Neuroimaging in Obesity Research (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Neuroimaging in Obesity Research (R01) funding opportunity?

Neuroimaging in Obesity Research (R01) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports research projects using neuroimaging to better understand obesity, including brain-based mechanisms that influence eating behavior, physical activity, and energy metabolism.

Which NIH institutes sponsor this opportunity?

This program is co-sponsored by three NIH institutes working together: the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB).

What is the main scientific idea behind this announcement?

The announcement is built around the idea that obesity is not only about diet and activity in an everyday sense, but also a brain-body regulation problem. Multiple brain systems communicate with peripheral organs to influence appetite, reward, satiety, motivation, decision-making related to food, and overall energy balance.

Why does the FOA emphasize neuroimaging for obesity research?

Neuroimaging methods, particularly functional approaches, are viewed as powerful tools for clarifying how brain circuits and brain-organ communication contribute to mismatches between energy intake and energy expenditure, especially in modern environments where calorie-dense foods are widely available.

What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?

This funding announcement uses the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism, which is NIH's standard grant type for investigator-initiated research projects and typically supports well-developed, hypothesis-driven studies with defined aims and a multi-year plan.

What kinds of studies does the program invite?

The opportunity invites R01 applications proposing neuroimaging studies in both human subjects and animal models. Applicants can propose human-focused studies, preclinical studies, or complementary projects that bridge both humans and animal models.

What research topics are highlighted as relevant to this FOA?

The FOA highlights research using imaging to expand understanding of neural circuits and brain-based mechanisms involved in appetite, reward, satiety, motivation, food-related decision-making, and other processes linked to energy balance and obesity.

Does the announcement limit applicants to functional neuroimaging only?

The text emphasizes neuroimaging methods (particularly functional approaches) as a key tool, and it broadly frames neuroimaging as central to the research focus. It does not describe a narrower limitation beyond the overarching requirement that the proposed work be imaging-centered and aimed at understanding obesity-related brain mechanisms.

Are both human and animal model projects eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly invites neuroimaging studies in human subjects and in animal models, including projects that combine or connect both approaches.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states that no cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants are not expected to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of an award.

How much funding was anticipated under this announcement?

The participating NIH institutes anticipated awarding up to a total of $4.5 million under this announcement.

How many awards were expected?

The program estimated approximately 9 to 15 awards, indicating a relatively small cohort of funded projects and a competitive funding environment.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); state governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations; and additional eligible entities such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) and regional organizations.

Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. The eligible applicant types include for-profit organizations, including small businesses and other for-profit entities.

Are nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status.

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

Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and regional organizations.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations are included among the eligible applicant types.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically included in the eligible applicant list?

Yes. The eligible entities explicitly include HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-DK-08-009.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posted date listed for this FOA is October 10, 2008.

What was the application closing date?

The original and final closing date listed is March 18, 2009.

Is this a current funding opportunity?

No. The listing is described as archived, with an archive date of April 18, 2009.

What CFDA program areas are associated with this opportunity?

The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA program areas reflecting the co-sponsorship, including areas tied to diabetes/digestive/kidney disease research, drug abuse and addiction research programs, and imaging/technological innovation programs to improve human health.

How should this FOA be understood in the broader context of obesity research?

It is framed as an NIH effort to push obesity research further upstream into brain mechanisms, using neuroimaging to explain how neural regulation and brain-organ communication can contribute to overeating, reduced activity, or inefficient energy balance in environments where calories are plentiful.