Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 352
The Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R01) Clinical Trials Optional funding opportunity (NIH FOA number PAR-18-352) is a discretionary grant program designed to strengthen the scientific tools used across behavioral and social science research. The central aim is not to fund a particular health or education topic area, but to push forward the methods researchers rely on to study people, behavior, and social systems. Applications are expected to focus on developing, improving, or rigorously testing innovations in research design, measurement, data collection, and data analysis. In practice, that can include creating new instruments or refining existing ones, improving how variables are operationalized, increasing measurement reliability and validity across populations and settings, introducing more efficient or less biased sampling or data capture strategies, or proposing analytic approaches that better handle issues like missing data, causal inference challenges, multilevel structure, longitudinal change, rare events, or measurement error.
This is an R01 mechanism, meaning it is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven or well-justified research projects with enough scope to produce broadly useful methodological advances. The “Clinical Trials Optional” designation signals that applicants may propose a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the methodological work being done, but a clinical trial is not required. This allows projects that are purely methodological (for example, simulation studies, secondary analyses, validation studies, or development of new statistical techniques) as well as projects that embed method development inside an intervention or experimental framework when that is the best way to evaluate performance and real-world utility.
Eligibility is intentionally broad to encourage participation from many sectors that conduct or support behavioral and social science research. Standard eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education when applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups 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 government agencies; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and non-U.S. (foreign) entities. The wide eligibility language is consistent with NIH’s goal of fostering methodological advances that can be adopted across disciplines and in diverse communities and research environments.
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the activity is categorized under education and health, reflecting the cross-cutting relevance of improved behavioral and social science methods to public health, healthcare delivery, prevention, and education outcomes. The FOA lists multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.273, 93.313, 93.399, 93.853, 93.866, 93.867, 93.939), indicating that multiple NIH institutes and centers may participate or that awards may align with several NIH program areas. The source information provided notes an original closing date of 2019-09-07 and a creation date of 2017-11-21; applicants would typically confirm current submission dates, budgets, and active status via NIH/Grants.gov records if pursuing a similar or reissued opportunity.
Overall, this opportunity supports work that improves how behavioral and social science is done: better study designs, stronger measurement, more accurate and inclusive data collection, and more credible and powerful analytic strategies. The expected end product is methodology that other researchers can use, adapt, or build on, leading to more rigorous, reproducible, and meaningful findings across behavioral and social science research domains.Apply for PAR 18 352
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R01) Clinical Trials Optional" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.213, 93.273, 93.313, 93.399, 93.853, 93.866, 93.867, 93.939.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-07. (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 name of this grant opportunity?
This funding opportunity is the Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R01) Clinical Trials Optional program.
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number is PAR-18-352.
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the main purpose of this program?
The central purpose is to strengthen the scientific tools used across behavioral and social science research by developing, improving, or rigorously testing innovations in research methodology.
Does this program fund a specific health or education topic area?
No. The aim is not to fund a particular health or education topic. Instead, it supports advances in the methods researchers use to study people, behavior, and social systems.
What kinds of projects are expected to be competitive?
Projects are expected to focus on methodological innovation, including improvements to research design, measurement, data collection, and data analysis that can be broadly useful across behavioral and social science research.
What types of methodological work are explicitly encouraged?
The opportunity emphasizes developing, improving, or rigorously testing innovations in:
- Research design
- Measurement
- Data collection
- Data analysis
Can a project focus on creating new measurement instruments?
Yes. The scope can include creating new instruments or refining existing ones.
Is improving reliability and validity across populations and settings within scope?
Yes. The program notes improving measurement reliability and validity across populations and settings as an example of relevant work.
Are innovations in how variables are defined or operationalized appropriate?
Yes. Improving how variables are operationalized is specifically mentioned as a potential focus area.
Does the FOA support improvements in sampling or data capture?
Yes. It can include proposing more efficient or less biased sampling approaches or data capture strategies.
What kinds of data analysis challenges does the opportunity highlight?
The FOA highlights analytic approaches that better handle issues such as:
- Missing data
- Causal inference challenges
- Multilevel structure
- Longitudinal change
- Rare events
- Measurement error
What does the R01 mechanism mean for applicants?
It indicates the opportunity is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven or well-justified research projects with enough scope to produce broadly useful methodological advances.
