Fundamental Science Research on Mind and Body Approaches (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 322

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 322

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Fundamental Science Research on Mind and Body Approaches (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PA 18 322) supports early-stage, exploratory, and developmental research aimed at building the basic scientific foundation for a wide range of mind and body interventions. It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for projects that are innovative, high-risk/high-reward, or focused on generating key preliminary data rather than completing a large, definitive program of research. A major point of emphasis in this announcement is fundamental science, meaning applicants are expected to focus on underlying mechanisms, core processes, and foundational questions about how these approaches work, for whom they work, and under what conditions they produce measurable effects. The opportunity is labeled "clinical trial optional," which means projects may include a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the research questions, but a clinical trial is not required.

In terms of what kinds of approaches are in scope, the FOA is broadly inclusive of commonly used mind and body practices and integrative health strategies. It specifically calls out mind/brain-focused practices such as meditation and hypnosis, body-based approaches such as acupuncture, massage, and spinal manipulation or mobilization, and meditative movement practices including yoga, tai chi, and qi gong. It also includes creative modalities like art therapy and music therapy, and it allows for integrative approaches that combine multiple components into a single intervention or program. The common thread is that the research should deepen scientific understanding of these approaches at a fundamental level, which can include studying biological, psychological, behavioral, or neurophysiological mechanisms, identifying active ingredients of complex interventions, clarifying dose or intensity relationships, improving measurement of relevant outcomes, or testing how contextual factors influence responses.

The FOA draws a clear boundary around pharmacology: studies that focus exclusively on pharmacologic approaches are not considered responsive to this announcement. In other words, the goal here is not drug development or medication-only studies. Applicants can still potentially study mind and body approaches in real-world contexts where medications are present, but the proposed work cannot be solely about a pharmacologic intervention; the mind and body component must be central, and the scientific questions should be grounded in understanding that component.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health area (Funding Activity Category: Health) and is associated with CFDA number 93.213. The award ceiling listed in the source data is $200,000, indicating the program expects relatively modest budgets consistent with exploratory R21 projects. The opportunity was created on October 13, 2017, and the original closing date provided is May 7, 2021, which suggests that prospective applicants should verify whether the FOA is still active, has been reissued, or has transitioned to a newer announcement, since NIH funding opportunities are often updated over time.

Eligibility is broad and designed to include a wide cross-section of research and community stakeholders. Eligible applicants include standard government entities (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Academic institutions are eligible, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. The FOA also permits nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education) and allows for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses. In addition to those categories, the announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized. It also includes eligible federal government agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), making it unusually expansive in who can apply.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as NIH support for foundational, mechanism-oriented research on mind and body interventions, particularly work that can clarify how these practices produce effects, sharpen the scientific tools used to study them, and generate the kind of early evidence needed to justify and design larger, more definitive future studies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fundamental Science Research on Mind and Body Approaches (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): 93.213.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-10-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-07. (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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