Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes and Advance Health Equity in Rural Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA NR 24 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NR 24 005

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the grant opportunity "Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes and Advance Health Equity in Rural Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" under funding opportunity number RFA-NR-24-005. This is a discretionary grant using the NIH R01 research project mechanism, and it supports studies that may include a clinical trial but do not have to. The overall aim is to fund research that leads to real, sustained improvements in health outcomes for people living in rural areas, with a clear focus on advancing health equity.

The core problem this opportunity is trying to address is that rural populations experience disproportionate health burdens, including high rates of morbidity and disability and high, increasing rates of premature death. NIH is emphasizing that meaningful improvements will require more than short-term programs or narrow clinical fixes. Instead, applicants are expected to target the underlying drivers of poor health in rural communities, particularly social determinants of health (SDOH). In practice, that means proposing interventions that are developed, adapted, or implemented to address factors like access to health care and supportive services, transportation barriers, economic instability, education and employment challenges, food insecurity, housing quality, broadband and technology access, and other community conditions that shape health and health care use.

The NOFO is especially interested in research that improves the access to interventions, as well as their acceptability and effectiveness in rural settings. Rural contexts often involve distinctive constraints and strengths, such as fewer nearby services, workforce shortages, long travel distances, limited specialty care, and uneven infrastructure, alongside strong social networks and community institutions. Because of this, NIH encourages a wide range of study designs and methods, including community-engaged research approaches that actively involve rural residents and local partners. Proposals that build on community strengths, local priorities, and trusted organizations (for example, clinics, schools, faith communities, tribal entities, and community-based organizations) align well with the intent of the opportunity, particularly when they show how engagement will improve feasibility, uptake, and sustainability.

Eligible applicants span many types of organizations. Public sector applicants can include state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments and independent school districts. Higher education institutions are eligible across categories, including public and state-controlled institutions, private institutions, and several mission-focused institution types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, along with Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). Tribal eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments). The opportunity also allows participation from public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The NOFO also notes that faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions may apply.

There are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, the work and applicant organization need to be U.S.-based without foreign components included under NIH definitions.

From an administrative and funding standpoint, the listing indicates an award ceiling of $500,000. The opportunity is categorized under Education and Health funding activities and references CFDA numbers 93.242, 93.307, 93.361, and 93.846. The original closing date listed is 2024-05-17, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of 2024-03-06. Overall, this NOFO is designed for applicants who can propose rigorous, context-aware intervention research that directly tackles social and structural conditions driving rural health disparities, while demonstrating practical pathways to improve equity, access, and outcomes in rural communities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes and Advance Health Equity in Rural Populations (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): 93.242, 93.307, 93.361, 93.846.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-17. (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 $500,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA NR 24 005

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