The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) titled "Risk and Protective Factors of Family Health and Family Level Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)." This initiative is led by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) with participation from several NIH components, including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Tribal Health Research Office (THRO). The purpose of this grant is to advance scientific research on family health, well-being, and resilience, particularly among populations experiencing health disparities. It seeks to improve health outcomes by funding research that examines family health risk factors and protective mechanisms.

The grant supports basic, clinical, social, and behavioral research to understand family health at an interpersonal level. While past research has primarily focused on individual health outcomes, this opportunity emphasizes the role of family structure, dynamics, and interactions in shaping health behaviors and disease outcomes. The funding scope includes studies on family resilience, decision-making, caregiving, chronic disease management, and the influence of social and environmental factors on family health. Multidisciplinary approaches incorporating biological, behavioral, and social determinants of health are encouraged.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (public and private), nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses (including small businesses), local and state governments, tribal entities, and independent school districts. Foreign organizations are not eligible, but U.S.-based institutions can include foreign components in their research. Applications must include a conceptual model detailing the pathways and mechanisms linking family health factors to health disparities. Collaborative research with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and social service agencies is strongly encouraged.

Application submissions will be accepted starting January 5, 2025. The deadlines for new, renewal, resubmission, and revision applications are February 5, June 5, and October 5 of each year until the expiration date of May 8, 2027. The review process includes scientific merit evaluations, advisory council review, and funding decisions by NIH. Award start dates vary depending on the application cycle. There is no specific award ceiling, and budgets should reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The maximum project period is five years.

Applicants must submit proposals through the NIH ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. Compliance with NIH application guidelines and policies, including data sharing and human subject research requirements, is mandatory. The review process evaluates significance, innovation, approach, investigator expertise, and feasibility. Funding decisions will be based on scientific merit, program priorities, and the availability of funds.

Key contacts for this funding opportunity include scientific, peer review, and financial management representatives from NIMHD, NIAAA, NINR, NCI, THRO, and the Office of Research on Women's Health. For inquiries, applicants can contact Arundhati Gogineni (NIMHD) at Arundhati.Gogineni@nih.gov or Priscah Mujuru (NIMHD) at mujurup@mail.nih.gov. The FOA also provides technical support contacts for application submission through NIH’s eRA Commons and Grants.gov.