Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 12 204
Apply for RFA HD 12 204
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment food and nutrition health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sleep and Social Environment Basic Biopsychosocial Processes (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 93.142 NIEHS Hazardous Waste Worker Health and Safety Training 93.143 NIEHS Superfund Hazardous SubstancesBasic Research and Education 93.172 Human Genome 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 93.307 Minority Health and Health Disparities Research 93.361 Nursing Research 93.389 National Center for Research Resources 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.399 Cancer Control 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.838 Lung Diseases Research 93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 93.847 Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.855 Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research 93.856 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 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 93.879 Medical Library Assistance 93.989 International Research and Research Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 18, 2011 and posted on Jul 18, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments County governments City or township governments Small businesses Special district governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 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.
- 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Sleep and Social Environment Basic Biopsychosocial Processes (R21) funding opportunity (RFA-HD-12-204) is a discretionary NIH grant announcement released through the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Opportunity Network (OppNet). It invites exploratory/developmental R21 research proposals that focus on how sleep and circadian regulation both shape and are shaped by behavioral and social environmental processes. The core idea is bidirectionality: sleep and circadian systems influence day-to-day behavior and social functioning, while social conditions and experiences can in turn alter sleep timing, duration, quality, and underlying circadian biology. NIH is signaling that sleep should not be treated as an isolated biomedical topic here, but as a basic biopsychosocial phenomenon that is deeply embedded in real-world social contexts.
The scientific emphasis is on understanding mechanisms and dynamics rather than simply documenting correlations. The announcement highlights that, despite sleep being essential for health and normal functioning, the pathways through which social environment factors affect sleep patterns have not been studied systematically enough, particularly when considering why some people are more vulnerable while others show resilience. In practical terms, the FOA is looking for projects that can clarify how social inputs like relationships, household context, work and school demands, neighborhood conditions, social stressors, and social rhythms interact with biological sleep-wake regulation and circadian functioning. Strong applications would typically be expected to connect behavioral and social measures to basic sleep or circadian processes in a way that advances foundational knowledge, for example by testing plausible biopsychosocial pathways, identifying boundary conditions, or examining reciprocal feedback loops over time.
This FOA is explicitly not intended to support treatment development or clinical intervention research for sleep or circadian rhythm disorders. Applicants should frame their work as basic research on underlying processes rather than as trials, therapeutic development, or intervention testing aimed at correcting a disorder. In other words, even if the long-term implications could inform prevention or clinical practice, the immediate goal needs to be discovery-oriented work on fundamental mechanisms linking social-behavioral environments with sleep and circadian biology.
Administratively, the opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism (an exploratory/developmental research project grant), with an award ceiling listed at $200,000 and an estimated total funding amount of $1,000,000 for the FOA. No cost sharing or matching is required. The opportunity was posted July 18, 2011, with an original and current closing date of September 30, 2011, and an archive date of October 31, 2011, indicating it was a time-limited solicitation during that period.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), state and local governments, independent school districts, small businesses and other for-profit entities (with some distinctions), tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities, and a range of special categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and regional organizations. Notably, non-U.S. (foreign) entities are eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also eligible, which signals NIH interest in generalizable basic science questions that may be examined across different cultural or social contexts.
The funding activity category is listed broadly across areas such as education, environment, health, and social services, and the CFDA numbers provided span many NIH and related research domains. That breadth reflects the cross-cutting nature of the topic: sleep and circadian function intersect with mental health, aging, child development, substance use, cardiovascular and metabolic health, environmental health, and more, while the social environment side naturally touches education, work, family systems, and community conditions.
For applicants seeking the official details, the full announcement was hosted through NIH at the grants guide link associated with RFA-HD-12-204, and NIH provided general technical contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster email for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Sleep and Social Environment Basic Biopsychosocial Processes (R21) - RFA-HD-12-204
What is the name and identifier of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "The Sleep and Social Environment Basic Biopsychosocial Processes (R21)" and is identified as RFA-HD-12-204.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity.
What network released this announcement?
The announcement was released through the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Opportunity Network (OppNet).
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is an exploratory/developmental research project grant.
What is the main scientific focus of the FOA?
The FOA focuses on basic biopsychosocial processes linking sleep and circadian regulation with behavioral and social environmental processes. A central theme is bidirectionality: sleep/circadian systems shape behavior and social functioning, and social conditions and experiences can alter sleep timing, duration, quality, and circadian biology.
What does "bidirectionality" mean in the context of this announcement?
Bidirectionality means the FOA is interested in two-way influence: (1) how sleep and circadian regulation affect day-to-day behavior and social functioning, and (2) how the social environment affects sleep and circadian processes (for example, by changing sleep timing, duration, quality, or underlying circadian biology).
How does NIH want applicants to frame sleep in this FOA?
NIH is signaling that sleep should not be treated as an isolated biomedical topic here. Instead, sleep is positioned as a basic biopsychosocial phenomenon that is embedded in real-world social contexts.
Is the FOA looking for descriptive studies or mechanistic work?
The scientific emphasis is on understanding mechanisms and dynamics rather than simply documenting correlations. Projects are expected to advance foundational knowledge by clarifying pathways, identifying boundary conditions, or examining reciprocal feedback loops over time.
What kinds of social-environmental factors are relevant to this FOA?
The FOA highlights social inputs such as relationships, household context, work and school demands, neighborhood conditions, social stressors, and social rhythms as examples of factors that may interact with sleep-wake regulation and circadian functioning.
