Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 180
The NIH funding opportunity "Identifying Innovative Mechanisms or Interventions that Target Multimorbidity and Its Consequences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-20-180) supports research aimed at reducing the burden of multimorbidity, meaning the presence of multiple chronic conditions (also called MCCs). The main goal is to move beyond studying single diseases in isolation and instead focus on shared biological, behavioral, and contextual mechanisms that lead to clusters of chronic illnesses, along with practical interventions that can prevent, slow, or better manage MCCs and the downstream consequences for patients, families, and health systems.
A central emphasis of this FOA is intervention-oriented research that investigates why and how multiple chronic conditions develop together, and what can be done to interrupt those pathways. Projects are encouraged to study mechanisms or pathways that could prevent MCCs in the first place, including work to identify early biomarkers, map behavioral pathways, and clarify how individual-level risk factors (such as genetics, physiology, behavior, or mental health) interact with contextual risk factors (such as social determinants of health, environment, health care access, neighborhood conditions, or structural factors). This includes research that looks at interactions among risks and potential intervention points, rather than treating each condition as independent. Studies can focus on different stages of life and are expected to be relevant to diverse populations, recognizing that multimorbidity patterns, causes, and outcomes can differ across age groups, communities, and care settings.
The FOA also highlights the development and testing of targeted therapies and management approaches for people who already have multimorbidity. This can include clinical and behavioral interventions designed to delay disease progression, prevent additional chronic conditions from emerging, reduce symptom burden, and improve day-to-day functioning and quality of life. Self-management is explicitly included, meaning proposals can address strategies that help patients manage multiple conditions more effectively (for example, improving medication adherence across complex regimens, coordinating lifestyle changes that impact multiple diseases at once, or addressing fatigue, pain, sleep, mobility, cognition, depression, or other cross-cutting problems). The intent is to support interventions that are deliberately designed for MCC complexity, including approaches that target shared therapeutic pathways relevant to co-occurring conditions, rather than simply stacking single-disease treatments.
Another major area of interest is innovative health care partnership models for managing or treating multimorbidity. This points to care delivery and system-level interventions, such as new models of coordination between primary care, specialty care, behavioral health, community organizations, social services, and public health partners. Applications can propose ways to improve integrated care, align incentives, reduce fragmentation, and address real-world barriers that commonly affect people with multiple chronic conditions. The FOA encourages research that evaluates how partnerships and delivery models influence outcomes like disease control, function, patient experience, caregiver burden, utilization, and inequities.
Methodologically, the announcement encourages creative designs that can capture complexity, including studies that examine shared mechanisms and test how risk factors and interventions interact. Innovative technologies are specifically welcomed, both for measuring risk factors and pathways (such as digital phenotyping, remote monitoring, wearables, or other technology-enabled assessments) and for delivering interventions (such as telehealth, mobile health tools, adaptive interventions, or technology-supported care coordination). The FOA also allows and encourages the use of existing data sources and data linkages to ask new questions, including analyses that help disentangle how mechanisms operate alone versus in combination. Clinical trials are optional under this R01, meaning applicants can propose either clinical trial or non-trial research, as long as the project fits NIH definitions and requirements.
In terms of fit, the FOA is especially focused on interventions that can prevent and treat multiple chronic health conditions simultaneously, including studies that investigate therapeutic targets aimed at preventing co-occurring conditions. At the same time, it draws a boundary around certain measurement and methods work: applicants whose primary focus is on developing improved measures, tools, or methods for understanding multimorbidity (for example, creating new multimorbidity indices, novel measurement platforms, or foundational tools for mechanistic signature discovery and initial evaluation) are directed to a different opportunity (referenced as PAR-XX-XXX in the text), suggesting this FOA is more squarely aimed at mechanism-informed interventions and actionable pathways.
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organization types: state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, but foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) may be included when justified.
