Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 017
The NIH funding opportunity "Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR 18-017) supports early-stage, exploratory projects that focus on getting proven, evidence-based health practices used more consistently and effectively in the real world. Rather than funding the creation of brand-new clinical interventions, this program is aimed at understanding how to spread and integrate interventions that already have evidence behind them, and how to make their delivery work in the settings where people actually receive services. The work can target public health systems, healthcare delivery organizations, and community-based environments, with the overall goal of closing the gap between what research shows is effective and what is routinely done in practice.
Projects under this announcement can involve identifying, developing, testing, evaluating, or refining strategies that improve dissemination (how information and evidence-based practices are communicated, packaged, and promoted) and implementation (how these practices are adopted, integrated, delivered with quality, and sustained over time). Examples of the kinds of evidence-based practices that could be the focus include behavioral interventions, prevention approaches, early detection and screening programs, diagnostic or treatment practices, disease management interventions, and quality improvement initiatives. The emphasis is on the strategies and processes that help organizations and communities adopt and maintain these practices, including understanding barriers and facilitators, tailoring implementation approaches to local contexts, and improving fidelity while still allowing appropriate adaptation.
A key feature of the FOA is that it also encourages work that advances dissemination and implementation (D and I) science itself. That includes developing or strengthening research methods, designs, measures, and metrics used in D and I studies. Applicants can propose studies that improve how implementation outcomes are measured (such as adoption, reach, acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, cost, sustainability, and equity impacts), or that refine methodologies for evaluating implementation strategies in complex, real-world systems. Because this is an R21 mechanism, the expectation is often that studies are innovative, exploratory, or high-impact pilot efforts that can generate data and lessons that support larger-scale research later.
The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose a study that does or does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, depending on the research question and design. This flexibility is useful in D and I research because some projects involve testing implementation strategies through trials, while others focus on observational, mixed-methods, measurement development, or systems-level evaluation approaches that do not qualify as clinical trials.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public, private, nonprofit, and community-based entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American 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, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, non-federally recognized tribal governments, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects the reality that implementation challenges and solutions often sit within communities and service systems, not just academic medical centers.
Administratively, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health. The opportunity category is discretionary, and the funding instrument is a grant. The activity categories listed include education, environment, health, income security, and social services, underscoring that D and I research often spans sectors that influence health. The CFDA numbers provided (including 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.399, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856, 93.865, and 93.866) indicate that multiple NIH institutes and centers may participate or align with this announcement, depending on the health topic area.
In terms of funding scale, the listed award ceiling is $200,000, consistent with the R21 program's role in supporting smaller, shorter-term exploratory research. The source data notes an original closing date of 2019-05-07 and a creation date of 2017-11-03, which situates this as a specific published FOA from that period. Overall, the program is best understood as NIH support for practical, scientifically rigorous studies that figure out how to make evidence-based health interventions actually stick in routine practice, and how to improve the tools and methods researchers use to study dissemination and implementation at scale.Apply for PAR 18 017
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Dissemination and Implementation Research in 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, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.399, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-05-07. (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 18-017.
Which agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
This FOA supports early-stage, exploratory dissemination and implementation (D and I) research focused on getting proven, evidence-based health practices used more consistently and effectively in real-world settings. The goal is to help close the gap between what research shows works and what is routinely done in practice.
Is this grant meant to create brand-new clinical interventions?
No. The emphasis is on spreading and integrating interventions that already have evidence behind them, and improving how those interventions are delivered within the real-world settings where people receive services.
What kinds of settings or systems can projects focus on?
Projects can target public health systems, healthcare delivery organizations, and community-based environments. The overall focus is on practical implementation in the places where services are actually delivered.
What does "dissemination" mean in the context of this FOA?
Dissemination refers to how information and evidence-based practices are communicated, packaged, and promoted so they are more likely to be understood and used.
What does "implementation" mean in the context of this FOA?
Implementation refers to how evidence-based practices are adopted, integrated, delivered with quality, and sustained over time in real-world service settings.
What types of project activities are encouraged under this FOA?
