The Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity, issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports research projects focused on overcoming barriers to the widespread and equitable implementation of evidence-based health interventions. The funding initiative seeks to close the gap between health research findings and their application in clinical and community settings. Projects should identify, develop, or test strategies to enhance the adoption, adaptation, sustainability, and scalability of interventions while promoting their equitable dissemination. The initiative also values research that addresses de-implementation of practices that are unproven or harmful and advances methodologies and measures in the dissemination and implementation (D&I) field.

The program encourages studies that promote health equity and engage underserved communities, examining how to best deliver evidence-based practices across various stakeholders, including healthcare providers, families, caregivers, and policy makers. Applications should align with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, which include the National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and others. Topics of interest span a wide spectrum of health issues and populations, including aging adults, children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and populations affected by health disparities.

Funding will be distributed through the NIH R03 Small Grant mechanism, which supports short-term projects with limited funding and scope. Eligible projects include economic evaluations of D&I strategies, secondary data analysis, testing of D&I models and frameworks, and the development of pragmatic, psychometrically sound measures. Proposed studies must be non-clinical trials, with a maximum direct cost of $50,000 per year for up to two years. The funding aims to generate impactful, actionable findings that improve the real-world delivery of health services.

Eligibility is broad and includes institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profits (including small businesses), local governments, tribal governments, school districts, and foreign organizations. Individual principal investigators with the necessary expertise and institutional support are encouraged to apply. Applications must be scientifically distinct, and duplicate or substantially overlapping submissions are prohibited.

Submissions follow NIH's standard due dates, with three annual deadlines for new, renewal, and AIDS-related applications. The earliest submission date is January 16, 2025, and the closing date for the opportunity is January 8, 2028. Letters of intent are due 30 days before the application due dates. Evaluation will follow NIH’s peer-review process, focusing on the importance of the research, rigor and feasibility, and investigator expertise. Applications must strictly adhere to NIH’s application guidelines, including detailed instructions on budgets, human subjects protections, and data management plans.

Interested applicants should carefully review the full funding announcement and coordinate with the relevant NIH institute or center to ensure alignment with institutional priorities. Contact details for scientific, peer review, and grants management staff are provided within the notice for further guidance.