Key administrative details from the source include that the agency is the National Institutes of Health, the mechanism is an R01 grant with clinical trial optional, and the opportunity number is PAR-20-180. The original closing date listed is 2024-01-07. The CFDA program numbers associated with the announcement include 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.399, and 93.866. The posting indicates an award ceiling was not specified in the excerpt provided, and the expected number of awards was not listed in the provided fields.Apply for PAR 20 180
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Identifying Innovative Mechanisms or Interventions that Target Multimorbidity and Its Consequences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.399, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-04-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-07. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity called and what is the opportunity number?
The funding opportunity is titled "Identifying Innovative Mechanisms or Interventions that Target Multimorbidity and Its Consequences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and the opportunity number is PAR-20-180.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What funding mechanism is being used?
The mechanism is an NIH R01 research project grant, and clinical trials are optional under this announcement.
What does NIH mean by multimorbidity (MCCs) in this FOA?
In this FOA, multimorbidity (also referred to as multiple chronic conditions, or MCCs) means the presence of multiple chronic conditions in the same individual.
What is the main purpose of PAR-20-180?
The main purpose is to support research that reduces the burden of multimorbidity by moving beyond single-disease approaches and focusing on shared biological, behavioral, and contextual mechanisms that contribute to clusters of chronic illnesses, along with interventions that can prevent, slow, or improve management of MCCs and their downstream consequences.
Is this FOA more focused on mechanisms, interventions, or both?
Both, but with a central emphasis on intervention-oriented research that investigates why and how multiple chronic conditions develop together and what can be done to interrupt those pathways.
What kinds of prevention-oriented research does this FOA encourage?
It encourages research on mechanisms or pathways that could prevent MCCs in the first place, including efforts to identify early biomarkers, map behavioral pathways, and clarify how risk factors interact to produce clusters of chronic conditions.
What types of risk factors can projects examine under this FOA?
Projects may examine individual-level risk factors (such as genetics, physiology, behavior, or mental health) and contextual risk factors (such as social determinants of health, environment, health care access, neighborhood conditions, or structural factors), including how these risks interact and where intervention points may exist.
Does the FOA expect applicants to treat each chronic condition independently?
No. A core theme is to move away from treating conditions as independent and instead study shared mechanisms and interactions that lead to co-occurring conditions and their consequences.
Can studies focus on particular life stages or age groups?
Yes. Studies can focus on different stages of life and are expected to be relevant to diverse populations, recognizing that multimorbidity patterns, causes, and outcomes can differ across age groups, communities, and care settings.
What kinds of interventions for people who already have multimorbidity are of interest?
The FOA highlights targeted therapies and management approaches, including clinical and behavioral interventions designed to delay disease progression, prevent additional chronic conditions from emerging, reduce symptom burden, and improve daily functioning and quality of life.
Is self-management research considered responsive to this FOA?
Yes. Self-management is explicitly included, including strategies to help patients manage multiple conditions more effectively, such as improving medication adherence across complex regimens, coordinating lifestyle changes that affect multiple diseases, or addressing cross-cutting problems like fatigue, pain, sleep, mobility, cognition, or depression.
Does the FOA prioritize interventions designed for MCC complexity rather than combining single-disease treatments?
Yes. The intent is to support interventions deliberately designed for multimorbidity complexity, including approaches that target shared therapeutic pathways relevant to co-occurring conditions rather than simply stacking single-disease treatments.
Are health care delivery and system-level interventions allowed?
Yes. A major area of interest is innovative health care partnership models and care delivery/system-level interventions to improve management or treatment of multimorbidity.
What kinds of partnerships or care models does the FOA mention?
Examples include new models of coordination between primary care, specialty care, behavioral health, community organizations, social services, and public health partners, as well as approaches that improve integrated care, align incentives, reduce fragmentation, and address real-world barriers affecting people with multiple chronic conditions.
What outcomes can applications evaluate in studies of care models or partnerships?
The FOA notes outcomes such as disease control, function, patient experience, caregiver burden, utilization, and inequities.
What study designs or methods does the FOA encourage?
The FOA encourages creative designs that can capture complexity, including studies that examine shared mechanisms and test how risk factors and interventions interact.
Are technology-enabled measurement and intervention approaches encouraged?