This FOA allows projects that identify, develop, test, evaluate, or refine strategies that improve dissemination and/or implementation of evidence-based practices, including work that examines barriers and facilitators, tailors approaches to local context, and supports quality delivery over time.
What types of evidence-based practices can be the focus of the research?
Examples mentioned include behavioral interventions, prevention approaches, early detection and screening programs, diagnostic or treatment practices, disease management interventions, and quality improvement initiatives.
What is the emphasis: the intervention itself or how it is used in practice?
The emphasis is on the strategies and processes that help organizations and communities adopt, integrate, deliver, and maintain evidence-based practices in routine practice, rather than inventing new interventions.
Does the FOA support studying barriers and facilitators to implementation?
Yes. The FOA specifically highlights understanding barriers and facilitators to uptake and sustained use, and improving implementation by tailoring strategies to local contexts.
How does the FOA address fidelity versus adaptation?
The description emphasizes improving fidelity (delivering with quality and consistency) while still allowing appropriate adaptation to fit real-world settings and local context.
Does this opportunity encourage advancing dissemination and implementation (D and I) science methods?
Yes. A key feature is encouraging work that advances D and I science itself, including development or strengthening of research methods, designs, measures, and metrics used in D and I studies.
What kinds of measurement or metrics work can be proposed?
The FOA encourages studies that improve how implementation outcomes are measured, including outcomes such as adoption, reach, acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, cost, sustainability, and equity impacts.
What types of study designs are appropriate for this FOA?
The FOA allows flexibility consistent with D and I research, including projects that may use trials of implementation strategies as well as observational approaches, mixed-methods studies, measurement development, and systems-level evaluation.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean here?
"Clinical Trial Optional" means an applicant may propose a study that does or does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, depending on the research question and design.
Why is the "Clinical Trial Optional" designation useful for D and I research?
It supports the reality that some D and I projects involve testing implementation strategies through trials, while others focus on non-trial approaches such as measurement development, observational or mixed-methods work, or evaluation in complex systems that may not qualify as clinical trials.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This FOA uses the R21 mechanism, which is commonly associated with innovative, exploratory, pilot, or high-impact early-stage work intended to generate lessons and data that can support larger studies later.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is listed as discretionary.
Which activity categories are associated with this FOA?
The activity categories listed include education, environment, health, income security, and social services, reflecting that dissemination and implementation research can span multiple sectors influencing health.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of entities across government, academia, nonprofit, community, and private sectors (including some foreign entities). The FOA’s eligibility list includes a wide range of organization types to match how implementation work occurs in real service systems and communities.
Are government entities eligible applicants?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and it also highlights non-federally recognized tribal governments.
Are nonprofits eligible, and does 501(c)(3) status matter?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories as stated in the provided description).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses.
Are community-based and faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant types.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligible federal agencies among eligible applicant types.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA indicates that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are eligible.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The description lists the following CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.399, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856, 93.865, and 93.866. This suggests multiple NIH institutes and centers may participate or align depending on the health topic area.
What is the closing date listed in the source information?
The source data notes an original closing date of 2019-05-07.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The source data lists a creation date of 2017-11-03.
What kind of impact is this FOA trying to achieve?
Overall, the program supports scientifically rigorous, practical studies that help evidence-based health practices stick in routine practice and also improve the tools and methods used to study dissemination and implementation at scale.
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| Research on the Health of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Populations (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 728 Funding Number: PA 18 728 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on the Health of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 729 Funding Number: PA 18 729 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (R25) Apply for RFA NS 19 007 Funding Number: RFA NS 19 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00) Apply for RFA NS 19 011 Funding Number: RFA NS 19 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 086 Funding Number: PA 19 086 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition: NeuroImaging Tools and Resources Collaboratory (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA EB 18 004 Funding Number: RFA EB 18 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HEALthy BCD) (Collaborative R34- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 029 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 029 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 134 Funding Number: PAR 19 134 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HEALthy BCD) ( R34- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 036 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 036 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
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| Transformative Research Award for the INCLUDE (Investigation of Co-occurring Conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndrome) Project (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 19 016 Funding Number: RFA OD 19 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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