The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reissued a funding opportunity to support research on health and healthcare disparities in non-communicable and chronic diseases (NCDs) among U.S. Hispanic/Latino populations and in Latin America. The program aims to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary research that develops and tests clinical, health services, and community-based interventions to address the highest disease burdens, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and chronic kidney disease, as well as mental health issues and violence. The research must include clinical trials and align with NIH policies and priorities.

Applicants can propose innovative, multicomponent, or multilevel interventions, including community-based and health system-based approaches. The research must address disparities in prevention, treatment, and health outcomes, while emphasizing access, retention, and quality of care in underserved populations. Studies comparing multiple Latin American countries or U.S. Hispanic/Latino groups are encouraged, with a focus on culturally informed and contextually relevant solutions.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, government entities, and other organizations based in the U.S. Foreign institutions are not eligible, but foreign components may participate. Each application must include at least one principal investigator (PI) from a Latin America-based institution and demonstrate equitable collaboration, with at least 70% of the research activities conducted in Latin America. The maximum project period is five years, and budgets should reflect actual project needs without a predefined limit.

Applications are due on February 5, 2025, with additional deadlines in June, October, and February of subsequent years. A letter of intent is recommended 30 days before the deadline. Submissions must follow NIH's structured application processes via Grants.gov or NIH’s ASSIST system. All proposals must adhere to rigorous data management, quality assurance, and reporting requirements. Annual grantee meetings will provide platforms for collaboration and dissemination of findings.

Evaluation criteria include significance, innovation, rigor, feasibility, and the capacity of research teams to address the outlined goals. Nonresponsive proposals include those that do not incorporate a focus on NCDs, fail to involve Latin American investigators, or neglect to address health equity and disparities. The program is managed by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), with additional support from the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH).

For further details, applicants may refer to the NIH grants website, contact NIH program staff, or participate in an upcoming pre-application webinar.