Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 09 032
Apply for PA 09 032
- The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biosocial Approaches to Infertility Research (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 9, 2008 and posted on Dec 9, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2012. (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: Independent school districts County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Biosocial Approaches to Infertility Research (R21) funding opportunity (PA 09-032) is an NIH grant announcement issued by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It is designed to push infertility research beyond a purely biomedical or purely social science lens by supporting early-stage, exploratory collaborations that genuinely integrate socio-behavioral science and biomedical science. The central idea is that infertility is not only a clinical or physiological condition but also an experience shaped by behavior, relationships, culture, access to care, stigma, stress, decision-making, and health systems, and that these factors can, in turn, influence biological processes and clinical outcomes.
This opportunity specifically encourages investigator-initiated projects that are exploratory or developmental in nature, meaning they can be higher-risk, concept-forming, or method-building efforts rather than large, fully mature research programs. The expectation is that applicants will propose innovative cross-disciplinary work that either (1) builds methods or theories that bring biomedical dimensions of infertility into social and behavioral research, or (2) builds methods or theories that allow biomedical researchers to address the social and behavioral realities affecting the patient populations they study or treat. In practice, that could mean developing new measurement tools, conceptual models, or integrated study designs that connect clinical infertility indicators and treatment pathways with psychosocial variables such as stress, mental health, relationship dynamics, healthcare seeking behavior, communication with providers, cultural norms, or socioeconomic barriers.
A strong application under this FOA would typically feature a team that spans multiple disciplines and methodologies, with collaborators who can credibly bridge clinical/biological infertility expertise and social/behavioral science expertise. The program emphasizes creative combinations of scientific backgrounds rather than parallel play, so the collaboration is expected to be built into the research aims, not simply listed as co-investigators from different fields. Projects can be framed as basic research or clinical research, as long as the work meaningfully advances biosocial integration in the context of infertility.
The award mechanism is the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21). In the source listing, the award ceiling is noted as $200,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the broad activity area of Health, Income Security, and Social Services, and is associated with CFDA number 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research). The announcement was originally posted on December 9, 2008, with a closing date of January 7, 2012, and an archive date of February 7, 2012, meaning it is no longer active as a current competition but remains as a reference point for the type of NIH work NICHD was seeking under this program.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. It also explicitly includes tribal governments and tribal organizations (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign (non-U.S.) entities and regional organizations. The eligibility notes also call out categories such as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations, along with eligible federal agencies. This breadth signals that NICHD was open to interdisciplinary teams housed in universities, clinical settings, community organizations, or other research-capable institutions, as long as the proposed work fit the biosocial infertility focus.
In short, this FOA targeted the gap between biology and lived experience in infertility research. It sought to seed new interdisciplinary approaches that could later mature into larger, more definitive projects, while making sure the research questions, methods, and frameworks truly connect biomedical aspects of infertility with the social and behavioral factors that shape patient experiences and outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Biosocial Approaches to Infertility Research (R21) (PA 09-032)
What is the Biosocial Approaches to Infertility Research (R21) opportunity?
This is an NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA) titled Biosocial Approaches to Infertility Research (R21), identified as PA 09-032. It was issued by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to support exploratory research that integrates biomedical infertility science with social and behavioral science.
Which NIH institute issued this FOA?
The FOA was issued by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to push infertility research beyond a purely biomedical or purely social science lens by supporting early-stage, cross-disciplinary projects that genuinely integrate socio-behavioral and biomedical approaches. The FOA is built around the idea that infertility is both a clinical/physiological condition and a lived experience shaped by behavioral, relational, cultural, and health-system factors.
What does "biosocial" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, "biosocial" refers to research that connects biological and clinical aspects of infertility (such as clinical indicators and treatment pathways) with social and behavioral factors (such as stigma, stress, decision-making, relationships, access to care, cultural norms, communication with providers, and socioeconomic barriers). It also reflects the idea that these social and behavioral factors can influence biological processes and clinical outcomes.
What type of research does the FOA encourage?
The FOA encourages investigator-initiated projects that are exploratory or developmental. These may be higher-risk, concept-forming, or method-building efforts intended to seed innovative approaches rather than support a large, fully mature research program.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The award mechanism is the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21).
What is the funding ceiling mentioned for this R21?
In the source listing, the award ceiling is noted as $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Is this FOA intended for basic research, clinical research, or both?
Projects can be framed as basic research or clinical research, as long as they meaningfully advance biosocial integration in the context of infertility.
What kinds of projects would fit well under this FOA?
Projects are expected to propose innovative cross-disciplinary work that does at least one of the following:
- Build methods or theories that bring biomedical dimensions of infertility into social and behavioral research.
- Build methods or theories that allow biomedical researchers to address the social and behavioral realities affecting the patient populations they study or treat.
What are examples of biosocial elements that could be integrated in a study?
The FOA highlights integration of clinical infertility indicators and treatment pathways with psychosocial variables such as stress, mental health, relationship dynamics, healthcare-seeking behavior, communication with providers, cultural norms, stigma, access to care, and socioeconomic barriers.
Does the FOA support developing new tools or frameworks?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes that projects could involve developing new measurement tools, conceptual models, or integrated study designs that connect biomedical and psychosocial dimensions of infertility.
How important is cross-disciplinary collaboration for this opportunity?
Cross-disciplinary collaboration is central to the FOA. A strong application would typically include a team spanning multiple disciplines and methodologies, with collaborators who can credibly bridge clinical/biological infertility expertise and social/behavioral science expertise.
What does the FOA mean by avoiding "parallel play" between disciplines?
The FOA emphasizes genuine integration rather than separate, side-by-side contributions. Collaboration is expected to be built into the research aims and design, not merely represented by listing co-investigators from different fields.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants listed include public and private institutions of higher education; state and local governments (including county, city/township, and special districts); independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes tribal governments and tribal organizations, including federally recognized tribes and tribes other than federally recognized.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the eligibility description.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes foreign (non-U.S.) entities and regional organizations.
Does the FOA encourage applications from specific institution types (like HBCUs or HSIs)?
Yes. The eligibility notes call out categories such as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations, along with eligible federal agencies.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.865, described as Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
How is this opportunity categorized in terms of activity area?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant within the broad activity area of Health, Income Security, and Social Services.
Is this grant opportunity still open?
No. The announcement was originally posted on December 9, 2008, with a closing date of January 7, 2012. It has an archive date of February 7, 2012, indicating it is no longer active as a current competition and remains as a reference point.
What is the practical takeaway if the FOA is archived?
Based on the provided information, the FOA remains useful as a reference for the kind of interdisciplinary, biosocial infertility research NICHD was seeking under this program, even though it is not an active competition.
What overall gap was NICHD trying to address with this FOA?
The FOA targeted the gap between biology and lived experience in infertility research. It sought to seed new interdisciplinary approaches that connect biomedical aspects of infertility with social and behavioral factors that shape patient experiences and outcomes, with the expectation that successful exploratory work could later mature into larger projects.
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