affect obesity-related behaviors and outcomes, especially where the rollout timing creates a narrow window for rigorous evaluation.
What settings can be included in these evaluations?
The FOA describes real-world settings influenced by public or organizational policy, including communities, schools, workplaces, health systems, and other similar settings.
What does the FOA expect regarding readiness to start quickly?
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate readiness for rapid launch, including access to data sources, partners, sites, and any needed approvals or agreements that could otherwise delay the start of the evaluation.
Are resubmissions allowed if an application is not funded?
No. Resubmissions are not allowed under this time-sensitive FOA. If an application is not funded, it cannot be revised and resubmitted to this same FOA later.
Why does the FOA prohibit resubmissions?
Based on the FOA description, the program is built around urgency and narrow policy windows. The inability to resubmit reinforces the expectation that applications are ready for rapid consideration and that the research opportunity will not wait for a second round.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental units. Examples listed include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.
Are there additional categories of eligible applicants highlighted in the FOA?
Yes. The FOA highlights categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can foreign organizations apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply under this FOA.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-domestic component?
No. The FOA states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed in any form?
No. Foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
What does the restriction on foreign components imply for project location and leadership?
It implies the work must be led and carried out within eligible U.S.-based organizational structures without foreign components.
Which general activity areas does this opportunity relate to?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary NIH grant within activity areas spanning education, food and nutrition, health, and social services.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The FOA is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393, 93.399, 93.847, and 93.865.
What is the application closing date shown in the listing?
The original closing date shown is 2025-01-09.
When was the FOA record created?
The FOA record indicates it was created on 2021-08-11.
Is there an award ceiling listed or a specified expected number of awards?
No. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing.
How should applicants think about budgeting if an award ceiling is not specified?
Because the listing does not specify an award ceiling, applicants are expected to rely on NIH guidance for typical R01 budgeting expectations and align the budget request with the scope and urgency of the proposed evaluation.
What are the key elements of a strong application, based on the FOA description?
Competitive applications will typically include (1) a clear description of the policy/program change and its timeline, (2) a rigorous evaluation design that can be deployed quickly, (3) realistic plans for data collection and analysis during the limited window, and (4) a strong justification for why a standard funding cycle would make the research opportunity impossible or much less informative.
What is the overall "best fit" use case for this FOA?
This FOA is best viewed as a rapid-response pathway for teams that are ready to evaluate an emerging obesity-relevant policy or program and produce timely, actionable evidence while the opportunity window is still open.
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