Products to Support Applied Research Towards Zero Suicide Healthcare Systems (R43/R44) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is PAR 16-185?

PAR 16-185 is the funding opportunity number for the NIH grant opportunity titled "Products to Support Applied Research Towards Zero Suicide Healthcare Systems (R43/R44)." It was a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Is this opportunity a loan or a grant?

This opportunity was a government grant program (not a loan) administered by HHS-NIH.

What funding mechanism did PAR 16-185 use?

It used the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) mechanism under the R43/R44 activity codes. This structure supports early-stage research and development (Phase I) and follow-on research and development (Phase II) with an eye toward commercialization.

Who was this grant designed for?

PAR 16-185 was designed specifically for eligible small businesses through the SBIR program. The intended applicants were small businesses capable of conducting applied research and product-focused R&D.

Which federal agency and program area were associated with this FOA?

The program was associated with HHS-NIH and fell within the health funding area. It is tied to CFDA 93.242 as referenced in the opportunity description.

When was PAR 16-185 posted, and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on April 12, 2016. The application closing date was April 5, 2019.

What was the central purpose of this funding opportunity?

The central purpose was to spur the creation of new technologies that help healthcare systems achieve the Zero Suicide objective: preventing suicide attempts and deaths among people who are actively receiving care within healthcare settings.

What does "Zero Suicide" mean in the context of this FOA?

In this FOA, Zero Suicide is described as both a formal commitment by healthcare organizations and a structured set of strategies, workflows, and tools. The aim is to make suicide prevention a core responsibility of the entire health system rather than an isolated clinical task.

Why did the FOA emphasize applied research and implementation support?

The announcement notes that the Zero Suicide framework had national momentum, but there was still a clear need for applied research and practical support for implementation. Specifically, the FOA highlighted the need for technology that helps organizations put Zero Suicide practices into consistent, reliable use in real healthcare environments.

What role did health information technology (health IT) play in this opportunity?

Health IT products were identified as critical to making Zero Suicide workable at scale. The FOA emphasized that healthcare systems need tools to identify risk early, standardize and track evidence-based care, coordinate services, and continuously measure whether interventions are being delivered and whether outcomes are improving.

What kinds of products were envisioned under PAR 16-185?

The FOA envisioned technologies that improve the development, management, and/or delivery of services aligned with the Zero Suicide framework. Examples mentioned include tools for systematic screening and risk identification, clinician decision support, platforms to improve care coordination and follow-up during high-risk transitions, software to standardize safety planning and documentation, and analytics/reporting capabilities to monitor fidelity and detect care gaps.

Was the focus on training and awareness programs or on technology products?

The FOA emphasized projects that move beyond general awareness or training concepts. The focus was on building usable tools and technology-enabled solutions that fit into real clinical environments and help clinicians and systems deliver appropriate care at the right time.

What does the FOA mean by "applied research" in this context?

"Applied research" in this context signals that projects were expected to be grounded in real-world healthcare workflows and implementation realities, with a clear pathway toward use in operational healthcare settings.

How were Phase I and Phase II described for this opportunity?

The opportunity used R43/R44 SBIR activity codes, described as supporting early-stage (Phase I) and follow-on (Phase II) research and development leading toward commercialization.

What outcomes was this program trying to influence?

The intended impact was to help healthcare systems implement suicide-prevention strategies consistently, measure performance, and ultimately prevent suicide attempts and deaths among patients receiving care within healthcare settings.

Was PAR 16-185 an ongoing program?

No. Based on the information provided, it was time-limited: it was posted in 2016 and had an application closing date in 2019.

What types of healthcare system needs did the FOA highlight?

The FOA highlighted needs such as early risk identification, standardized and trackable evidence-based care, coordinated services and follow-up (especially during high-risk transitions), consistent documentation (including safety planning), and measurement/monitoring to ensure interventions are delivered and gaps in care can be detected.

How does commercialization relate to this SBIR opportunity?

The SBIR structure described in the opportunity supports research and development with a goal of leading toward commercialization, meaning the funded work was expected to have a path toward becoming a product used in practice.