Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) | PA 20 184

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 184

The NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required), funding opportunity number PA 20-184, supports investigator-driven research projects that are clearly defined, focused, and manageable in scope. The core idea is to fund a discrete line of inquiry that matches the expertise of the research team and aligns with the scientific mission of at least one participating NIH Institute or Center. As a parent R01 announcement, it is designed to be broadly applicable across many topic areas, as long as the proposed work fits an NIH Institute or Center's programmatic priorities.

This particular parent R01 is specifically meant for basic experimental studies that involve human participants and are considered clinical trials under NIH rules, while still being basic research in purpose. In practice, that means the study prospectively assigns people to different conditions or experiences, meaning the researchers intentionally manipulate one or more independent variables, and then measure biomedical or behavioral outcomes in humans. The defining feature is the intent: these studies are aimed at understanding fundamental mechanisms or phenomena, not at testing a product, refining a clinical process, or pursuing a near-term practical application. If a study is designed with a specific application in mind, such as evaluating a treatment, improving a clinical protocol, or developing a product or service, NIH expects applicants to use an announcement that is explicitly "Clinical Trials Required" or "Clinical Trial Optional," depending on the situation, rather than this basic-experimental-with-humans required FOA.

The opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health and is categorized as a discretionary grant program within the broader public purposes of education, environment, health, income security, and social services. It is associated with multiple CFDA listings, reflecting the fact that many NIH Institutes and Centers can support R01 projects across a wide range of scientific areas. While the posting does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards in the provided data, the R01 mechanism generally supports substantial, multi-year research projects, and budgets and project periods are typically determined by the needs of the project and NIH policy, as well as the specific Institute or Center that would potentially fund the application.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other applicant types as allowed. The announcement also highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based and community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign (non-U.S.) entities. The key practical requirement across all applicants is that the proposed project must be within the mission and interests of at least one participating NIH Institute or Center, since program fit drives whether an application can be considered for funding.

The opportunity was created on 2020-05-05, and the provided original closing date is 2025-01-07. Applicants considering this FOA should be prepared to frame their work clearly as a prospective basic science study with humans that meets NIH's clinical trial definition, while also making a strong case that the research question is fundamentally mechanistic or explanatory rather than product- or practice-oriented. This distinction is central to choosing the correct NIH funding announcement and can affect both review and eligibility under NIH clinical trial policies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.361, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-05-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PA 20 184

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