Yes. Innovative technologies are welcomed for measuring risk factors and pathways (for example, digital phenotyping, remote monitoring, wearables, or other technology-enabled assessments) and for delivering interventions (for example, telehealth, mobile health tools, adaptive interventions, or technology-supported care coordination).
Can applicants use existing data sources?
Yes. The FOA allows and encourages the use of existing data sources and data linkages to ask new questions, including analyses that help disentangle how mechanisms operate alone versus in combination.
Are clinical trials required?
No. Clinical trials are optional. Applicants may propose either clinical trial or non-trial research, as long as the project fits NIH definitions and requirements.
What is the FOA especially focused on in terms of scientific fit?
It is especially focused on interventions that can prevent and treat multiple chronic health conditions simultaneously, including studies that investigate therapeutic targets aimed at preventing co-occurring conditions.
Are projects focused mainly on measurement or methods development a good fit for this FOA?
The FOA draws a boundary around measurement and methods work. If the primary focus is developing improved measures, tools, or methods for understanding multimorbidity (for example, new multimorbidity indices, novel measurement platforms, or foundational tools for mechanistic signature discovery and initial evaluation), applicants are directed to a different opportunity (referenced in the text as PAR-XX-XXX), indicating this FOA is more focused on mechanism-informed interventions and actionable pathways.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organization types, including state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other eligible entities.
Are certain institution types explicitly encouraged or called out as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can non-U.S. organizations apply as the applicant?
No. Non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.
Can a project include a foreign component?
Yes. Foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) may be included when justified.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2024-01-07.
What CFDA program numbers are associated with this FOA?
The CFDA program numbers listed are 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.399, and 93.866.
Is an award ceiling specified in the provided information?
No. The posting indicates the award ceiling was not specified in the excerpt provided.
Is the expected number of awards specified in the provided information?
No. The expected number of awards was not listed in the provided fields.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 20 180) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Advancing Research to Develop Improved Measures and Methods for Understanding Multimorbidity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 179 Funding Number: PAR 20 179 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 20 183 Funding Number: PA 20 183 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Large scale mapping and/or molecular profiling of ensembles and/or cell-types mediating opioid action in the rodent brain (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 182 Funding Number: PAR 20 182 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 20 190 Funding Number: PA 20 190 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Substance Use/Substance Use Disorder Dissertation Research Award (R36 - Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PA 20 208 Funding Number: PA 20 208 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program Expansion: CNS Data Generation for Chronic Opioid, Methamphetamine, and/or Cocaine Exposures (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 21 019 Funding Number: RFA DA 21 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HIV Infection of the Central Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 20 149 Funding Number: PA 20 149 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Eradication of HIV-1 from Central Nervous system Reservoirs (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 20 151 Funding Number: PA 20 151 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIDA Avant-Garde Award Program for HIV/AIDS and Substance Use Disorder Research (DP1, Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 221 Funding Number: PAR 20 221 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Avenir Award Program for Genetics or Epigenetics of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 225 Funding Number: PAR 20 225 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Use Disorders and HIV/AIDS (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 224 Funding Number: PAR 20 224 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing HIV/AIDS Research through Computational Neuroscience FOA (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 21 013 Funding Number: RFA DA 21 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Emergency Awards: Research Projects in SARS-CoV-2 Serological Sciences (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 039 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 039 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Emergency Awards: SARS-CoV-2 Serological Sciences Centers of Excellence (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 20 038 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 038 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Interventions to Prevent Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Use Among Adolescents (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 21 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 21 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Regional Medical Libraries for the Network of the National Library of Medicine (UG4) Apply for RFA LM 20 001 Funding Number: RFA LM 20 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Large scale mapping and/or molecular profiling of ensembles and/or cell-types mediating opioid action in the rodent brain (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 241 Funding Number: PAR 20 241 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| 3D Technologies to Accelerate HTAN Atlas Building Efforts (UH2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 042 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 042 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| PrEP for HIV Prevention among Substance Using Populations (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 21 024 Funding Number: RFA DA 21 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIDA Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 249 Funding Number: PAR 20 249 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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