Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OD 13 009
Apply for RFA OD 13 009
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.213 Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health 93.233 National Center on Sleep Disorders Research 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.398 Cancer Research Manpower 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.839 Blood Diseases and Resources Research 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.866 Aging Research 93.867 Vision Research 93.939 HIV Prevention ActivitiesNon Governmental Organization Based.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2013 and posted on May 3, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts County governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses State governments.
- 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), along with participating NIH Institutes and Centers, offered this Research Education Grant (R25) opportunity to support the creation of short, focused training courses that teach innovative research methods for behavioral and social sciences research (BSSR). The core purpose was to strengthen the methodological toolkit of the BSSR workforce by funding programs that do more than simply teach a topic once. Applicants were expected to develop the course content, deliver the training, evaluate whether the training actually improved skills or practice, and then disseminate the course or course materials so that the impact could extend beyond a single cohort of trainees. In other words, the emphasis was on building high-quality, reusable methods training that could spread across the field.
The scope of “innovative methodologies†was broad and intentionally flexible. The announcement highlighted methodological domains such as experimental design, data collection, measurement, and data analysis and visualization, while also making clear that these were examples rather than a complete list. This design gave applicants room to propose cutting-edge approaches suited to current gaps in BSSR methods training, including newer analytic strategies, improved measurement and instrument development, novel data sources, or modern visualization techniques that help researchers explore and communicate complex behavioral and social data. Because the FOA anchored its topic area in the NIH definition of BSSR, proposed courses needed to clearly connect to behavioral and/or social science questions and research practices as recognized by OBSSR.
Administratively, this was a discretionary grant opportunity using the NIH R25 education mechanism, which is typically used to support structured research education activities rather than stand-alone research projects. The funding opportunity number was RFA-OD-13-009, titled “Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25).†It was posted May 3, 2013, with an original closing date of July 3, 2013, later reflecting a current closing date of January 7, 2014, and an archive date of February 7, 2014. The estimated total funding available was about $1.7 million, and the award ceiling was listed as $200,000. The announcement explicitly stated that there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, reducing barriers for organizations that might not have non-federal funds to contribute.
Eligibility was intentionally expansive across the U.S. research and training ecosystem. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), state and local governmental entities (such as state governments, county governments, and city or township governments), independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses. The FOA also called out additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies. At the same time, the announcement clearly limited foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) were not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) were not allowed.
The program aligned with a wide range of NIH mission areas, reflected in the list of CFDA numbers covering topics such as mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, cancer research manpower, cardiovascular and blood diseases, child health and human development, aging, vision, oral health, sleep disorders, HIV prevention activities, and complementary and integrative health, among others. Practically, that breadth signals that OBSSR and multiple NIH components viewed advanced behavioral and social science methods training as cross-cutting infrastructure that can strengthen research in many disease and health domains, not just a single institute’s portfolio. Applicants could therefore propose methodological training that would be relevant across multiple biomedical and public health contexts, so long as the focus remained on advancing BSSR methods capacity.
For full details, NIH pointed applicants to the official announcement page (hosted in the NIH Grants Guide) and provided troubleshooting contacts through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is an NIH Research Education Grant (R25) funding opportunity titled "Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25)" (FOA number RFA-OD-13-009). It was offered by the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) along with participating NIH Institutes and Centers to support the creation of short, focused training courses in innovative behavioral and social sciences research (BSSR) methods.
What is the main goal of the program?
The core purpose is to strengthen the methodological toolkit of the BSSR workforce by funding programs that develop, deliver, evaluate, and disseminate high-quality methods training. The emphasis is on training that can be reused and spread across the field, rather than a one-time course for a single cohort.
What kinds of activities were applicants expected to do?
Applicants were expected to (1) develop course content, (2) deliver the training, (3) evaluate whether the training improved skills or practice, and (4) disseminate the course or course materials so impact extends beyond the initial trainees.
Does this funding support research projects or training?
This opportunity uses the NIH R25 research education mechanism, which is typically intended to support structured research education and training activities rather than stand-alone research projects.
What does NIH mean by "innovative methodologies" in this FOA?
The FOA defined the scope broadly and flexibly. It highlighted examples of methodological domains such as experimental design, data collection, measurement, and data analysis and visualization, while making clear those areas were not a complete list. Applicants had room to propose cutting-edge approaches aimed at current gaps in BSSR methods training.
Are the listed methodological domains the only acceptable topics?
No. Experimental design, data collection, measurement, and data analysis/visualization were presented as examples rather than an exhaustive list.
What types of course topics could fit under this program?
Based on the description, appropriate topics could include newer analytic strategies, improved measurement and instrument development, novel data sources, or modern visualization techniques, as long as they advance methods used in behavioral and/or social sciences research.
How closely must the course align with behavioral and social sciences research (BSSR)?
Proposed courses needed to clearly connect to behavioral and/or social science questions and research practices, anchored in the NIH definition of BSSR as recognized by OBSSR.
What makes an application competitive based on the stated priorities?
The FOA emphasized programs that go beyond teaching a topic once. Based on the information provided, strong alignment would include not only course delivery but also evidence-oriented evaluation of skill/practice improvement and clear plans to disseminate reusable course materials to extend impact beyond a single cohort.
Who offered this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), along with participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
What is the FOA number and title?
FOA number: RFA-OD-13-009. Title: "Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25)."
When was the FOA posted, and what were the key dates?
It was posted May 3, 2013. The original closing date was July 3, 2013. The listing later reflected a current closing date of January 7, 2014, and an archive date of February 7, 2014.
How much funding was available in total?
The estimated total funding available was about $1.7 million.
What was the maximum award size?
The award ceiling was listed as $200,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA explicitly stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Which organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status); state and local governmental entities (state, county, city or township governments); independent school districts; special district governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; for-profit organizations (including small businesses and for-profits other than small businesses); U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; and specific categories of minority-serving institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISIs.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. The FOA listed small businesses among eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA included for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses.
Are nonprofits eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The FOA included both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA included state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments and certain housing authorities (including public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities).
Are minority-serving institutions specifically encouraged or eligible?
They were explicitly listed as eligible, including HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, TCCUs, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISIs.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply?
No. The FOA stated that non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) were not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it has a non-U.S. component?
No. The FOA stated that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy definitions?
No. The FOA stated that foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) were not allowed.
Is this opportunity limited to a single disease area or NIH institute mission?
No. The program was framed as cross-cutting methods training infrastructure. The FOA referenced a wide range of NIH mission areas through multiple CFDA numbers, signaling that advanced BSSR methods training was viewed as relevant across many health and disease domains.
What kinds of NIH mission areas were associated with this opportunity?
The FOA referenced CFDA numbers spanning areas such as mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, cancer research manpower, cardiovascular and blood diseases, child health and human development, aging, vision, oral health, sleep disorders, HIV prevention activities, and complementary and integrative health, among others.
Does a proposed course need to be relevant to biomedical or public health contexts?
The description indicates applicants could propose methodological training relevant across multiple biomedical and public health contexts, as long as the focus remained on advancing BSSR methods capacity.
What is meant by disseminating the course or materials?
Dissemination, as described, means sharing the course or course materials so that the impact extends beyond a single cohort of trainees. The FOA emphasized building reusable training that can spread across the field.
What kind of evaluation was expected?
The FOA expected applicants to evaluate whether the training actually improved skills or practice, not just deliver training content.
Where could applicants find the official announcement details?
NIH pointed applicants to the official announcement page hosted in the NIH Grants Guide.
Who was listed as a contact for access or linking issues?
Troubleshooting contacts were provided through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email for access or linking issues.
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