Biology of Manual Therapies (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Biology of Manual Therapies (R01) funding opportunity (PA-10-209)?

PA-10-209 was a discretionary NIH grant announcement that used the R01 mechanism to support full-scale, hypothesis-driven basic science research on the biology of commonly used manual therapies. The focus was on understanding how these interventions affect the body, especially through measurable mechanistic and physiological changes.

Which NIH organizations led and partnered on this announcement?

The announcement was led by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM, now known as NCCIH) in partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

What was the main goal of PA-10-209?

The central goal was to fund rigorous basic science studies that explain the underlying mechanisms and biological consequences of manual therapies, moving beyond the question of whether a therapy "works" to clarify what changes it produces in biological systems and how those changes may relate to health outcomes.

What kinds of manual therapies were specifically mentioned?

The FOA specifically encouraged research on interventions such as spinal manipulation, mobilization, and massage therapy.

What scientific areas or outcomes did the FOA emphasize measuring?

The announcement emphasized measurable effects in areas including biomechanics, immune function, endocrine responses, and neurophysiology.

What type of research was encouraged: clinical effectiveness or mechanisms of action?

The FOA emphasized mechanisms of action and biological consequences. It encouraged studies designed to explain how manual therapies produce changes in tissues, cells, signaling pathways, or physiological systems, and how those changes might relate to health outcomes.

What NIH grant mechanism did this opportunity use?

This opportunity used the NIH R01 mechanism, which is generally intended for full-scale research projects with a well-developed research plan and sufficient preliminary rationale for a multi-year effort.

Was there a companion opportunity for exploratory projects?

Yes. The FOA noted that it ran in parallel with a companion announcement of the same scientific scope using the R21 mechanism (PA-10-210), which generally supports earlier-stage or more exploratory work.

How should an applicant decide between the R01 (PA-10-209) and the companion R21 (PA-10-210)?

Based on the FOA description, applicants were being directed toward the R01 route when they had a more mature and comprehensive set of aims, methods, and infrastructure to study mechanisms in depth, while the R21 route aligned more with earlier-stage or exploratory projects.

Were the funding levels and number of awards predetermined?

No. NIH did not set fixed funding levels or a fixed number of awards in advance. Award size and project duration were expected to vary based on each application’s scientific scope and needs, and the number of awards depended on factors such as submission volume, scientific merit, requested budgets, and program priorities.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The FOA stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

What types of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad. The listed eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and many types of government entities (such as state, county, city or township governments, independent school districts, special district governments, and public housing authorities).

Were tribal organizations and specialized institution types included in eligibility?

Yes. The FOA explicitly included tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Could foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply?

Yes. The eligible applicant types listed in the opportunity included foreign (non-U.S.) entities.

Did the FOA include U.S. territories or regional organizations as eligible applicants?

Yes. The FOA explicitly listed U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations among eligible applicants.

When was PA-10-209 created and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted and created on May 27, 2010. It had an original closing date and a final closing date of January 7, 2014.

When was the announcement archived?

The announcement was archived on February 7, 2014.

Which CFDA numbers were associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was cataloged under CFDA 93.213 (Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health) and CFDA 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research).

What did the CFDA numbers indicate about the scope or relevance of the program?

The CFDA numbers reflected involvement from NCCAM/NCCIH and NCI, signaling relevance both to complementary/integrative health research and to cancer-related research areas, including contexts such as symptom management or supportive care where manual therapies are sometimes used.

What kinds of biological changes was the program interested in identifying?

The program sought studies that clarify changes produced by manual therapies at levels such as tissues, cells, signaling pathways, and broader physiological systems, with the idea that these measurable changes could help explain observed clinical effects and relate them to health outcomes.

What broader impact was PA-10-209 intended to have on manual therapy research?

The FOA was structured to strengthen the biological foundation of manual therapy research by supporting mechanistic studies that could explain clinical observations, identify biomarkers or physiological signatures of response, and improve the credibility and precision of future clinical research.

Where were applicants directed for detailed requirements?

The announcement directed applicants to the full NIH posting for detailed requirements.

Who was listed for technical help with access or linking issues?

The FOA provided NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts for technical access or linking issues.