Promoting Organ and Tissue Donation Among Diverse Populations (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Promoting Organ and Tissue Donation Among Diverse Populations (R01)" opportunity?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focused on research to understand and reduce lower organ and tissue donation rates in diverse, underserved, and rural communities. It supports studies that explain why these gaps persist and how to address them.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The core purpose is to spur investigators to identify and test concrete explanations for lower donation rates in underserved and rural settings. The announcement prioritizes research that moves beyond simply documenting disparities and instead evaluates specific, testable reasons participation remains lower.

What grant mechanism does this program use?

This opportunity uses the R01 grant mechanism.

Which populations are the focus of the research?

The focus is on diverse populations, including communities that are underserved and rural, where organ and tissue donation rates remain lower and where local conditions may shape awareness and decision-making.

What types of barriers is the research expected to examine?

Projects are expected to examine barriers at the individual and community level. Examples named in the announcement include attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, trust, cultural perspectives, perceived risks and benefits, and real-world behaviors related to donation and transplantation.

Does the FOA encourage research on both living donation and deceased donation?

Yes. The FOA emphasizes evaluating factors that prevent participation in both living donation and deceased donation.

What topics or factors are explicitly highlighted as relevant to study?

The FOA highlights topics such as misconceptions about donation, fear or distrust of medical systems, lack of access to accurate information, religious or cultural concerns, communication barriers, and the influence of family decision-making norms.

How does the announcement treat research that only describes disparities?

The FOA emphasizes hypothesis-driven research and specifically encourages work that goes beyond describing disparities. The expectation is to evaluate specific factors that contribute to lower participation and to test explanations for the gaps.

Is research expected to look at how people understand transplantation need?

Yes. The FOA calls for examining how people understand the need for transplantation and how that understanding affects willingness to donate.

Are rural settings specifically mentioned, and why do they matter here?

Yes. The FOA encourages research that looks at underserved settings including rural areas, where distance, limited health infrastructure, and fewer outreach resources may shape awareness and donation decisions.

Is the goal only to identify barriers, or also to develop solutions?

The goal is both. The announcement aims to pinpoint barriers and use evidence to inform the development and testing of programs tailored to diverse and underserved communities.

What characteristics should proposed programs or approaches have?

The intent is to support approaches that improve understanding of organ and tissue donation, clearly communicate the need for transplantation, and address perceptions of risk and benefit in ways that are culturally appropriate and practically usable in the communities being served.

What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?

The program is aimed at producing actionable, evidence-based insights and interventions that reduce barriers and measurably increase living and deceased organ donation among diverse, underserved, and rural populations, ultimately strengthening the donor pool among historically underrepresented groups.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other applicant types as allowed by the announcement.

What kinds of organizations does the eligibility language suggest could be applicants or partners?

The eligibility rules are designed to allow entities such as universities, health systems, community-based organizations, tribal entities, and other partners to propose research grounded in the realities of the populations most affected.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The funding opportunity number listed is RFA DK 16 022.

What is the CFDA number and category?

The opportunity falls under the health-related funding activity category and lists CFDA 93.847.

When was this opportunity originally posted?

The original posting/creation date is July 20, 2016.

What is the original closing date listed for the opportunity?

The original closing date listed is December 5, 2016.

What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $150,000.

How many awards were expected?

The announcement lists an expected five awards.

What kinds of research questions fit well with this FOA based on the description?

Research questions that fit include hypothesis-driven studies testing why donation participation is lower in specific underserved or rural communities, such as how trust in medical systems, cultural perspectives, communication barriers, or family decision-making norms influence willingness to become a living or deceased donor.

What is meant by "actionable" results in this program context?

In this context, "actionable" points to findings that can inform the development and testing of tailored programs and strategies that can be implemented or scaled to increase donation participation in the communities studied.