Are clinical trials required?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trials Optional," meaning a clinical trial may be proposed if appropriate, but it is not required.
When might a clinical trial make sense under this opportunity?
A clinical trial may be appropriate when embedding method development inside an intervention or experimental framework is the best way to evaluate performance and real-world utility of the methodological innovation.
Are purely methodological studies allowed?
Yes. The opportunity allows projects that are purely methodological, including examples such as simulation studies, secondary analyses, validation studies, or development of new statistical techniques.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is intentionally broad and includes many types of organizations that conduct or support behavioral and social science research, consistent with NIH eligibility rules.
Are government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments.
Are schools and higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations (excluding institutions of higher education when applicable).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments. The FOA also highlights Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Are housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible.
Are minority-serving institutions explicitly highlighted?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly highlighted as eligible.
Are regional organizations eligible?
Yes. Regional organizations are explicitly listed among additional eligible groups.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) entities eligible?
Yes. Non-U.S. (foreign) entities are explicitly included as eligible.
What broad fields does NIH associate with this opportunity?
The activity is categorized under education and health, reflecting the cross-cutting relevance of improved behavioral and social science methods to public health, healthcare delivery, prevention, and education outcomes.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The FOA lists multiple CFDA numbers: 93.173, 93.213, 93.273, 93.313, 93.399, 93.853, 93.866, 93.867, and 93.939.
What does it mean that multiple CFDA numbers are listed?
Based on the provided description, it indicates that multiple NIH institutes and centers may participate or that awards may align with several NIH program areas.
What were the dates mentioned for this opportunity?
The source information provided notes a creation date of 2017-11-21 and an original closing date of 2019-09-07.
Is this opportunity necessarily still open?
Not necessarily. The information provided references an original closing date in 2019. Applicants would typically confirm current submission dates, budgets, and active status via NIH and/or Grants.gov records if pursuing a similar or reissued opportunity.
What is the intended end product or expected outcome of funded work?
The expected end product is methodology that other researchers can use, adapt, or build on, leading to more rigorous, reproducible, and meaningful findings across behavioral and social science research domains.
How should applicants think about "impact" in this program?
Based on the description, impact is tied to producing broadly useful methodological advances that improve how behavioral and social science research is designed, measured, conducted, and analyzed across diverse contexts and communities.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 18 352) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Healthy Habits: Timing for Developing Sustainable Healthy Behaviors in Children and Adolescents (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 354 Funding Number: PA 18 354 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Healthy Habits: Timing for Developing Sustainable Healthy Behaviors in Children and Adolescents (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 355 Funding Number: PA 18 355 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Tobacco Use and HIV in Low and Middle Income Countries (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 023 Funding Number: PAR 18 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Tobacco Use and HIV in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 022 Funding Number: PAR 18 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Intervening with Cancer Caregivers to Improve Patient Health Outcomes and Optimize Health Care Utilization (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 246 Funding Number: PAR 18 246 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Evaluating the NIDA Standardized Research E-Cigarette in Risk Reduction and Related Studies (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 220 Funding Number: PAR 18 220 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Predicting Behavioral Responses to Population-Level Cancer Control Strategies (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 024 Funding Number: PAR 18 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Intervening with Cancer Caregivers to Improve Patient Health Outcomes and Optimize Health Care Utilization (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 247 Funding Number: PAR 18 247 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Innovations in Mechanisms and Interventions to Address Mental Health in HIV Prevention and Care Continuum (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 274 Funding Number: PA 18 274 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Quantitative Imaging Tools and Methods for Cancer Therapy Response Assessment (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 248 Funding Number: PAR 18 248 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovations in Mechanisms and Interventions to Address Mental Health in HIV Prevention and Care Continuum (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 275 Funding Number: PA 18 275 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Increased Knowledge and Innovative Strategies to Reduce HIV Incidence-iKnow Projects (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 254 Funding Number: PAR 18 254 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 189 Funding Number: PAR 18 189 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 190 Funding Number: PAR 18 190 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Targeted Implementation Science to Achieve 90/90/90 Goals for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 279 Funding Number: PA 18 279 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Targeted Implementation Science to Achieve 90/90/90 Goals for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 280 Funding Number: PA 18 280 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Quantitative Imaging Tools and Methods for Cancer Response Assessment (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 249 Funding Number: PAR 18 249 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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