Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 362
Education and Health: New Frontiers (R21) - Clinical Trial Optional (PAR-18-362) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity designed to fund exploratory, early-stage research that digs into how education shapes health. The central purpose is not simply to restate that education and health are linked, but to unpack the causal pathways behind that relationship. Projects are expected to identify which specific aspects of education matter most for health outcomes (for example, features of educational quality, context, timing, or experiences) and to clarify the mediating factors that explain how educational exposures translate into better or worse health across the life course.
The announcement emphasizes careful work on mechanisms and causality. That includes studying what parts of education are doing the "work" (such as school quality, curriculum rigor, learning supports, credentials, skills gained, school climate, or access to resources) and what intermediaries carry the effect to health (such as income and employment trajectories, health knowledge, stress and coping, social networks, neighborhood conditions, access to care, health behaviors, or psychosocial factors). The intent is to move the field toward more precise, testable explanations rather than broad correlations, so proposed studies should be structured to illuminate pathways and mediators and to improve understanding of why education-related differences in health emerge and persist.
This opportunity uses the R21 funding mechanism, which typically supports smaller, shorter, high-potential projects that can open up new directions or provide key preliminary evidence. The clinical trial component is optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that do or do not include a clinical trial, depending on what is appropriate for the research questions. The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $200,000. While the record references expected awards, a specific number is not provided in the source details included here.
Eligibility is broad and spans government, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; 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 opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), as well as Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under Education, Health, Income Security, and Social Services and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.279, 93.399, 93.865, and 93.866. The funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-22, with an original closing date of 2019-01-07. Overall, the program is aimed at sharpening scientific understanding of how educational experiences and educational systems affect health, with an emphasis on identifying the education components and mediators that can explain, and potentially inform efforts to reduce, health disparities linked to educational opportunity.Apply for PAR 18 362
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Education and Health: New Frontiers (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): 93.279, 93.399, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-07. (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: Education and Health: New Frontiers (R21) - Clinical Trial Optional (PAR-18-362)
What is the "Education and Health: New Frontiers (R21)" funding opportunity?
Education and Health: New Frontiers (R21) - Clinical Trial Optional (PAR-18-362) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity that supports exploratory, early-stage research focused on how education shapes health.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The central purpose is to move beyond simply showing that education and health are linked and instead unpack the causal pathways behind that relationship. Projects are expected to clarify what aspects of education matter for health and what mediating factors explain how educational exposures translate into health outcomes across the life course.
What kinds of research questions fit this program?
Projects that focus on mechanisms and causality are emphasized. This includes identifying which specific educational components drive health outcomes and testing mediators that explain how education affects health (rather than presenting broad correlations).
Does the program require that applicants prove education and health are linked?
No. The announcement explicitly notes that the goal is not simply to restate that education and health are linked, but to explain why and how that relationship occurs by identifying causal pathways and mechanisms.
What does the opportunity mean by "mechanisms" and "causal pathways"?
Mechanisms and causal pathways refer to the specific features of education that may influence health (what parts of education are doing the "work") and the mediating factors that carry those effects through to health outcomes over time.
What specific aspects of education are examples of what might "matter most" for health?
Examples listed include educational quality, context, timing, and experiences. The announcement also points to features such as school quality, curriculum rigor, learning supports, credentials, skills gained, school climate, and access to resources.
What mediating factors are examples of how education might translate into health outcomes?
Examples of mediators included in the announcement are income and employment trajectories, health knowledge, stress and coping, social networks, neighborhood conditions, access to care, health behaviors, and psychosocial factors.
What is the R21 mechanism, and what does it imply about project scope?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which typically supports smaller, shorter, high-potential projects. It is designed for exploratory, early-stage work that can open new directions or provide key preliminary evidence.
Are clinical trials required under this opportunity?
No. The opportunity is described as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning an application may include a clinical trial or may be non-clinical-trial research, depending on what fits the research questions.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the provided information is $200,000.
Is the number of awards specified?
The provided information references expected awards, but it does not provide a specific number of awards.
Who is the funder?
The funder is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as an NIH discretionary grant opportunity.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes government, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are eligible per the provided eligibility list.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed separately as eligible.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are explicitly included in the eligibility list.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) are also listed. The opportunity also notes eligibility for Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly highlighted among eligible applicant types.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are explicitly highlighted as eligible.
Are minority-serving institutions highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) among eligible applicant types.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly highlighted as eligible applicant types.
Are eligible federal agencies allowed to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly highlighted among eligible applicant types.
What broad topic areas does this opportunity fall under administratively?
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under Education, Health, Income Security, and Social Services.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.279, 93.399, 93.865, and 93.866.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The provided information lists the creation date as 2017-11-22.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The provided information lists an original closing date of 2019-01-07.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to influence in the research field?
The program aims to sharpen scientific understanding of how educational experiences and educational systems affect health, with an emphasis on identifying education components and mediators that explain why education-related differences in health emerge and persist.
Does the opportunity connect this research to health disparities?
Yes. The program description notes that improving understanding of these pathways can potentially inform efforts to reduce health disparities linked to educational opportunity.
What kind of study design emphasis is signaled in the announcement?
The announcement emphasizes careful work on mechanisms and causality, and encourages studies structured to illuminate pathways and mediators, moving the field toward more precise, testable explanations rather than broad correlations.
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