Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 08 193
Apply for PA 08 193
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geographic and Contextual Influences on Energy Balance Related Health Behaviors (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.209 Contraception and Infertility Research Loan Repayment Program 93.361 Nursing Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Jul 3, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments Small businesses County governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Independent school districts Private institutions of higher education Special district governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Geographic and Contextual Influences on Energy Balance Related Health Behaviors (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 08 193) is an NIH funding announcement led by the National Cancer Institute and joined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research. The main goal is to support hypothesis-driven, exploratory studies that examine how the places people live, work, and spend time influence health behaviors tied to energy balance, meaning behaviors that affect calories in and calories out, such as diet, physical activity, and related lifestyle patterns. The emphasis is not simply on individual choice, but on how built environment and broader contextual conditions shape those behaviors across different ages and settings, including home neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and other routine environments.
The projects this FOA is trying to stimulate are meant to use population-level data rather than small convenience samples. Applicants are expected to work with existing health surveys and large cohort or surveillance studies, then enhance those data by adding geographic and contextual information at multiple levels of geographic detail. In practice, that means using methods like geographic information systems (GIS) to connect people and places, so the analysis can test whether features like walkability, land use mix, street connectivity, access to parks or recreational facilities, food retail patterns, transportation infrastructure, or natural environment characteristics are associated with behaviors that influence energy balance. The announcement also signals an interest in comparing the relative importance of different contextual influences, for example whether the home neighborhood matters more than the work neighborhood for physical activity patterns, or how school environments interact with surrounding communities for children and adolescents.
Methodologically, the FOA highlights three common approaches applicants may use, and many competitive projects will likely blend more than one. First, investigators may generate new GIS-based data layers and link them onto existing health datasets, effectively creating new contextual exposure variables that were not originally part of the parent study. Second, applicants may analyze existing confidential geographic data (such as restricted geocodes) that cannot be publicly released and therefore must be accessed in controlled settings like Research Data Centers, on-site secure enclaves, or other protected locations. Third, applicants may merge multiple health-related data sources to enable analyses that were not possible with any single dataset alone, such as pairing survey outcomes with environmental measures, administrative datasets, or spatial indicators to test specific hypotheses about context and behavior.
This is an R21 exploratory/developmental award, which is designed for early-stage, innovative, or pilot-style research that can open up a new line of inquiry or establish feasibility for larger work. The FOA runs in parallel with a companion announcement of the same scientific scope using the R01 mechanism (PA 08 192), which is relevant for teams whose projects are already mature enough for a full-scale research project grant. Under the R21 rules described here, the total project period may not exceed two years, and the budget is capped at 275,000 in direct costs across the two-year period, with no more than 200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year. The R21 mechanism is not renewable, so it is intended as a standalone exploratory project rather than a long, continuing support structure.
In terms of award volume, NIH does not commit to a specific number of awards under this announcement. Funding depends on federal appropriations, institute priorities, and how many high-quality applications are received. The size and scope of funded projects can vary, which is typical for R21 programs, because different datasets, access requirements for restricted geocodes, and GIS development tasks can drive different cost profiles.
The application format and constraints are also clearly defined. The Research Plan section for the R21 version of the PHS398 is limited to 15 pages total (covering Items 2 through 5), and that page limit includes tables, figures, graphs, diagrams, and charts. The expectation is that applicants will be focused and specific: a small number of tightly framed hypotheses, clear analytic plans, and a realistic two-year timeline that fits the exploratory intent of the mechanism.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of domestic and non-domestic organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; small businesses and other for-profit organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; special district governments; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; faith-based and community-based organizations; and federal agencies. Foreign (non-U.S.) entities are also listed as eligible in the additional eligibility information, which is notable for teams seeking international comparisons or collaborations, assuming the project still aligns with NIH policies and the scientific aims of the FOA.
From the investigator standpoint, the FOA invites any qualified researchers with the expertise and resources to conduct the work, and it explicitly encourages applications from individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities. Multiple principal investigators are allowed, which can be important for this topic area because strong applications often require interdisciplinary leadership across fields like epidemiology, behavioral science, geography/GIS, biostatistics, urban planning, transportation, and public health policy. Applicants may submit more than one application as long as each is scientifically distinct. Resubmissions are permitted, but they must include an introduction that directly responds to the prior peer review critique. Competing renewals are not accepted because the R21 is intended for new projects only.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted July 3, 2008, with an original closing date of September 7, 2011, and it was archived October 8, 2011. It is therefore a historical funding announcement rather than an open, currently active competition, but the description remains a useful snapshot of NIH priorities around integrating geographic context and environmental measures into population health research on diet and physical activity. The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the CFDA program areas connected to the participating institutes span cancer, cardiovascular disease, nursing research, and child health, reflecting the cross-cutting relevance of energy balance behaviors to multiple disease outcomes and life stages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number and title?
The funding opportunity is titled "Geographic and Contextual Influences on Energy Balance Related Health Behaviors (R21)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is PA-08-193.
Which agency and NIH institutes are involved?
The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The announcement is led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and joined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR).
What is the main purpose of this R21 opportunity?
The goal is to support hypothesis-driven, exploratory studies examining how geographic place and broader contextual conditions (where people live, work, go to school, and spend routine time) shape energy balance-related health behaviors.
What does "energy balance-related health behaviors" mean in this FOA?
Energy balance refers to behaviors influencing calories in and calories out. Examples highlighted include diet, physical activity, and related lifestyle patterns tied to energy intake and expenditure.
