Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AT 09 002
Apply for RFA AT 09 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Translational Tools for Clinical Studies of CAM Interventions (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213 Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 4, 2009 and posted on Feb 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 14, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education County governments City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts.
- 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 NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) grant opportunity "Translational Tools for Clinical Studies of CAM Interventions (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AT-09-002) was designed to strengthen how complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions are studied in real clinical research settings. Rather than primarily funding trials of specific treatments, the emphasis is on building and validating the practical research tools and methodological infrastructure needed to run rigorous, credible studies of CAM approaches that many people already use. The motivation for the announcement is grounded in national survey data showing that large numbers of Americans use CAM for general wellness, prevention, treatment support, and symptom relief, with heavy use in areas like chronic pain, back pain, and musculoskeletal conditions.
The core purpose is to support investigator-initiated R01 projects that develop, improve, and validate "translational tools" that make clinical research on widely used CAM interventions more scientifically robust. In this context, translational tools can include improved outcome measures, intervention standardization procedures, fidelity and quality-control methods, innovative trial designs suited to complex behavioral or practitioner-delivered therapies, and other methodological advances that help researchers more accurately evaluate safety, efficacy, and real-world clinical effectiveness. The announcement specifically calls attention to CAM interventions such as mind-body approaches (for example meditation), manual and manipulative therapies (including massage), yoga, and acupuncture. The intention is to reduce ambiguity and variability in how these interventions are delivered and measured so that results are more interpretable, reproducible, and useful for patients, clinicians, and health systems.
A key boundary of the program is what it does not target. This FOA is not focused on natural products research, such as herbal therapies or other supplement-based interventions. The scope is aimed at non-pharmacologic, practice-based, or behaviorally oriented interventions that often present distinctive research challenges, such as difficulties with blinding, practitioner variability, tailoring of treatment to individual patients, and selecting outcomes that capture both symptom change and functional improvement. By prioritizing tool development and validation, the program aims to create shared methods that can support many future studies, not just one isolated clinical trial.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, the mechanism is an NIH R01 research project grant, categorized under health research and training in complementary and integrative health (CFDA 93.213). The opportunity was discretionary and did not require cost sharing or matching. The estimated total program funding was about $3,000,000, and the listed award ceiling was $300,000 (as provided in the source information). The posting date was February 2, 2009, with key dates including an original closing date of July 17, 2009 and a current closing date listed as May 14, 2009, with archiving on June 14, 2009. Applicants were directed to the full announcement on the NIH grants site for complete instructions, requirements, and any clarifying details.
Eligibility was broad and included many types of domestic and non-domestic organizations. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), state and local governments (including city, county, and special district governments), independent school districts, small businesses, certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and tribal organizations and governments (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities). The eligibility list also explicitly included a range of mission-serving institutions and community-based entities 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, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign (non-U.S.) organizations, along with eligible federal agencies. In practical terms, NCCAM was casting a wide net to encourage methodological innovation from academic researchers, healthcare organizations, community partners, and other groups positioned to improve the rigor of CAM clinical research.
Overall, this FOA can be understood as an effort to professionalize and standardize the research playbook for widely used CAM interventions. By funding the development and validation of better tools, NCCAM aimed to make future clinical studies more definitive, reduce methodological weaknesses that often limit interpretation, and ultimately improve the quality of evidence available about the safety and effectiveness of interventions like acupuncture, yoga, meditation, and manual therapies, especially in high-need areas such as chronic pain and musculoskeletal symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH grant opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Translational Tools for Clinical Studies of CAM Interventions (R01)" and is associated with the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AT-09-002.
What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism (investigator-initiated R01 projects).
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The main goal is to strengthen how complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions are studied in real clinical research settings by supporting the development, improvement, and validation of practical research tools and methodological infrastructure.
Is this FOA mainly for funding clinical trials of specific CAM treatments?
No. The emphasis is not primarily on running trials of specific treatments. Instead, the focus is on building and validating translational tools and methods that enable rigorous, credible clinical studies of CAM interventions that are already widely used.
What does "translational tools" mean in this announcement?
In this FOA, "translational tools" refers to practical research tools and methodological advances that make CAM clinical research more scientifically robust. Examples mentioned include improved outcome measures, intervention standardization procedures, fidelity and quality-control methods, innovative trial designs for complex interventions, and other approaches that help evaluate safety, efficacy, and real-world clinical effectiveness.
Which CAM interventions are specifically highlighted as examples?
The FOA specifically calls attention to interventions such as mind-body approaches (for example, meditation), manual and manipulative therapies (including massage), yoga, and acupuncture.
Why did NCCAM issue this funding opportunity?
The motivation is grounded in national survey data indicating that large numbers of Americans use CAM for general wellness, prevention, treatment support, and symptom relief. The announcement notes heavy CAM use in areas like chronic pain, back pain, and musculoskeletal conditions, and aims to improve the rigor and interpretability of research in these real-world contexts.
What research problems is this FOA trying to address?
The FOA is aimed at reducing ambiguity and variability in how CAM interventions are delivered and measured, so that study results are more interpretable, reproducible, and useful for patients, clinicians, and health systems. It also targets methodological challenges common in non-pharmacologic and practitioner-delivered interventions, such as blinding difficulties, practitioner variability, treatment tailoring, and selecting outcomes that reflect both symptoms and function.
Does this FOA support research on natural products like herbs or supplements?
No. The announcement states it is not focused on natural products research, such as herbal therapies or other supplement-based interventions. The scope is aimed at non-pharmacologic, practice-based, or behaviorally oriented interventions.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this FOA?
Projects that develop, improve, and validate methods and tools that can be reused across many future CAM clinical studies are a good fit. The FOA emphasizes shared methodological infrastructure (for example, standardization and fidelity procedures, improved outcomes measurement, and trial designs appropriate for complex CAM interventions).
How is this FOA expected to help future CAM research?
By prioritizing tool development and validation, the program aims to create shared methods that can support many future studies (not just one isolated clinical trial), reduce common methodological weaknesses, and improve the quality of evidence about safety and effectiveness for widely used CAM interventions.
What is the CFDA number/category listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under complementary and integrative health research and training, listed as CFDA 93.213.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity is described as discretionary and not requiring cost sharing or matching.
How much total funding was estimated for the program?
The estimated total program funding was about $3,000,000.
What is the listed award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling was $300,000 (as provided in the source information).
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date was February 2, 2009.
What were the closing dates for this FOA?
Key dates included an original closing date of July 17, 2009 and a current closing date listed as May 14, 2009. The opportunity was archived on June 14, 2009.
Where were applicants directed for full instructions?
Applicants were directed to the full announcement on the NIH grants site for complete instructions, requirements, and clarifying details.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many types of domestic and non-domestic organizations, including institutions of higher education (public and private), nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status), state and local governments (including city, county, and special district governments), independent school districts, small businesses, certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, tribal organizations and governments (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities), U.S. territories or possessions, foreign (non-U.S.) organizations, eligible federal agencies, and regional organizations.
Are mission-serving and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes entities such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Does NCCAM encourage applicants beyond traditional academic settings?
Yes. The wide eligibility list reflects an effort to encourage methodological innovation from academic researchers, healthcare organizations, community partners, and other groups positioned to improve the rigor of CAM clinical research.
What is the overall intent of this FOA in plain terms?
Overall, the FOA is an effort to professionalize and standardize the research playbook for widely used CAM interventions by funding better tools and validated methods, so future clinical studies can be more definitive and produce stronger, more usable evidence.
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