Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 20 049
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Investigator-Initiated Research on Genetic Counseling Processes and Practices (R21, Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HG-20-049; CFDA 93.172) supports early-stage, targeted research projects focused on how genetic counseling is delivered in modern genomic medicine and how it can be improved. The core goal is to generate practical evidence and test workable innovations that make genetic counseling more effective, more efficient, and more scalable, especially at a time when demand for genomic testing and interpretation is growing faster than the available genetic counseling workforce and clinical infrastructure.
This opportunity emphasizes the need to optimize genetic counseling under real-world constraints, including limited personnel and uneven access across healthcare systems in the United States. Projects are expected to address key bottlenecks in the current counseling model, such as shortages of trained genetic counseling professionals, geographic and system-level barriers to in-person counseling, and persistent challenges in clearly communicating complex genomic findings to multiple audiences. Those audiences include clinicians who may not specialize in genetics, patients receiving results that can be complicated or uncertain, and families who may share genetic risks and therefore need understandable, actionable information.
The research scope is oriented around assessing existing counseling processes, innovating new approaches, scaling promising service delivery models, and studying implementation in clinical settings. In practice, that can include evaluating alternative counseling formats (such as tele-genetics, group sessions, hybrid models, or digital decision-support tools), designing and testing streamlined workflows that reduce time burden without sacrificing quality, and studying strategies that improve comprehension and informed decision-making. It also aligns with implementation-focused questions, such as what helps or hinders adoption of new counseling practices in different health systems, and how these practices affect outcomes like access, turnaround time, patient understanding, patient satisfaction, clinician confidence in using results, and equity in service delivery.
The mechanism is an R21 exploratory/developmental grant, which typically fits projects that are focused, hypothesis-generating, or piloting a novel method that could later be expanded through larger awards. The funding listed includes an award ceiling of $200,000. Clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but they are not required to do so. The opportunity falls under the discretionary grant category and the health activity category.
Eligibility is broad and designed to include a wide range of organizations capable of conducting genomic medicine or health services research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth supports the program’s interest in reaching diverse communities and health systems and in testing solutions that can work across different contexts, including settings that are historically under-resourced or face unique access challenges.
Key administrative details from the source information include an original closing date of 2021-07-08 and a creation date of 2020-07-30. Overall, the opportunity is positioned for investigators who want to develop and evaluate practical, evidence-based improvements to genetic counseling delivery and communication so genomic information can be used more effectively and more equitably in routine healthcare.Apply for RFA HG 20 049
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Investigator-Initiated Research on Genetic Counseling Processes and Practices (R21, Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-07-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-07-08. (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: 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.
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FAQs: Investigator-Initiated Research on Genetic Counseling Processes and Practices (R21, Clinical Trial Optional)
What is this NIH funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Investigator-Initiated Research on Genetic Counseling Processes and Practices (R21, Clinical Trial Optional)." It supports early-stage, targeted research projects that study how genetic counseling is delivered in modern genomic medicine and how that delivery can be improved.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-HG-20-049. The CFDA number listed is 93.172.
What is the main goal of the program?
The core goal is to generate practical evidence and test workable innovations that make genetic counseling more effective, more efficient, and more scalable, especially as demand for genomic testing and interpretation grows faster than the genetic counseling workforce and available clinical infrastructure.
Why is NIH emphasizing improvements to genetic counseling now?
The opportunity is framed around real-world constraints in the United States, including limited personnel, uneven access across healthcare systems, and increasing demand for genomic testing. NIH is looking for research that helps optimize counseling processes despite these constraints.
What kinds of problems or bottlenecks is the program trying to address?
The opportunity highlights several bottlenecks in current genetic counseling models, including shortages of trained genetic counseling professionals, geographic and system-level barriers to in-person counseling, and persistent challenges in communicating complex genomic findings in ways that are understandable and actionable.
Who are the key audiences that genetic counseling communication needs to work for?
The announcement points to multiple audiences: clinicians who may not specialize in genetics, patients receiving results that can be complicated or uncertain, and families who may share genetic risks and need clear, actionable information.
What types of research activities are within scope?
The scope is oriented around assessing existing counseling processes, innovating new approaches, scaling promising service delivery models, and studying implementation in clinical settings. The emphasis is on practical, evidence-based improvements that can work in real healthcare environments.
What are examples of service delivery models or formats that could be studied?
Examples mentioned include alternative counseling formats such as tele-genetics, group sessions, hybrid models, and digital decision-support tools. The opportunity also supports research on streamlined workflows that reduce time burden without sacrificing quality.
Does the opportunity support research on implementation in clinical settings?
Yes. The description explicitly aligns with implementation-focused questions, such as what helps or hinders adoption of new counseling practices in different health systems and how those practices perform under real-world conditions.
What outcomes or impacts does NIH appear interested in?
The opportunity mentions outcomes such as access to services, turnaround time, patient understanding, patient satisfaction, clinician confidence in using results, and equity in service delivery.
What grant mechanism is used for this program?
This opportunity uses the R21 exploratory/developmental mechanism. It typically fits projects that are focused, hypothesis-generating, or piloting a novel method that could later be expanded through larger awards.
What is the award ceiling?
The funding information provided lists an award ceiling of $200,000.
Are clinical trials required?
No. Clinical trials are optional. Applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but they are not required to include a clinical trial.
What is the general focus: basic science or practical health services improvement?
Based on the description provided, the focus is on practical improvements to genetic counseling delivery, communication, scalability, and implementation in healthcare systems, rather than basic science discovery.
Who can apply (in general terms)?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types capable of conducting genomic medicine or health services research, including government entities, academic institutions, nonprofits, for-profits (other than small businesses), and small businesses, among others.
Are state and local government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments and local entities such as county, city, or township governments, as well as special district governments.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The announcement also highlights several institution categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, TCCUs, AANAPISIs, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.
Are nonprofits eligible, and do they need to have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), based on the eligibility language provided.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and it also separately includes small businesses.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible applicant types.
Are federal agencies eligible?
Yes. The announcement highlights eligible federal agencies as an eligible applicant type.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The announcement highlights U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicant types.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement highlights non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible.
What types of settings or communities does NIH seem interested in reaching?
The breadth of eligibility and the emphasis on uneven access and equity suggests interest in solutions that can work across diverse communities and health systems, including historically under-resourced settings or contexts with unique access challenges.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is 2021-07-08.
What is the creation date listed for this opportunity?
The creation date provided is 2020-07-30.
What categories is this opportunity associated with?
The information provided states that the opportunity falls under the discretionary grant category and the health activity category.
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