Planning Grants for Translational Research for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes and Obesity (R34) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Planning Grants for Translational Research for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes and Obesity (R34)" opportunity?

This is an NIH funding opportunity (PAR-09-177) that supports planning and pilot work to help move proven diabetes and obesity interventions from controlled research settings into real-world health care and community-relevant practice. The goal is to prepare interventions so they can be adopted, implemented well, and sustained over time in routine settings.

What is the main purpose of this R34 funding opportunity?

The main purpose is to fund the early, preparatory phase of a larger translational or implementation-focused study. The R34 is intended to support the practical work needed to get ready for a larger trial or rollout effort, including feasibility testing and operational planning.

What does "translational research" mean in this announcement?

In this announcement, translational research refers to adapting and testing evidence-based interventions so they work in everyday clinical or applied settings, rather than remaining limited to controlled clinical trials. The emphasis is on real-world delivery, adoption, and sustainability.

Are applicants expected to create brand-new interventions?

No. The scientific focus is on interventions that are already widely accepted and have demonstrated efficacy in prior clinical trials. Applicants are expected to build on proven approaches and adapt, refine, and test them for broader real-world use.

What topic areas must a proposed project address?

Supported projects must align with at least one of the following areas: (1) preventing or reversing obesity, (2) preventing type 2 diabetes, (3) improving care for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or (4) preventing or delaying complications associated with diabetes and/or obesity.

What kinds of settings are targeted for these interventions?

The opportunity emphasizes practical health care settings and community-relevant practice where interventions could realistically be delivered and sustained at scale, rather than being limited to specialized research environments.

What is meant by "dissemination potential" in this FOA?

Dissemination potential means the proposed intervention should be suitable for broad rollout to clinical practice and to individuals and communities at risk. The program emphasizes interventions likely to be adopted and implemented effectively over time.

What NIH mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity uses the NIH Clinical Trial Planning Grant Program mechanism (R34), which is designed for planning and readiness-building activities before launching a larger clinical trial or implementation study.

What types of activities can R34 funds support under this announcement?

R34 funds can support early-stage preparation activities such as finalizing intervention protocols, developing manuals and training procedures, conducting feasibility or pilot testing, refining recruitment and retention strategies, establishing data management and quality assurance systems, and resolving operational issues before a full-scale trial.

How is this R34 opportunity related to the R18 opportunity mentioned?

The announcement notes it runs in parallel with a separate FOA using the R18 mechanism (PAR-09-176) with the same scientific scope. This indicates the R34 is intended for planning and readiness-building, while other mechanisms may support larger or later-stage efforts.

Which NIH organizations sponsor this funding opportunity?

The program is sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), along with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR).

What does the set of sponsors suggest about the program's priorities?

The combination of NIDDK, NICHD, and OBSSR signals interest in clinical outcomes as well as behavioral, social, and implementation factors that affect whether an intervention can be delivered effectively and maintained in real-world settings.

What is the maximum award amount for this grant?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $300,000.

Is cost-sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

When was this funding opportunity posted, and what are the listed closing dates?

The opportunity was posted on April 28, 2009. The original and current closing date is listed as March 1, 2012, and the archive date is April 1, 2012.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?

The CFDA numbers associated with the program are 93.847 (Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research) and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and governments. Eligible applicants include nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status in the categories listed), public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including city/township, county, and special district governments), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, small businesses, and for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses).

Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The announcement explicitly mentions faith-based and community-based organizations as eligible applicant types.

Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligible applicant groups?

Yes. The announcement explicitly mentions U.S. territories or possessions among additional eligible groups.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically referenced as eligible?

Yes. The announcement references a range of minority-serving institutions, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.

What makes an application a good fit for this R34 opportunity?

Based on the announcement, a strong fit would justify the evidence base of the intervention, clearly define the target population and setting, and present a practical plan for pilot testing and key trial-preparation steps that make a later, larger translational or implementation study feasible and compelling.

What kinds of outcomes or impacts is this program aiming for?

The program aims to help convert proven diabetes and obesity interventions into approaches that can be delivered in everyday care and sustained over time, with the intention that they can be disseminated broadly to clinical practice and to at-risk individuals and communities.