Secondary Analyses in Obesity, Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 18 741

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 741

The funding opportunity titled "Secondary Analyses in Obesity, Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (PA-18-741) is a National Institutes of Health grant program that supports small, exploratory research projects focused on analyzing data that already exist. It is aimed at investigators who want to test new or unconventional ideas without collecting new primary data, and it is specifically framed around secondary analysis, meaning the main work of the project should be extracting additional scientific value from completed studies, established cohorts, registries, clinical databases, administrative claims, biospecimen-linked datasets, or other previously collected resources. A key boundary is that this mechanism does not support clinical trials, and the emphasis is on analysis rather than generating or presenting new datasets.

Scientifically, the scope is broad but clearly centered on diseases and conditions that fall within obesity, diabetes, and digestive and kidney disease research priorities. On the diabetes and endocrine side, it includes diabetes and selected endocrine and metabolic disorders such as thyroid and parathyroid diseases, Cushing's disease, and acromegaly. It also explicitly includes genetic and inherited metabolic diseases, with examples like cystic fibrosis, lysosomal storage disorders, and disorders involving the urea cycle, amino acid metabolism, and metal transport, particularly when the research focus relates to peripheral metabolism or organ function. In addition, the FOA covers obesity, liver diseases, diseases of the alimentary gastrointestinal tract, and nutrition-related research, as well as kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. In practical terms, this allows applicants to propose analyses that cut across metabolism, endocrine function, digestion, liver biology, renal physiology, and related systemic complications, as long as the project is grounded in reanalyzing existing data.

The overall goal of the program is to encourage innovative hypothesis generation and hypothesis testing using already available data resources. Projects are expected to be analytic at their core, for example by applying new statistical approaches to an established dataset, combining variables in novel ways, examining understudied subgroups, evaluating new biomarkers already measured in a dataset, exploring mechanistic pathways using existing multi-omic or clinical measures, or assessing relationships and outcomes that were not part of the original aims of a study. The program language underscores that the purpose is not primarily to prepare datasets for sharing or to focus on data presentation; the value proposition is the scientific insight gained through analysis.

The funding mechanism is an NIH R21, which is commonly used for early-stage, high-risk/high-reward, or pilot-style projects that can be completed with limited time and budget. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $200,000, signaling a relatively modest funding level consistent with R21 expectations. The activity category is listed under Food and Nutrition and Health, and the CFDA number associated with it is 93.847. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program administered by NIH.

Eligibility is expansive and includes many types of applicants across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, along with public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, provided they are not institutions of higher education. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, and the FOA lists "others" as an eligible category, which typically reflects NIH's broad eligibility framework when the proposed work aligns with the institute mission and requirements.

The announcement also emphasizes inclusion of institutions and organizations that are often highlighted in federal funding eligibility language, 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, eligible federal government agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This makes the program accessible to a wide range of institutions that may have access to unique datasets or populations relevant to the diseases in scope, or that are positioned to ask novel questions from existing data sources.

Administratively, the opportunity was created on April 3, 2018, and the listed original closing date is May 7, 2021. Even when a specific closing date is shown in a summary record, applicants typically need to confirm the current status and available receipt dates in the official NIH and grants portal listings, since NIH opportunities sometimes operate under multi-year parent announcements or are updated, reissued, or expired over time.

In summary, this FOA is designed for researchers who can leverage existing datasets to produce new insights related to metabolic, endocrine, digestive, liver, renal, urologic, hematologic, obesity, nutrition, and diabetes-related conditions. The strongest fit is a proposal that clearly explains what dataset(s) will be used, what new hypothesis or analytic approach will be applied, why the question matters to the disease areas named in the FOA, and how the work can be completed as an R21-scale analysis project without conducting a clinical trial or building a new primary dataset.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Analyses in Obesity, Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21 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): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-07. (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.

Apply for PA 18 741

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