Is this FOA focused on individual choice or on environmental/contextual factors?
The emphasis is not simply on individual choice. The FOA prioritizes how the built environment and broader contextual conditions shape behaviors across different ages and settings.
What types of settings or "places" are relevant for this research?
The FOA explicitly references multiple routine environments, including home neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and other places where people regularly spend time.
What types of datasets are applicants expected to use?
Projects are meant to use population-level data, not small convenience samples. Applicants are expected to work with existing health surveys and large cohort or surveillance studies, then enhance those data with geographic and contextual information.
Are small convenience samples appropriate for this announcement?
No. The FOA indicates projects are intended to use population-level data rather than small convenience samples.
What kinds of geographic or contextual variables does the FOA mention?
Examples include GIS-linked measures such as walkability, land use mix, street connectivity, access to parks or recreational facilities, food retail patterns, transportation infrastructure, and natural environment characteristics.
How does GIS fit into the expected approach?
The FOA anticipates using tools such as geographic information systems (GIS) to connect people and places by linking existing health data with contextual exposure measures at multiple levels of geographic detail.
Does the FOA encourage comparing different contexts (home vs. work vs. school)?
Yes. The FOA signals interest in comparing the relative importance of contextual influences (for example, whether home neighborhood matters more than work neighborhood for physical activity), and in studying how school environments interact with surrounding communities for children and adolescents.
What methodological approaches does the FOA highlight?
The FOA highlights three common approaches that applicants may use (often in combination):
- Creating new GIS-based data layers and linking them to existing health datasets to create new contextual exposure variables.
- Analyzing confidential geographic data (e.g., restricted geocodes) that require controlled access settings (such as Research Data Centers or secure enclaves).
- Merging multiple health-related data sources to enable analyses not possible with any single dataset alone.
Can projects rely on restricted geographic identifiers?
Yes. The FOA specifically describes analyses using confidential geographic data (restricted geocodes) that cannot be publicly released and may require access via Research Data Centers, on-site secure enclaves, or other protected locations.
What grant mechanism is used, and what does it imply?
This is an R21 exploratory/developmental award. It is designed for early-stage, innovative, pilot-style research intended to open new lines of inquiry or establish feasibility for larger future work.
Is there a related opportunity for more mature, full-scale projects?
Yes. The FOA notes a companion announcement with the same scientific scope using the R01 mechanism (PA-08-192), which is relevant for projects ready for a full-scale research project grant.
What is the maximum project period for this R21?
The total project period may not exceed two years.
What is the budget cap for this R21?
The budget is capped at $275,000 in direct costs across the two-year period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs in any single year.
Can an R21 be renewed under this opportunity?
No. The FOA states that the R21 mechanism is not renewable, meaning it is intended as a standalone exploratory project rather than a long, continuing support structure.
How many awards will NIH make under this announcement?
NIH does not commit to a specific number of awards. Funding depends on federal appropriations, institute priorities, and the number of high-quality applications received.
Why might project budgets and scope vary across awards?
The FOA notes that size and scope can vary, which is typical for R21 programs, because needs differ by project (for example, costs related to restricted geocode access, dataset requirements, or GIS development tasks).
What is the Research Plan page limit for the R21 application?
For the R21 version of the PHS398, the Research Plan section is limited to 15 pages total (Items 2 through 5), and the limit includes tables, figures, graphs, diagrams, and charts.
What kind of scientific plan does the FOA expect within the page and time constraints?
The FOA emphasizes being focused and specific, with a small number of tightly framed hypotheses, clear analytic plans, and a realistic two-year timeline consistent with the exploratory intent of an R21.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Examples listed include: state/county/city/township governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private higher education institutions; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); small businesses and other for-profit organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; special district governments; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; faith-based and community-based organizations; and federal agencies.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA notes that foreign (non-U.S.) entities are eligible in the additional eligibility information, which may be relevant for international comparisons or collaborations, as long as the project aligns with NIH policies and the FOA aims.
Who is eligible to serve as Principal Investigator (PI)?
The FOA invites any qualified researchers with the expertise and resources to conduct the work. It also explicitly encourages applications from individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities.
Are multiple Principal Investigators allowed?
Yes. Multiple principal investigators are allowed, which may be important given the interdisciplinary nature of the topic (e.g., epidemiology, behavioral science, geography/GIS, biostatistics, urban planning, transportation, and public health policy).
Can an applicant submit more than one application?
Yes. Applicants may submit more than one application as long as each is scientifically distinct.
Are resubmissions allowed?
Yes. Resubmissions are permitted, but they must include an introduction that directly responds to the prior peer review critique.
Are competing renewals accepted?
No. The FOA states that competing renewals are not accepted because the R21 is intended for new projects only.
When was this FOA posted and what is its current status?
The FOA was posted on July 3, 2008, had an original closing date of September 7, 2011, and was archived on October 8, 2011. It is a historical funding announcement rather than a currently open competition.
Why is this FOA still useful if it is archived?
Based on the description provided, the archived FOA remains a useful snapshot of NIH priorities around integrating geographic context and environmental measures into population health research on diet and physical activity.
What disease or program areas are connected to the participating institutes?
The CFDA program areas connected to the participating institutes span cancer, cardiovascular disease, nursing research, and child health, reflecting that energy balance behaviors are relevant across multiple disease outcomes and life stages.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health
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Previous opportunity: Geographic and Contextual Influences on Energy Balance Related Health Behaviors (R01)
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