The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and NIH offices, has issued the funding opportunity titled “Advancing Health Equity through Interventions to Prevent and Address Housing Instability” (R01 Clinical Trial Optional). This program is dedicated to supporting research that evaluates and tests housing interventions aimed at improving both health and housing outcomes, with an emphasis on reducing health disparities among populations facing housing instability. Applications should focus on social determinants of health (SDOH) by addressing housing as a critical social risk factor impacting health. Research interventions may include policies, community-level initiatives, and direct services that address housing challenges such as homelessness, overcrowding, frequent moves, and unaffordable housing costs. Importantly, studies must measure health outcomes as a primary focus alongside housing outcomes.

A significant component of this funding opportunity is the required Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP), which applicants must include to demonstrate strategies for promoting inclusivity and diversity within the research team, research environment, and participant population. Applications must also involve an evidence-based conceptual framework to explore mechanisms, populations affected, and specific conditions under which housing interventions impact health outcomes. NIA encourages studies on aging populations, emphasizing the intersection of housing instability with aging-related health challenges such as cognitive impairments and the increased mean age of the unhoused population. This focus may include rural and older populations, those aging in place with disabilities, and those with past criminal legal system involvement.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based higher education institutions, nonprofits, government entities, and certain tribal and community organizations, while foreign entities are excluded from applying. The application budget is capped at $500,000 in direct costs per year, and the maximum project period is five years. Up to $3 million is allocated to support 4-6 awards under this initiative for fiscal year 2025. For submission, all required registrations through SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons must be completed, as failure to adhere to submission instructions could lead to application disqualification. A letter of intent is due by November 13, 2024, and final applications by December 13, 2024, with award decisions anticipated by July 2025.

Evaluation criteria for applications include significance, approach, investigator expertise, and environment. Reviewers will assess each project’s scientific merit, considering how inclusivity and diverse perspectives contribute to the project’s rigor and potential impact on health equity. For studies involving clinical trials, additional criteria apply, including the appropriateness of study design, recruitment plans, data management, and statistical analysis. Importantly, applications that do not include health and housing outcomes or a PEDP will be deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed.

Awardees are required to adhere to NIH’s Data Management and Sharing policy and submit annual progress reports, including updates on PEDP implementation. Compliance with federal non-discrimination laws and NIH guidelines for data safety and monitoring, especially for clinical trials, is mandatory. Data and results from clinical trials must also be registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

For assistance, applicants can contact NINR or NIH’s Office of Extramural Research. Comprehensive guidance on PEDP requirements, data management, and federal policies is available to support applicants in aligning proposals with NIH standards and this program’s mission to advance health equity through targeted housing interventions.