Diet Composition and Energy Balance (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Diet Composition and Energy Balance (R01) funding opportunity?

The Diet Composition and Energy Balance (R01) funding opportunity (PA 10-152) is an NIH grant program supporting research projects that examine how the composition of the diet influences energy balance. It is designed for studies that help explain how what people (or animals) eat affects appetite, metabolism, energy expenditure, weight change, and the ability to lose weight or maintain weight over time.

Which NIH grant mechanism does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism, which is NIH's standard award for investigator-driven research projects.

What is the central research theme of this FOA?

A central theme is diet composition, meaning the types and proportions of nutrients in a diet, and how those characteristics influence energy balance outcomes such as appetite regulation, metabolic processes, energy expenditure, and weight outcomes.

What kinds of diet factors are within scope besides macronutrient percentages?

In addition to macronutrient distribution, the scope includes micronutrients and other dietary characteristics such as energy density (calories per gram of food), dietary variety, nutrient absorption, and absorption profiles. These features can meaningfully influence caloric intake and weight outcomes.

Are both macronutrients and micronutrients included in the scope?

Yes. The FOA encourages research on macronutrients (carbohydrate, fat, protein) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and other smaller dietary components), including how they affect hunger and satiety signals, metabolic pathways, hormonal regulation, and energy expenditure.

What types of research approaches does the FOA welcome?

The announcement is intentionally broad and welcomes a wide range of approaches, from controlled laboratory studies that investigate biological mechanisms to clinical studies that test real-world diet strategies.

Does the FOA support basic science (mechanistic) studies?

Yes. On the basic science side, applicants may propose tightly controlled experiments that isolate how changing a single nutrient or nutrient ratio alters physiology, feeding behavior, or metabolic rate.

Does the FOA support clinical or translational studies?

Yes. On the clinical and translational side, applicants might evaluate diets that differ in macronutrient distribution, micronutrient composition, absorption profiles, variety, or energy density for outcomes such as weight loss, prevention of weight regain, or long-term weight maintenance.

Are human and animal studies both allowed?

Yes. The FOA explicitly supports work in both animals and humans.

Are both short-term and long-term studies allowed?

Yes. The announcement explicitly welcomes both short-term and longer-term studies.

What kinds of outcomes or endpoints does this opportunity focus on?

Examples described include appetite and satiety, metabolism, energy expenditure, weight change, weight loss, prevention of weight regain, and long-term weight maintenance. The overall intent is to clarify not only whether a diet works, but why it works, for whom, and under what conditions.

Is the funding opportunity limited to a single disease area?

No. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning areas such as complementary and integrative health research, alcohol research programs, cancer cause and prevention research, cardiovascular diseases research, and aging research. This reflects that diet and energy balance research cuts across many disease areas and NIH priorities.

Is there a fixed award size or fixed project duration?

No. NIH does not specify a single fixed award size or duration for this opportunity. Budgets and project periods are expected to match the scope of the proposed work.

Is the number of awards predetermined?

No. The number of awards and total funding are not preset and depend on factors such as the scientific merit and quality of applications received, the proposed durations, and requested costs.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and many government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts).

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA lists federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal governments and organizations as eligible applicants, including tribally controlled colleges and universities.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically included?

Yes. The FOA includes eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other listed institution types.

Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly lists faith-based and community-based organizations among eligible applicant categories.

Are applicants from U.S. territories or regional organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations among eligible applicant categories.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA lists eligible federal agencies as an eligible applicant category.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA indicates that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are eligible.

When was this FOA posted, and what were the closing dates?

The FOA was posted and created on March 24, 2010. The original and final closing date was May 7, 2013.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The announcement was archived on June 7, 2013, and the final closing date listed was May 7, 2013.

Where was the full announcement hosted?

The full archived announcement was hosted on the NIH grants website.

Who is listed as a support contact for access or linking issues?

NIH provided standard support contact information through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster for access or linking issues.