Planning Grants for Translational Research to Improve Obesity and Diabetes Outcomes (R34) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Planning Grants for Translational Research to Improve Obesity and Diabetes Outcomes (R34) opportunity?

This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-12-173) is an NIH discretionary grant program that uses the NIH Clinical Trial Planning Grant Program (R34) mechanism. It is intended to fund early, practical planning and pilot work to support translational research efforts that improve obesity and diabetes outcomes.

Which NIH institutes lead or participate in this program?

The program is led by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

What is the main purpose of this R34 planning grant?

The purpose is to support planning and pilot testing to adapt interventions that have already demonstrated efficacy so they work better in real-world settings. The funded work is meant to make a subsequent larger study (such as a larger clinical trial or implementation effort) feasible.

Is this grant meant to fund brand-new, untested intervention ideas?

No. The emphasis is on translating strategies that have already shown effectiveness into practical models that fit day-to-day healthcare delivery, community programs, and other applied environments.

What types of adaptations or planning activities does the announcement emphasize?

The announcement emphasizes early groundwork such as refining intervention components, adjusting delivery methods for specific populations or settings, testing feasibility and acceptability, addressing staffing and workflow considerations, and piloting outcome measurement and data collection procedures.

What characteristics should adapted interventions aim to achieve?

Adapted interventions should be practical to deliver, sustainable over time, acceptable to the people and settings involved, and cost-efficient, with an eye toward approaches that can realistically be scaled up and disseminated broadly into clinical practice and community contexts.

What scientific areas or priorities are in scope for this funding opportunity?

The scope includes interventions addressing major obesity and diabetes priorities: preventing or reversing obesity, preventing type 2 diabetes, improving care for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and preventing or delaying complications related to these conditions.

How does the program define "translational" in this context?

Within the context provided, translational work focuses on taking interventions that have already been proven efficacious and adapting them so they can be delivered effectively in real-world settings (for example, clinical practice and community contexts) rather than only under controlled research conditions.

What is the special emphasis related to severe mental illness (SMI)?

NIMH highlights research that benefits people with severe mental illness (SMI), noting that this population has about double the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes compared to the general population.

Why is there a focus on people with severe mental illness (SMI) in this announcement?

The announcement points to overlapping barriers faced by people with SMI, including medication-related metabolic risk, fragmented care, socioeconomic challenges, and reduced access to tailored lifestyle and medical supports.

What kinds of projects align with the NIMH emphasis on SMI?

Projects that adapt obesity and diabetes prevention or treatment strategies for mental health service settings, or that integrate physical health and mental health care in a feasible way for systems serving people with SMI, align strongly with the intent described.

What is the activity category and CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity sits within the Food and Nutrition and Health activity category. The associated CFDA numbers listed are 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants) and 93.847 (Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research).

What is the maximum award amount mentioned for this R34 opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $150,000, indicating the funding level is intended for planning and pilot activities rather than large-scale definitive trials.

Does the program require cost sharing or matching funds?

No. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching is not required.

What is the expected outcome of an R34 planning grant under this announcement?

The expectation is that the funded work will position investigators to move into a subsequent, larger study by demonstrating that the adapted approach is workable, acceptable, and ready for more rigorous testing and broader dissemination.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organization types, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, other for-profit organizations, and many types of government entities.

What government entities are included as eligible applicants?

The announcement includes eligibility for state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

Are community-based and faith-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The announcement explicitly includes faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as regional organizations.

Are minority-serving institutions and tribal entities included in the eligible organization types?

Yes. The announcement explicitly includes institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), and tribal organizations and governments (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities, as specified).

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed as eligible.

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

No. The eligibility rules exclude non-U.S. (foreign) institutions from applying.

Can a U.S. organization include non-U.S. components or foreign components in the application?

No. The announcement excludes non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations and does not allow foreign components as defined by NIH policy.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was created and posted on April 24, 2012, and it had an original and final closing date of March 2, 2015. It was archived on April 2, 2015.

Where was the full announcement posted?

The full announcement was linked through the NIH grants guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-173.html.

Where were applicants directed for technical help accessing the notice?

For technical help accessing the notice, readers were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact.

What does the archive status imply for applicants today?

Based on the dates provided, the archive status indicates that this specific announcement is no longer accepting applications, though it may remain useful as a reference point for the type of translational, adaptation-focused obesity and diabetes work NIH has supported under the R34 planning grant model.