Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21)." The Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) is PAR-16-222.

Which agency sponsors this grant program?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is listed under HHS-NIH11.

What type of NIH grant mechanism is used?

The program uses the NIH R21 mechanism. R21 awards are generally intended for early-stage, developmental, and exploratory research, such as piloting a concept, testing a new idea, developing novel methods, or generating preliminary evidence that could support a later, larger study.

What is the overall purpose of this FOA?

The purpose is to support innovative health services research that can lead to practical improvements in minority health and reductions in health disparities. The emphasis is on producing findings that can inform realistic strategies that health systems, clinics, and related organizations could adopt.

What kinds of research topics fit this opportunity?

Projects may focus on health care delivery and system-level factors that drive unequal outcomes. Examples mentioned include differences in quality of care, barriers to access, care coordination problems, patient-provider communication, the impact of organizational policies, and the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve health service delivery for populations experiencing worse outcomes.

Does this program focus on documenting disparities or changing them?

Based on the description provided, the intent is not simply to document disparities. It is to stimulate research that explains system-level drivers of unequal outcomes and identifies approaches that could improve equity in care processes and outcomes.

What is meant by "health services research" in this FOA?

In this context, health services research is research tied to how care is delivered, organized, accessed, paid for, and experienced by patients. The FOA emphasizes work at the level of health care systems and within clinical care settings.

Do projects need to be connected to clinical settings or health care systems?

Yes. The central focus is on research operating at the level of health care systems and within clinical care settings, meaning the work should be closely tied to real-world care delivery and patient experience.

What populations or issues should the research address?

The FOA is centered on minority health and health disparities, with an emphasis on patients from minority populations and other groups experiencing disparities in health outcomes and care.

What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?

The FOA is associated with funding activity categories that include education and health.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?

The associated CFDA numbers listed are 93.273, 93.279, and 93.307.

Who is eligible to apply?

A wide range of organizations are eligible, including: state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized in the eligibility list); public housing authorities; Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Are tribal entities eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations, including those not federally recognized in the eligibility list.

Are nonprofits eligible, and does 501(c)(3) status matter?

Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories, since higher education institutions are addressed separately in the eligibility list).

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses.

Are schools and universities eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.

Are government entities eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes multiple levels and types of government entities, including state, county, city or township, and special district governments.

Is there an "Other" eligibility category?

Yes. The FOA references an "Others" category with a note to consult additional eligibility language in the full announcement, which typically clarifies special circumstances or requirements.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The listed award ceiling is $200,000, which indicates an upper limit on the amount that can be requested under this opportunity. (NIH ceilings are often discussed in terms of direct costs, though the exact interpretation depends on the FOA's specific wording.)

How many awards will NIH make under this FOA?

The expected number of awards is not provided in the supplied information.

When was this FOA posted?

The FOA was created and posted on May 4, 2016.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The provided record lists a closing date of April 11, 2019, with the original and current closing dates matching.

What kind of project scope is this FOA designed to support?

The structure suggests a competitive NIH program intended to seed promising, high-impact ideas at an early stage. It emphasizes innovation and development rather than large, long-term trials.

What outcomes is this research expected to influence?

The FOA emphasizes practical improvements in minority health and reductions in health disparities, particularly through changes or strategies affecting care processes and outcomes within health care delivery settings.