High impact, Interdisciplinary Science in NIDDK Research Areas (RC2 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 202

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 202

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), announced the funding opportunity titled "High Impact, Interdisciplinary Science in NIDDK Research Areas (RC2 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-19-202). This is a discretionary grant program using the NIH RC2 mechanism and is intended to back ambitious, high-impact projects that could open up entirely new directions of research within NIDDK's mission areas. In practical terms, the program is designed for ideas that are more than incremental improvements and instead have the potential to shift how a field thinks, works, or generates evidence, particularly when the work draws meaningfully from multiple disciplines.

The central goal of the program is to promote interdisciplinary science that can either (1) create a broadly useful research resource or (2) support discovery-driven or hypothesis-generating research that positions the wider research community to make faster progress. The FOA emphasizes novel approaches that close important knowledge gaps or capitalize on emerging scientific opportunities. It is also geared toward proposals that develop or apply new technologies, generate valuable datasets, or introduce research methods that move an area forward in significant ways. Overall, NIDDK is aiming to accelerate progress in understanding, treating, and preventing diseases that fall under its mission, which includes major areas such as diabetes and other endocrine/metabolic disorders, digestive diseases, nutritional science, and kidney/urologic/hematologic conditions.

This opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose projects that include a clinical trial, but they are not required to do so. The program’s focus is less on routine clinical evaluation and more on high-impact, cross-cutting science that can change what becomes possible for future research or clinical translation. The activity category is listed under Food and Nutrition and Health (CFDA number 93.847), signaling alignment with NIDDK-relevant public health and biomedical research priorities.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Higher education institutions are eligible across categories, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The FOA also allows applications from nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status, excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, as well as other applicant types described by NIH policy.

The announcement also explicitly highlights several additional eligible applicant groups, reflecting a strong openness to diverse institutional participants. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized. Faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations are also listed as eligible, along with eligible agencies of the federal government and U.S. territories or possessions. These inclusions indicate that NIDDK is encouraging participation from a wide range of institutions, including those that serve underrepresented communities and those embedded in community settings where research resources or discoveries could have broad downstream value.

Regarding international participation, the FOA draws an important distinction. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. In other words, the applicant organization must be eligible under NIH rules (generally U.S.-based), but the project may still include certain types of formally defined foreign involvement when permitted and justified.

Administrative details provided in the source include an original closing date of November 2, 2021, and a creation date of February 27, 2019. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided excerpt, which often means applicants must consult the full FOA or NIH notices for any budget caps, project period limits, and program-specific expectations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "High impact, Interdisciplinary Science in NIDDK Research Areas (RC2 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-02-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-11-02. (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 PAR 19 202

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