Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 14 020
Apply for RFA RM 14 020
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Science of Behavior Change Assay Development and Validation for Self Regulation Targets (UH2/UH3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310 Trans NIH Research Support.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 8, 2015 and posted on Jan 8, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments Small businesses Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Special district governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) City or township governments Private institutions of higher education State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) 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 NIH Common Fund opportunity titled "Science of Behavior Change Assay Development and Validation for Self Regulation Targets (UH2/UH3)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-14-020) is a cooperative agreement designed to speed progress in behavior change science by building a practical, shared research foundation for an experimental medicine approach to behavior change. The Common Fund specifically backs cross-cutting, high-impact work and encourages teams to take on bold, innovative, and sometimes higher-risk ideas that can open new paths forward across multiple areas of health.
At the center of this FOA is the idea of validating concrete, measurable "targets" for behavior change in the domain of self-regulation, with a clear emphasis on real-world health relevance. Applicants are expected to assemble interdisciplinary teams that include both basic and clinical scientists, since the program aims to bridge mechanism-focused basic research with applied clinical and health behavior outcomes. The work is structured around four target validation steps: first, identifying a set of promising self-regulation targets that are implicated in medical regimen adherence and at least one additional health behavior; second, using existing or newly developed experimental manipulations or intervention strategies that can reliably engage those targets; third, identifying or creating assays (in other words, measures) that can verify whether the target was actually engaged; and fourth, testing whether engaging the target produces the desired improvement in medical regimen adherence and at least one other health behavior. Although projects can test these ideas in specific clinical samples, the targets and outcomes chosen are expected to matter beyond a single condition, meaning they should be justified as relevant to at least two clinical endpoints or disease conditions.
The funding uses the UH2/UH3 Phased Innovation Awards mechanism, which is built to move projects from early development into more definitive validation if they meet pre-specified goals. The UH2 phase supports the earlier, foundational work (steps 1 through 3): selecting and defining targets, developing or refining interventions/manipulations to engage those targets, and developing or validating assays that can confirm target engagement. Progression to the UH3 phase is not automatic; it depends on meeting agreed-upon milestones and an NIH administrative review that prioritizes projects ready to move into validation. The UH3 phase supports step 4, where teams test whether target engagement leads to meaningful behavior change in the specified outcomes (medical regimen adherence plus at least one other health behavior), thereby linking mechanism to measurable behavioral impact.
A key deliverable expected from funded projects is not just a set of publications, but a practical toolkit: validated and well-documented assays for specific self-regulation targets, along with experimental manipulations or interventions that can engage those targets. This toolkit is intended to be broadly useful to the field, enabling other researchers to adopt standardized measures and methods rather than reinventing them, which is one way the initiative aims to accelerate cumulative progress. The program is also coordinated through a Resource and Coordinating Center funded under a companion FOA (RFA-RM-14-017), which is meant to facilitate collaboration, alignment, and infrastructure across the target validation projects.
Administratively, this FOA was posted January 8, 2015, with an original and current closing date of March 20, 2015, and an archive date of April 20, 2015. It falls under NIH activity category Health, uses the Cooperative Agreement funding instrument, and is associated with CFDA 93.310 (Trans-NIH Research Support). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types such as state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), school districts, tribal governments and organizations, public housing authorities, and U.S. territories and possessions. The eligibility language also explicitly includes a range of institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, AANAPISIs, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), along with faith-based or community-based organizations and certain eligible federal agencies.
NIH directs applicants and interested parties to the Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) program website and its FAQs for updates and guidance related to this FOA and companion announcements. The full announcement is available via NIH’s grants guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-14-020.html, and NIH provides a general contact (the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster) for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Science of Behavior Change Assay Development and Validation for Self Regulation Targets (UH2/UH3)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The FOA number is RFA-RM-14-020.
Which NIH program is sponsoring this opportunity?
This opportunity is sponsored by the NIH Common Fund as part of the Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) effort.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA is designed to speed progress in behavior change science by building a practical, shared research foundation for an experimental medicine approach to behavior change, with an emphasis on validating concrete, measurable targets for behavior change in self-regulation.
What does the NIH Common Fund emphasize in this program?
