The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is soliciting R01 grant applications under the funding opportunity titled "NINR Areas of Emphasis for Research to Optimize Health and Advance Health for All." This opportunity invites applications for independent research projects that align with the NINR 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. The research must reflect a holistic, contextualized approach consistent with nursing science, address urgent and persistent health challenges, and use rigorous and innovative study designs to influence both practice and policy.

The purpose of this funding initiative is to support studies that apply NINR's guiding principles and research lenses. The guiding principles prioritize research that addresses significant health challenges, drives discovery for future challenges, is innovative and rigorous, and impacts health outcomes. The five research lenses—Health Disparities, Social Determinants of Health, Population and Community Health, Prevention and Health Promotion, and Systems and Models of Care—serve as perspectives for framing diverse topics in nursing research. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate one or more lenses, with an emphasis on Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health.

The funding supports a broad range of research areas but is not open to studies of cellular mechanisms, drug development, animal models, or studies focusing narrowly on symptom management or individual behavior without contextual integration. Clinical trials are optional but must adhere to NIH definitions and guidelines. Research involving foreign institutions is not eligible, although U.S.-based applicants may include foreign components.

Applications may request budgets that reflect the full costs of their proposed projects without a set ceiling, though applicants requesting over $500,000 in direct costs in any year must consult with NINR staff at least six weeks prior to submission. The maximum project period is five years. There is no cost-sharing requirement. Applications are accepted through standard NIH submission systems such as ASSIST and Grants.gov, and applicants must follow all specified SF424 (R&R) instructions.

Eligibility is open to a broad array of U.S. organizations, including public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits, small businesses, local and state governments, tribal governments, independent school districts, and more. Individuals with the necessary expertise and institutional backing are eligible to serve as Principal Investigators. Each organization may submit multiple scientifically distinct applications.

Applications will be evaluated based on NIH peer review criteria, including significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment. Applications involving clinical trials will be further assessed for study design, ethics, recruitment feasibility, and data management. The earliest submission date was October 10, 2022, with multiple standard NIH deadlines extending until the expiration date of May 8, 2025. Projects must follow NIH’s policy on data management and sharing, and applicable federal regulations, including civil rights compliance and research ethics.