Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 11 142

  • The National Institutes of Health in the health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Opportunities in Obstetric Fistula (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2011 and posted on Mar 10, 2011.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Independent school districts Special district governments County governments Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities For profit organizations other than small businesses.
  • Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement PA 11-142, titled "Research Opportunities in Obstetric Fistula (R03)," was a discretionary grant program designed to support small, targeted research projects focused on obstetric fistula, a severe maternal health condition that disproportionately affects women in developing countries. Using the NIH R03 mechanism, the opportunity aimed to stimulate pilot or feasibility studies and other narrowly scoped projects that can generate early evidence, refine methods, or build a foundation for larger research efforts. The announcement was posted and created on March 10, 2011, with an original and final closing date of May 7, 2014, and it was archived on June 7, 2014. The award ceiling listed was $50,000, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

The central goal of the FOA was to encourage research that improves how obstetric fistula is identified, prevented, and treated, and how the social circumstances of affected women can be improved. NIH explicitly emphasized research on epidemiologic, clinical, social, and behavioral interventions. In practical terms, that includes studies that clarify risk factors and burden (epidemiology), test or refine clinical approaches to diagnosis or management (clinical research), and develop or evaluate interventions that address stigma, mental health, reintegration, family dynamics, and other social and behavioral dimensions that shape outcomes for women living with or at risk for fistula.

A key boundary of the announcement is what it was not intended to fund. The FOA stated that it was not meant to address service delivery issues already covered in World Health Organization program development materials for obstetric fistula. Even though the announcement acknowledged that major system-level factors such as financial access to care, transportation for women in labor, and broader obstetric service coverage are critical for reducing and ultimately eliminating obstetric fistula, the intent here was to support research that complements those programmatic efforts rather than duplicate operational service-delivery planning. The idea was to generate evidence that strengthens prevention and care across the labor, delivery, and postpartum periods, while aligning with broader initiatives aimed at improving timely access to quality obstetric care.

NIH framed obstetric fistula as a critical maternal and child health issue in low-resource settings, and highlighted that reducing its toll requires multiple approaches. The FOA reflected a view that better emergency obstetric care is necessary but not sufficient on its own, and that improvements in clinical care must be paired with strong social and behavioral components. This aligns with the realities of fistula, where long-term consequences often extend beyond physical injury to include stigma, isolation, marital and economic disruption, and barriers to seeking follow-up care.

Eligibility for the grant was broad and included many organization types across academia, government, nonprofit, and the private sector. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, special districts, and independent school districts). The FOA also included tribal entities (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and a range of additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility signaled interest in multidisciplinary and cross-sector participation, including organizations with strong ties to affected communities and international settings where the condition is most prevalent.

Administratively, the program fell under the NIH and was associated with CFDA number 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research), placing it within NIH-supported research relevant to maternal and child health. The FOA provided an online link to the full announcement and offered contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster for access or technical issues, indicating it was managed through standard NIH grant submission and support channels.

In short, PA 11-142 (R03) was a time-limited NIH research grant opportunity intended to fund smaller-scale, evidence-building studies that address the clinical, epidemiologic, social, and behavioral dimensions of obstetric fistula. It aimed to strengthen the research base around prevention, identification, treatment, and the lived and social realities of women affected by fistula, while deliberately positioning itself as complementary to, rather than a replacement for, large-scale service delivery and health system expansion efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIH PA 11-142 - Research Opportunities in Obstetric Fistula (R03)

What is NIH PA 11-142 (Research Opportunities in Obstetric Fistula - R03)?

PA 11-142 was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that supported small, targeted research projects focused on obstetric fistula. It used the NIH R03 mechanism, which is designed for pilot, feasibility, or other narrowly scoped studies that can generate early evidence and help build the foundation for larger research efforts.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The central goal was to encourage research that improves how obstetric fistula is identified, prevented, and treated, and how the social circumstances of affected women can be improved. NIH emphasized research on epidemiologic, clinical, social, and behavioral interventions.

What kind of projects was the R03 mechanism intended to support under this FOA?

This FOA was aimed at small, time-limited, evidence-building projects, including pilot or feasibility studies and other narrowly scoped research. The intent was to help applicants generate early findings, refine research methods, and develop a basis for subsequent, larger studies.

What research topics were specifically encouraged?

NIH highlighted several broad categories of encouraged research:

  • Epidemiologic research: studies that clarify risk factors, burden, and distribution of obstetric fistula.
  • Clinical research: studies that test or refine clinical approaches to diagnosis, management, or treatment.
  • Social and behavioral interventions: work focused on stigma, mental health, reintegration, family dynamics, and other social/behavioral factors that influence outcomes for women living with or at risk for fistula.

Does the FOA focus only on medical or surgical treatment?

No. NIH framed obstetric fistula as a condition with major social and behavioral consequences, not only physical harm. While clinical approaches to diagnosis and management were within scope, the FOA also emphasized research addressing stigma, isolation, marital and economic disruption, and barriers to seeking follow-up care.

How did NIH describe the broader context of obstetric fistula in this announcement?

NIH described obstetric fistula as a critical maternal and child health issue in low-resource settings, disproportionately affecting women in developing countries. The FOA reflected the view that better emergency obstetric care is necessary but not sufficient by itself, and that clinical improvements need to be paired with strong social and behavioral components.

Was this FOA intended to fund large-scale service delivery or health system expansion?

No. A key boundary of the announcement was that it was not meant to address service delivery issues already covered in World Health Organization (WHO) program development materials for obstetric fistula. The FOA acknowledged that system-level factors (such as financial access to care, transportation during labor, and broader obstetric service coverage) are important, but the intent here was to support research that complements those programmatic efforts rather than duplicating operational service-delivery planning.

What does it mean that the FOA was meant to complement WHO program development materials?

Based on the description, NIH intended this FOA to generate research evidence that strengthens prevention and care across labor, delivery, and postpartum periods, while aligning with broader initiatives that improve timely access to quality obstetric care. It was positioned as research-focused support that adds evidence rather than replacing existing service-delivery frameworks.

What was the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling was $50,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The FOA stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

When was PA 11-142 posted, and what were the closing dates?

The announcement was posted and created on March 10, 2011. The original and final closing date was May 7, 2014. It was archived on June 7, 2014.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. Based on the provided information, the final closing date was May 7, 2014, and the FOA was archived on June 7, 2014.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included many organization types across academia, government, nonprofit, and the private sector. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; small businesses; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, special districts, and independent school districts).

Were tribal entities eligible applicants?

Yes. The FOA included tribal entities that are federally recognized and those that are other than federally recognized.

Were non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly included non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) among eligible applicants.

Were U.S. territories or possessions included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The FOA included U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.

Did the FOA mention specific institution types such as HBCUs or Hispanic-serving institutions?

Yes. The FOA listed a range of additional eligible applicants, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs).

Were faith-based or community-based organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA included faith-based or community-based organizations in its eligibility list.

Did the FOA allow federal agencies to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list included eligible federal agencies.

What NIH program area or catalog identifier was associated with this FOA?

The program was associated with CFDA number 93.865, described as Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.

Which NIH office was referenced for support or technical issues?

The FOA offered contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster for access or technical issues, indicating it was managed through standard NIH submission and support channels.

What types of outcomes or impacts was the FOA trying to support?

Based on the description, the FOA aimed to build evidence that improves prevention, identification, and treatment of obstetric fistula, while also improving understanding and intervention approaches related to the lived and social realities of affected women (including stigma, mental health, reintegration, and family dynamics).

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