Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MD 21 004

FAQs: NIH RFA-MD-21-004 (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

1) What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled "Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)."

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-MD-21-004.

3) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The agency listed is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

4) What type of funding mechanism is used?

This opportunity uses an R01 research project grant mechanism.

5) Are clinical trials required?

No. Clinical trials are allowed but not required ("Clinical Trial Optional"). Applicants may propose observational studies, intervention studies, or a mix, as long as the work directly advances understanding of structural racism and discrimination (SRD) and/or evaluates strategies to address it in ways that improve minority health or reduce disparities.

6) What is the overall purpose of the program?

The program supports research projects that examine how structural racism and discrimination contribute to minority health outcomes and persistent health disparities, and projects that test ways to reduce those harms.

7) What are the main research directions NIH is looking for under this opportunity?

The opportunity is organized around two main directions: (1) observational research that clarifies the pathways through which SRD operates and drives unequal health outcomes over time, and (2) intervention research that targets SRD itself by testing approaches intended to reduce discriminatory structures or mitigate their effects, with outcomes tied to measurable improvements in minority health or reductions in health disparities.

8) What kinds of observational studies are responsive to the opportunity?

Observational research can focus on clarifying how SRD creates, maintains, or worsens unequal health outcomes over time. Examples of topic areas mentioned include policies, institutional practices, neighborhood and environmental conditions, access to education and employment, housing patterns, and other systemic drivers shaping health risks and healthcare access for minority populations.

9) What kinds of intervention studies are responsive to the opportunity?

Intervention research should go beyond documenting disparities and instead test approaches intended to reduce discriminatory structures or mitigate their effects. The outcomes should be tied to measurable improvements in minority health or reductions in health disparities.

10) Can a project combine observational and intervention components?

Yes. The description indicates applicants may propose observational studies, intervention studies, or a mix, as long as the work aligns with the program focus on SRD and minority health/health disparities.

11) How broadly does NIH define the sectors related to this program?

The program listing notes activity categories spanning education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security, and social services, reflecting that SRD can operate through multiple sectors.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad for U.S.-based entities and includes many types of organizations and government bodies.

13) Are state, county, and local governments eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments.

14) Are special district governments eligible?

Yes. Special district governments are listed as eligible applicants.

15) Are school districts eligible?

Yes. Independent school districts are listed as eligible.

16) Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are both listed as eligible.

17) Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The announcement highlights categories including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs).

18) Are Tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized are also listed as eligible.

19) Are housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.

20) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are eligible, as long as they are not institutions of higher education when categorized that way.

21) Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

22) Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly included.

23) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes eligible federal agencies.

24) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed as eligible.

25) Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?

No. The notice states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.

26) Can a U.S. organization apply if it plans to run part of the project outside the United States?

The notice indicates that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this opportunity. In practice, the applicant must be U.S.-based and the proposed project activities must not rely on a foreign component arrangement as part of the funded work.

27) Is this opportunity categorized as discretionary funding?

Yes. The program is categorized as discretionary.

28) What funding instrument is used?

The listing indicates the grant funding instrument is used.

29) What is the award ceiling shown in the provided information?

The award ceiling shown is $500,000.

30) How many awards does NIH expect to make?

The excerpt includes an "ExpectedAwards:" field but does not provide a number, so the total number of anticipated awards is not specified in the provided information.

31) What are the key dates included in the provided listing?

The source data includes a creation date of March 23, 2021, and an original closing date of August 24, 2021.

32) Are CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity, and what do they imply?

Yes. The listing includes multiple NIH-related CFDA numbers (including, among others, 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, and 93.173, plus additional NIH-related CFDA entries). This signals that the scientific scope may intersect with a wide range of NIH mission areas, as long as the core focus remains on SRD and its impact on minority health and health disparities.

33) What kinds of outcomes should projects emphasize to be responsive?

Based on the description, responsive projects should either (a) improve understanding of how SRD affects minority health and drives persistent disparities over time, and/or (b) evaluate strategies that address SRD in ways that lead to measurable improvements in minority health or reductions in health disparities.