NINR Areas of Emphasis for Research to Optimize Health and Advance Health Equity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 22 231

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 231

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) is offering an NIH exploratory and developmental grant opportunity (R21) under PAR-22-231 titled "NINR Areas of Emphasis for Research to Optimize Health and Advance Health Equity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)." The purpose is to support early-stage, high-potential studies that align with the research framework in the 2022-2026 NINR Strategic Plan. In practical terms, this announcement is looking for projects that can generate new insights, methods, or preliminary evidence that can later be expanded into larger, more definitive research programs. Because it is an R21, the emphasis is typically on innovation and feasibility rather than a fully built-out, large-scale trial or long-term program of work.

A key theme of this opportunity is nursing's holistic and contextualized approach to health. Proposed projects should reflect an understanding that health is shaped by people, their environments, their lived experiences, and the systems they interact with, not just by biology or clinical care alone. NINR is aiming for research that tackles the country's most pressing and persistent health challenges with a "solutions orientation," meaning the work should be positioned to inform what can realistically be done in practice, in communities, or through policy. The announcement also highlights the expectation for innovative and rigorous study designs, signaling that NINR values strong methodology even in exploratory projects, including designs that can credibly inform next steps for implementation, practice change, or policy decisions.

The "clinical trial optional" designation means applicants may propose either studies that do not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial or studies that do. This flexibility allows a wide range of work, from instrument development, early testing of interventions, pilot clinical or behavioral trials, feasibility studies, and novel analytic or measurement approaches, to other exploratory projects that fit NINR's strategic priorities. Regardless of whether a clinical trial is included, the proposal is expected to be tightly connected to optimizing health and advancing health equity, with clear relevance to real-world outcomes and the potential to reduce disparities or address structural and contextual drivers of inequitable health.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. 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; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits 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 explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, regional organizations, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), and U.S. territories or possessions. This wide eligibility is consistent with the equity focus, since it supports participation from institutions and organizations that serve populations often underrepresented in research.

At the same time, there are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign activities or collaborations when they meet NIH requirements and are appropriately justified, even though the foreign entity itself cannot be the applicant organization.

This is a discretionary grant program administered by the National Institutes of Health under CFDA 93.361, and the original closing date listed is 2025-05-07. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, which usually means applicants need to rely on the full funding announcement and NIH policy for typical R21 budget and project period expectations, as well as any institute-specific guidance. Overall, the opportunity is best suited for applicants with novel, testable ideas that fit NINR's 2022-2026 strategic framework, can be executed with strong methods on an exploratory scale, and are clearly aimed at improving health outcomes while advancing health equity in ways that can ultimately influence practice and policy.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NINR Areas of Emphasis for Research to Optimize Health and Advance Health Equity (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): 93.361.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-09-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-05-07. (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 PAR 22 231

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