Exploratory/Developmental Clinical Research Grants in Obesity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 720

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 720

The NIH funding opportunity titled "Exploratory/Developmental Clinical Research Grants in Obesity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 18 720) supports early-stage, exploratory, and developmental research aimed at speeding up the creation and testing of effective interventions to prevent or treat overweight and obesity in both adults and children. The emphasis is on clinical studies that help move promising ideas toward practical, evidence-based approaches that could eventually be scaled or tested in larger, definitive trials. Although it is an R21 mechanism, which is typically used for high-impact, early-phase work, the announcement makes clear that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose either clinical studies that include a trial component or other kinds of clinical research that do not meet the definition of a trial, as long as the work is clearly positioned to advance obesity prevention or treatment.

A key feature of this FOA is its interest in studies that are exploratory but still directly relevant to improving real-world interventions. That includes early testing of novel strategies, approaches, or tools that could meaningfully influence body weight outcomes or obesity-related health risks. The program also supports exploratory epidemiological research, but only when it is intentionally designed to inform translational or clinical research. In practice, that means observational or population-based work should not be purely descriptive; it should be framed to identify actionable targets, inform intervention design, refine risk stratification, improve measurement strategies, or otherwise provide a bridge to clinical application.

The award is offered as a discretionary grant through the National Institutes of Health, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.321, 93.393, 93.399, 93.847, 93.865), reflecting NIH involvement across several institutes or program areas linked to health, nutrition, and related services. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, which aligns with the R21’s role in supporting smaller, focused projects intended to establish feasibility, generate preliminary data, or rapidly assess innovative concepts that could justify larger follow-on funding. While the source data does not specify the number of expected awards, the program is structured to encourage a range of applicants and research ideas, consistent with the R21’s purpose of fostering innovation and early development.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government 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; and a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education where specified). The opportunity also allows applications from for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. In addition, the announcement highlights other 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, and U.S. territories or possessions. It also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations or tribal governments that are not federally recognized, expanding access to communities that are often directly impacted by obesity-related disparities.

At the same time, there are important limits regarding foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. However, the FOA allows "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically means a U.S. applicant may include certain international elements in the project if they are well-justified, clearly described, and compliant with NIH policy. This distinction matters for teams that rely on specialized expertise, datasets, recruitment, or collaborations that may involve international partners while keeping the primary applicant and organizational control within the United States.

Administrative details in the source indicate the FOA was created on March 27, 2018, and the original closing date listed is September 7, 2020. The activity categories associated with the opportunity include education, food and nutrition, health, and income security and social services, which reflects the reality that obesity research often crosses traditional boundaries, spanning clinical medicine, behavioral science, nutrition, community systems, and broader social determinants. Overall, this FOA is positioned for investigators and institutions that want to test new intervention ideas, refine clinical approaches, or conduct epidemiological work designed to directly feed the next generation of translational and clinical obesity research.

• 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 "Exploratory/Developmental Clinical Research Grants in Obesity (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): 93.321, 93.393, 93.399, 93.847, 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-07. (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 18 720

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