The Common Fund specifically supports cross-cutting, high-impact work and encourages teams to pursue bold, innovative, and sometimes higher-risk ideas that can open new paths forward across multiple areas of health.
What is the central scientific focus of the projects under this FOA?
The central focus is validating specific self-regulation "targets" for behavior change that have clear real-world health relevance.
What kinds of research teams are applicants expected to assemble?
Applicants are expected to form interdisciplinary teams that include both basic and clinical scientists, reflecting the goal of bridging mechanism-focused basic research with applied clinical and health behavior outcomes.
What are the four target validation steps described in the FOA?
The FOA lays out four steps: (1) identify promising self-regulation targets implicated in medical regimen adherence and at least one additional health behavior; (2) use existing or newly developed experimental manipulations or intervention strategies that can reliably engage those targets; (3) identify or create assays (measures) to verify target engagement; and (4) test whether engaging the target improves medical regimen adherence and at least one other health behavior.
Is medical regimen adherence required as an outcome?
Yes. Projects are expected to address medical regimen adherence and also include at least one additional health behavior outcome.
Do projects need to include more than one health behavior outcome?
The FOA specifies medical regimen adherence plus at least one other health behavior.
Do targets and outcomes need to be relevant beyond a single disease or condition?
Yes. While studies may be conducted in specific clinical samples, applicants are expected to justify that selected targets and outcomes are relevant to at least two clinical endpoints or disease conditions (i.e., they should matter beyond a single condition).
What does "assay" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, assays refer to measures used to verify whether a self-regulation target was actually engaged by an experimental manipulation or intervention.
What kind of funding mechanism does this FOA use?
This FOA uses the UH2/UH3 Phased Innovation Awards mechanism.
How does the UH2/UH3 phased approach work in this program?
The UH2 phase supports earlier foundational work (steps 1 through 3), and the UH3 phase supports later validation work (step 4), where teams test whether target engagement leads to meaningful behavior change in the specified outcomes.
What activities are supported in the UH2 phase?
The UH2 phase supports: selecting and defining targets, developing or refining interventions/manipulations to engage those targets, and developing or validating assays that can confirm target engagement.
What activities are supported in the UH3 phase?
The UH3 phase supports testing whether engaging the target produces the intended improvements in medical regimen adherence and at least one other health behavior, linking the mechanism (target engagement) to measurable behavioral impact.
Is transition from UH2 to UH3 automatic?
No. Progression is not automatic; it depends on meeting agreed-upon milestones and an NIH administrative review that prioritizes projects that are ready to move into the validation phase.
What are the expected deliverables from funded projects?
A key deliverable is a practical toolkit, not just publications: validated and well-documented assays for specific self-regulation targets, along with experimental manipulations or interventions that can engage those targets, intended to be broadly useful to other researchers.
Why does the FOA emphasize a shared toolkit?
The initiative aims to accelerate cumulative progress by enabling researchers to adopt standardized measures and methods rather than repeatedly reinventing them.
Is there a coordination component across awardees?
Yes. The program is coordinated through a Resource and Coordinating Center funded under a companion FOA (RFA-RM-14-017), intended to facilitate collaboration, alignment, and infrastructure across target validation projects.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
What is the NIH activity category listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is Health.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.310 (Trans-NIH Research Support).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was this FOA posted?
The FOA was posted on January 8, 2015.
What were the closing dates for applications?
The original and current closing date listed is March 20, 2015.
What is the archive date for this FOA?
The archive date listed is April 20, 2015.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits); school districts; tribal governments and organizations; public housing authorities; and U.S. territories and possessions.
Are specific institution types explicitly included?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and AANAPISIs, among others.
Are non-U.S. entities allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are any federal agencies eligible to apply?
The eligibility language includes certain eligible federal agencies.
Where can applicants find official details for this FOA?
The full announcement is available in the NIH grants guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-14-020.html.
Where can applicants find updates and related guidance?
NIH directs applicants and interested parties to the Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) program website and its FAQs for updates and guidance related to this FOA and companion announcements.
Who should be contacted for access or linking issues with the announcement?
NIH provides a general contact for access or linking issues: the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster.
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