Global Noncommunicable Diseases and Injury Across the Lifespan: Exploratory Research (R21 Clinical Trials Optional) | PAR 19 059

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 059

Global Noncommunicable Diseases and Injury Across the Lifespan: Exploratory Research (R21 Clinical Trials Optional) is an NIH grant opportunity designed to kick-start early-stage, locally grounded research on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injury in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically geared toward exploratory work rather than large, fully powered studies. The emphasis is on planning, thoughtful study design, and small pilot efforts that can generate the preliminary evidence needed to launch stronger, longer-term research programs. Clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants can propose clinical trial activities if appropriate, but the program also supports non-trial research such as formative studies, feasibility testing, early implementation work, and methods development.

The scientific scope is broad and intentionally framed around real-world health needs across the lifespan, from childhood through older adulthood. Projects can focus on a single NCD or injury topic, but the announcement explicitly encourages research that cuts across multiple NCDs and shared risk factors. That includes work on overlapping drivers like tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful alcohol use, air pollution, and social or structural determinants of health. Another highlighted priority is the intersection between NCDs and infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, such as studying NCDs as comorbidities, understanding how infectious disease treatment influences NCD risk, or developing integrated care approaches that address both infectious and chronic conditions in the same health systems and communities.

A central goal is to catalyze sustainable research capacity in LMIC settings. The expectation is that funded projects will do more than produce one-off findings; they should help establish a foundation for ongoing research programs led in partnership with LMIC institutions. In practice, that can mean building local skills, strengthening data systems, improving research governance or ethical review capacity, developing locally tailored measurement tools, and creating workflows that allow future studies to scale. The opportunity also signals interest in work that can ultimately contribute to better diagnostics, prevention strategies, treatment approaches, and implementation solutions that fit the realities of LMIC health systems. Beyond the immediate project, applicants are encouraged to think about how their work could support research networking and generate evidence that informs policy and program decisions.

Eligibility is structured around international collaboration and World Bank income classifications. Scientists based in the United States or in upper middle-income countries (UMICs) may partner with scientists at LMIC institutions, reflecting the program’s intent to combine complementary expertise while keeping the research locally relevant. Importantly, non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions are eligible to apply directly, which can help ensure that LMIC organizations can take leading roles. At the same time, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, although foreign components (as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement) are permitted within an application. The FOA points applicants to the World Bank country and lending group classifications for determining income category status.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 19 059) within health and environmental health-related activity categories, with CFDA numbers listed as 93.113, 93.213, 93.242, 93.307, 93.313, 93.321, and 93.867. The award ceiling is stated as $200,000, which reinforces the pilot and exploratory nature of the work: proposals should be ambitious in idea and potential impact, but realistic in what can be accomplished with limited funds and within an R21-style scope. The overall intent is to fund early, catalytic research that produces actionable learning, supports longer-term grant development, and strengthens LMIC-centered capacity to prevent and manage NCDs and injury over the long run.

• The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Global Noncommunicable Diseases and Injury Across the Lifespan: Exploratory Research (R21 Clinical Trials Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.213, 93.242, 93.307, 93.313, 93.321, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-11-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-12-13. (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: Others.

Apply for PAR 19 059

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