Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 25 144

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 144

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity "Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-25-144) supports research that helps close the gap between what is known to improve health and what is actually delivered in real-world settings. The central goal is to fund studies that identify, develop, and/or rigorously test strategies that overcome common real-world barriers to putting evidence-based interventions into routine practice. In this context, "evidence-based interventions" is used broadly and can include clinical treatments, preventive services, behavioral interventions, public health programs, tools and technologies, practice guidelines, and even policies. The work is focused less on discovering new interventions and more on figuring out how to get proven interventions adopted and used effectively, consistently, and sustainably across different systems and communities.

A major emphasis of the NOFO is understanding and improving the processes that determine whether evidence-based interventions are adopted, adapted appropriately to local contexts, integrated into workflows, maintained over time, expanded to more sites (scale-up), and spread across organizations or regions. The opportunity recognizes that even strong interventions can fail when implementation is poorly supported or when they do not fit local constraints such as staffing, financing, leadership, infrastructure, culture, or patient needs. Projects under this NOFO typically examine implementation strategies (the methods used to promote uptake, such as training models, audit and feedback, facilitation, policy changes, incentive structures, clinical decision support, workflow redesign, or community-engaged approaches) and evaluate how well those strategies perform in real settings.

The NOFO explicitly encourages studies that promote equitable dissemination and implementation, meaning it values research designed to ensure that evidence-based interventions reach and benefit populations that have been historically underrepresented or underserved. This includes addressing structural and contextual factors that contribute to disparities in access, quality, and outcomes. In practice, this could involve tailoring implementation strategies to improve reach, acceptability, and effectiveness in specific communities; partnering with community-based organizations; addressing language and cultural barriers; or testing approaches that reduce inequities created by geography, resource constraints, discrimination, or gaps in healthcare delivery.

Another key component is "de-implementation," which focuses on reducing or stopping the use of practices that are ineffective, unproven, low-value, or harmful. The NOFO highlights that improving health systems is not only about increasing adoption of good practices, but also about understanding how and why outdated or harmful practices persist and what strategies successfully remove them. De-implementation research can include identifying drivers of overuse, measuring harms and opportunity costs, and testing approaches to change clinician behavior, organizational norms, reimbursement incentives, or patient expectations.

The NOFO also welcomes proposals that advance dissemination and implementation research methods and measures. That includes improving the tools researchers and practitioners use to assess implementation outcomes (for example, adoption, fidelity, feasibility, acceptability, penetration, sustainability, cost, and equity impacts), developing stronger study designs for real-world implementation questions, and refining frameworks and analytic approaches for complex, multi-level health systems. Method-focused projects are relevant when they meaningfully strengthen how implementation research is conducted and interpreted, especially across diverse settings.

In addition, the NOFO notes continued relevance of research on re-implementation, especially when evidence-based health services are disrupted by disasters such as pandemics or climate-related events. This reflects a practical concern: services can be interrupted due to workforce shortages, supply chain breakdowns, facility closures, or shifting priorities, and systems then need tested strategies to restore and stabilize effective care. Proposed studies can examine how to resume delivery, rebuild implementation supports, and strengthen resilience so that evidence-based services are less vulnerable to future disruptions.

This is an R01 mechanism, meaning it is intended for well-developed research projects that can support substantial, multi-year investigations. Clinical trials are optional, so applicants may propose trials when appropriate, but they are not required. All projects must fit within the mission and scientific scope of one of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers associated with the announcement, so applicants should align their topic area, setting, and outcomes with the priorities of the relevant NIH component.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city or township governments; 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other entities. The NOFO also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth supports the real-world, cross-sector nature of dissemination and implementation research, which often involves partnerships among healthcare systems, public health agencies, community organizations, schools, and policy stakeholders.

Key administrative details from the source information include that the agency is the NIH, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the funding instrument is a grant. The opportunity was created on 2024-10-29 and lists an original closing date of 2028-01-07, suggesting a multi-year posting with multiple due dates typical of NIH program announcements. The funding activity categories span education, environment, food and nutrition, health, and income security and social services, reflecting the wide range of settings where implementation barriers and solutions may be studied. The opportunity also lists multiple CFDA numbers (now often referred to under assistance listings), indicating participation across numerous NIH components and program areas.

Overall, PAR-25-144 is aimed at researchers and implementation partners who want to generate practical, generalizable evidence about how to increase the real-world use, quality, and durability of proven health interventions, while also reducing inequities, eliminating low-value care, improving implementation research methods, and strengthening the ability of health services to recover and function during and after disruptive events.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 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, 93.121, 93.172, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.310, 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-01-07.
• 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 PAR 25 144

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