What kinds of sleep or circadian outcomes are relevant?
Relevant outcomes include sleep timing, sleep duration, sleep quality, and underlying circadian biology, particularly as they relate to behavioral and social environmental processes.
What does the FOA suggest is missing in the current research landscape?
The FOA notes that although sleep is essential for health and normal functioning, the pathways through which social environment factors affect sleep patterns have not been studied systematically enough, especially when considering why some individuals are more vulnerable while others show resilience.
Does this opportunity support clinical treatment development or intervention trials?
No. The FOA is explicitly not intended to support treatment development or clinical intervention research for sleep or circadian rhythm disorders.
Can a project be relevant to prevention or clinical practice in the long run?
Yes, long-term implications may inform prevention or clinical practice, but the application must be framed as discovery-oriented basic research on fundamental mechanisms rather than as a trial or intervention intended to correct a disorder.
What types of projects would likely be considered strong fits?
Based on the description, strong-fit projects would typically connect behavioral and social measures to basic sleep or circadian processes in a way that advances foundational knowledge, such as by testing plausible biopsychosocial pathways, identifying boundary conditions, or examining reciprocal feedback loops over time.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) mentioned?
The award ceiling listed is $200,000.
How much total funding was estimated for this FOA?
The FOA lists an estimated total funding amount of $1,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that no cost sharing or matching is required.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 18, 2011.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original and current closing date listed is September 30, 2011.
What does the archive date indicate?
The archive date is October 31, 2011, indicating the solicitation was time-limited and is now archived.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status), state and local governments, independent school districts, small businesses, and other for-profit entities (with some distinctions), tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities, and a range of special categories (including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based and community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and regional organizations).
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA notes that non-U.S. (foreign) entities are eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also eligible.
Why might NIH allow foreign entities and non-U.S. components to apply?
As described, this signals NIH interest in generalizable basic science questions that may be examined across different cultural or social contexts.
What are the funding activity categories associated with this FOA?
The funding activity category is listed broadly across areas such as education, environment, health, and social services, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of the sleep and social environment topic.
Does the FOA connect to multiple NIH/health research domains?
Yes. The FOA notes that the CFDA numbers provided span many NIH and related research domains, consistent with the idea that sleep and circadian function intersect with areas like mental health, aging, child development, substance use, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and environmental health, while the social environment side touches education, work, family systems, and community conditions.
Where can applicants find the official announcement?
The full announcement was hosted through NIH at the grants guide link associated with RFA-HD-12-204.
Who is listed as a technical contact for access or linking issues?
NIH provided general technical contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster email for access or linking issues.
What is the most important takeaway for proposal alignment?
The key alignment point is that proposals should be framed as basic, discovery-oriented research on biopsychosocial mechanisms and bidirectional dynamics between social/behavioral environments and sleep/circadian regulation, rather than as treatment development or clinical intervention work.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA HD 12 204) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Research Project Grant (Parent R01) Apply for PA 11 260 Funding Number: PA 11 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Basic Research on Decision Making Cognitive, Affective, and Developmental Perspectives (R01) Apply for RFA MH 12 130 Funding Number: RFA MH 12 130 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Mechanistic Pathways Linking Psychosocial Stress and Behavior (R01) Apply for RFA HL 12 037 Funding Number: RFA HL 12 037 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $325,000 |
| Academic Research Enhancement Award (Parent R15) Apply for PA 12 006 Funding Number: PA 12 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| PHS 2012 02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, FDA and ACF for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR R43/R44) Apply for PA 12 088 Funding Number: PA 12 088 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2012 02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR R41/R42) Apply for PA 12 089 Funding Number: PA 12 089 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Alzheimers Disease Research (SBIRR43/R44) Apply for RFA OD 12 003 Funding Number: RFA OD 12 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Alzheimers Disease Research (STTRR41/R42) Apply for RFA OD 12 004 Funding Number: RFA OD 12 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13/U13) Apply for PA 12 212 Funding Number: PA 12 212 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Successor in Interest (Type 6 Parent) Apply for PA 12 269 Funding Number: PA 12 269 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Change of Grantee Organization (Type 7 Parent) Apply for PA 12 270 Funding Number: PA 12 270 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Basic Behavioral Research on Multisensory Processing (R21) Apply for RFA EY 13 001 Funding Number: RFA EY 13 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Basic social and behavioral research on culture, health, and wellbeing (R24) Apply for RFA LM 12 002 Funding Number: RFA LM 12 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Administrative Supplements for Research on Sex/Gender Differences (Admin Supp) Apply for PA 13 018 Funding Number: PA 13 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| PHS 2013 02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR R41/R42) Apply for PA 13 089 Funding Number: PA 13 089 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHS 2013 02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, FDA and ACF for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR R43/R44) Apply for PA 13 088 Funding Number: PA 13 088 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Short term Mentored Career Enhancement Awards in the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences Cross Training at the Intersection of Animal Models and Human Investigation (K18) Apply for RFA DA 14 002 Funding Number: RFA DA 14 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R01) Apply for PAR 13 130 Funding Number: PAR 13 130 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition Revision Applications for Basic Social and Behavioral Research on the Social, Cultural, Biological, and Psychological Mechanisms of Stigma (R01) Apply for RFA MD 13 005 Funding Number: RFA MD 13 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Research on the Role of Epigenetics in Social, Behavioral, Environmental and Biological Relationships, throughout the Life Span and across Generations (R21) Apply for RFA TW 13 002 Funding Number: RFA TW 13 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Food and Nutrition Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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