Pragmatic Research in Healthcare Settings to Improve Diabetes and Obesity Prevention and Care (R18 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 18 925

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 925

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Pragmatic Research in Healthcare Settings to Improve Diabetes and Obesity Prevention and Care (R18 Clinical Trial Required)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-925) supports real-world, practice-based research aimed at improving how healthcare systems prevent and treat diabetes and obesity. The central idea is to fund studies that do not just test an intervention in a controlled research environment, but instead evaluate practical strategies that can work inside everyday clinical operations where patients already receive care. Because this is an R18 mechanism and a clinical trial is required, applicants are expected to run a rigorous, intervention-based study that tests an approach designed to change outcomes, not simply observe them.

A key expectation is that projects focus on pragmatic, sustainable improvements to both care processes and patient health outcomes for people who have diabetes or obesity, as well as those at risk for these conditions. The FOA emphasizes interventions that can realistically be maintained over time with the resources and workflows of typical healthcare settings. This means proposed strategies should fit into existing clinical structures, such as care teams, electronic health record workflows, referral pathways, patient outreach systems, or routine visit processes. The healthcare setting cannot be treated as a convenient place to recruit participants while the intervention itself happens outside normal care; instead, the intervention needs to be integrated into the way care is delivered.

Another major theme is dissemination potential. NIH is looking for approaches that are not so unique to one clinic or health system that they cannot be repeated elsewhere. Applicants should design and test strategies that could reasonably be adopted by other healthcare organizations, including those serving different populations or operating with varying resource levels. The practical goal is to produce results that can directly improve healthcare practice and also provide evidence that can inform policy decisions related to diabetes and obesity prevention and management.

The opportunity falls under the discretionary grant category, with a funding activity focus in health and food and nutrition, and it is associated with CFDA number 93.847. A wide range of organizations are eligible to apply, reflecting the intent to reach diverse healthcare environments and communities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and 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; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities that meet eligibility rules.

The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types that often serve priority or underserved populations, including 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), eligible federal government agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it places clear limits on foreign participation: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply; non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; and foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. In practical terms, projects must be fully domestic in where the work is conducted and how the applicant organization is structured.

The original closing date listed for this opportunity was February 13, 2020, and the FOA creation date was October 2, 2018. While the summary above captures the intent and the core requirements, applicants typically would still need to consult the full FOA text for details on study design expectations, review criteria, allowable costs, data and safety requirements for the clinical trial component, and any specific NIH institute priorities tied to diabetes and obesity care improvement.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pragmatic Research in Healthcare Settings to Improve Diabetes and Obesity Prevention and Care (R18 Clinical Trial Required)" 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 2018-10-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-02-13. (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 18 925

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