Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 10 135
Apply for PAR 10 135
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (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 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.226 Research on Healthcare Costs, Quality and Outcomes 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.361 Nursing Research 93.399 Cancer Control 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.866 Aging Research 93.879 Medical Library Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 12, 2010 and posted on Mar 12, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2013. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities 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 Independent school districts Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments Special district governments City or township governments.
- 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) .
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Opportunity Summary:
Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R21) (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-10-135) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) exploratory/developmental research grant opportunity designed to build practical, evidence-based knowledge about health literacy and how to improve it. The program is rooted in major U.S. Department of Health and Human Services public health priorities, specifically the HealthierUS and Healthy People initiatives. At its core, the opportunity focuses on advancing empirical research that clarifies health literacy concepts and theory and tests interventions that can measurably strengthen people’s ability to make appropriate health decisions.
In this announcement, health literacy is defined in a very functional, real-world way: it is the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. That definition signals what NIH wants to fund: studies that do more than describe literacy levels in the abstract, and instead examine how people find and interpret health information, how they navigate services, and what changes (in communication, systems, technology, education, or care delivery) can improve understanding and decision-making. Because the FOA emphasizes empirical research, strong applications typically aim to generate data that can support or refine theory, validate or improve measurement approaches, or provide early evidence that a strategy or intervention works in a specific setting or population.
The mechanism of support is the NIH R21, which is generally intended for early-stage, exploratory, or developmental projects that may be innovative or higher risk but have the potential to open up promising new lines of research. The R21 format is often used to pilot-test interventions, develop and validate tools, explore mechanisms that explain why an intervention works, or generate preliminary evidence needed for a larger R01-scale project later. This FOA is part of a coordinated set of opportunities with the same scientific scope offered under different NIH grant mechanisms: PAR-10-133 for the R01 mechanism (typically larger, more definitive studies) and PAR-10-134 for the R03 mechanism (often smaller pilot or feasibility projects).
Funding levels and the number of awards are not fixed in advance and depend on congressional appropriations, NIH institute and center budgets, and the volume and quality of applications received. The announcement notes that award size and project duration may vary because proposed studies can differ widely in scope, method, and cost structure. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, reflecting the typical scale of an R21 budget. Awards are contingent on available funds and the submission of enough meritorious applications, meaning the program is competitive and relies heavily on peer review outcomes.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, nonprofit, and educational sectors. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profit entities), independent school districts, and a wide range of government entities (city or township, county, special district, and state governments, plus public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). Tribal eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations, as well as tribally controlled colleges and universities. The announcement also explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are also listed as eligible, which can be important for comparative or cross-cultural health literacy research, or for work involving multinational communication and health information challenges. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for organizations that may not have access to substantial non-federal funds.
The opportunity was posted and created on March 12, 2010, with an original and current closing date of May 7, 2013, and an archive date of June 7, 2013. It is categorized as discretionary grant funding and is associated with multiple CFDA program areas spanning environmental health, oral health, deafness and communication disorders, health care costs and outcomes, mental health, technological innovations, nursing research, cancer control, cardiovascular research, child health and human development, aging, and medical library assistance. That wide range of CFDA associations reflects how health literacy cuts across many diseases, populations, and delivery settings, from clinical care to public health messaging and health information systems.
For applicants seeking the full technical requirements, submission details, and any institute-specific interests, NIH provided the official announcement link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-135.html). For access or linking issues, the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact is listed as FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R21) (PAR-10-135)
What is the "Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R21)" funding opportunity?
Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R21) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) exploratory/developmental research grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-10-135). It is designed to build practical, evidence-based knowledge about health literacy and how to improve it through empirical research.
What does NIH mean by "health literacy" in this announcement?
In PAR-10-135, health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. The emphasis is on real-world ability to find, interpret, and use health information and services.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The purpose is to advance empirical research that clarifies health literacy concepts and theory and tests interventions that can measurably strengthen people’s ability to make appropriate health decisions. Projects are expected to generate data, not just describe health literacy in the abstract.
What kinds of studies does this opportunity encourage?
Based on the description, the FOA encourages research that examines how people obtain and interpret health information, how they navigate services, and what changes in areas like communication, systems, technology, education, or care delivery can improve understanding and decision-making. It also encourages work that can support or refine theory, improve measurement approaches, or provide early evidence that an intervention works in a specific setting or population.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is an exploratory/developmental research grant mechanism generally intended for early-stage, exploratory, or developmental projects.
Why would an applicant choose an R21 for health literacy research?
The R21 format is commonly used for innovative or higher-risk work that can open new lines of research. The announcement describes typical R21 uses such as pilot-testing interventions, developing and validating tools, exploring mechanisms that explain why an intervention works, or generating preliminary evidence needed for a larger R01-scale project later.
Are there related NIH opportunities with the same scientific scope?
Yes. The announcement notes a coordinated set of opportunities with the same scientific scope offered under different NIH mechanisms: PAR-10-133 (R01) and PAR-10-134 (R03).
How is an R01 different from this R21 opportunity (based on the announcement text)?
The announcement characterizes the R01 (PAR-10-133) as typically supporting larger, more definitive studies, while the R21 is generally intended for exploratory/developmental projects.
How is an R03 different from this R21 opportunity (based on the announcement text)?
The announcement describes the R03 (PAR-10-134) as often supporting smaller pilot or feasibility projects, while the R21 is positioned for exploratory/developmental work that may be innovative or higher risk and can support future larger studies.
How much funding is available per award?
The FOA states that award size may vary, but it lists an award ceiling of $200,000, reflecting the typical scale of an R21 budget.
How many awards will NIH make under this FOA?
The number of awards is not fixed in advance. It depends on congressional appropriations, NIH institute and center budgets, and the volume and quality of applications received.
Is funding guaranteed if an application is submitted?
No. Awards are contingent on available funds and on the submission of enough meritorious applications. The program is competitive and relies on peer review outcomes.
Do projects have to fit a single disease area or topic?
No. The announcement is associated with multiple CFDA program areas (for example: environmental health, oral health, deafness and communication disorders, health care costs and outcomes, mental health, technological innovations, nursing research, cancer control, cardiovascular research, child health and human development, aging, and medical library assistance). This indicates health literacy research can cut across many diseases, populations, and delivery settings.
What public health priorities does this program align with?
The program is rooted in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services public health priorities, specifically the HealthierUS and Healthy People initiatives.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The FOA lists eligible applicants such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), independent school districts, and multiple types of government entities (including city or township, county, special district, and state governments, plus public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities).
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies allowed to apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates eligible federal agencies are included.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA states that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are eligible applicants.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted/created on March 12, 2010. The original and current closing date listed is May 7, 2013. The archive date is June 7, 2013.
Where can applicants find the official NIH announcement and full requirements?
NIH provided the official announcement link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-135.html
Who should be contacted if there are issues accessing the announcement link?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact listed is FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
What type of funding opportunity is this categorized as?
It is categorized as discretionary grant funding.
What is the practical emphasis of projects under this FOA?
The description emphasizes practical, real-world health literacy: research that looks at how people obtain and understand basic health information and services and that tests interventions or strategies that can measurably improve understanding and decision-making.
What makes an application strong according to the FOA description?
The provided description suggests strong applications typically aim to generate empirical data that can support or refine theory, validate or improve measurement approaches, or provide early evidence that a strategy or intervention works in a specific setting or population.
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| Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Biology and Medicine (R01) Apply for PA 11 148 Funding Number: PA 11 148 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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