Pregnancy in Women with Disabilities (R03) | PA 17 451

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 451

Pregnancy in Women with Disabilities (R03) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity (NICHD, under the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) that supports small, focused research projects aimed at improving what is known about pregnancy among women with disabilities. The central purpose is to encourage studies that document and explain the incidence (how often pregnancy occurs), the course of pregnancy (how pregnancy unfolds clinically and socially over time), and pregnancy outcomes for women with physical disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and sensory disabilities. The FOA also emphasizes practical, patient-centered topics such as how clinicians and health systems can better support preconception planning, antenatal counseling, and prenatal care for women with disabilities, especially when current care models do not consistently meet accessibility or quality needs.

A major theme of the opportunity is identifying and addressing barriers that can interfere with timely and effective prenatal care and pregnancy management. This includes barriers in clinical settings (for example, inaccessible exam equipment, communication barriers, inadequate provider training, fragmented care coordination, or lack of disability-competent obstetric protocols) as well as broader structural barriers (transportation limitations, insurance or coverage gaps, clinic scheduling and staffing constraints, and stigma or bias that may affect the patient experience). In addition to pregnancy itself, NICHD highlights interest in research covering the puerperium (the postpartum period) and the transition to parenthood, recognizing that health risks and support needs do not end at delivery and that postpartum care, mental health, parenting supports, and family well-being can be especially influenced by accessibility and accommodation issues.

The mechanism is an R03 small research project grant, which is typically used for discrete, well-scoped projects that can generate preliminary data, test feasibility, develop measures, analyze existing datasets, or run pilot studies that can later lead to larger-scale research. The listed award ceiling in the source information is $50,000, positioning this as relatively modest support intended to move the evidence base forward through targeted questions rather than large, multi-site trials. The activity category is Health, Income Security and Social Services, and the CFDA number provided is 93.865. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument type. The FOA number is PA-17-451, created on 2017-08-03, with an original closing date shown as 2020-09-07, which indicates the specific posting period reflected in the source data (applicants should still verify current availability and any reissued notices if pursuing a similar opportunity now).

Another defining feature of this FOA is the expectation of meaningful inclusion of women with disabilities and community members in the research process. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate people with lived experience into study design and implementation, which can improve relevance, strengthen recruitment and retention, refine outcomes that matter to patients and families, and ensure that study materials and procedures are accessible. This community-engaged orientation aligns with the FOA goal of generating findings that are not only scientifically useful but also directly translatable into better counseling, better care pathways, and better health and social outcomes for mothers and families.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; 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; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants 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); eligible federal agencies; faith-based and community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects an interest in supporting research that can be conducted in diverse settings and populations, including communities that are often underrepresented in maternal health research.

In practical terms, the opportunity is intended for investigators who can define a clear, manageable research question about pregnancy and disability, use rigorous methods appropriate for a small grant, and produce results that can guide clinical counseling, prenatal and postpartum care practices, and strategies to reduce access barriers. Strong applications would typically be those that connect disability type and context to specific maternal and infant outcomes, identify modifiable points in care delivery, and demonstrate that people with disabilities are involved in shaping the study so the work is grounded in real-world needs and solutions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pregnancy in Women with Disabilities (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-07. (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 $50,000.00 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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