The funding opportunity titled "Community Level Interventions to Improve Minority Health and Reduce Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)" is administered by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This program is a continuation of community-engaged research initiatives, building on the legacy of the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) program started in 2005. The aim is to support research projects that develop and test community-level interventions intended to improve minority health outcomes and reduce disparities. These interventions must go beyond the individual level and address broader determinants of health at various levels such as community, organizational, and societal.

The initiative emphasizes prospective community-level interventions that are collaboratively designed with community partners. Eligible interventions must focus on community-level determinants of health, like environmental changes, organizational practices, or public policies, rather than individual coping strategies. All projects must be rooted in a conceptual model that outlines the causal pathways linking interventions to outcomes. Interventions should include comprehensive data collection strategies and must aim for sustainability and scalability beyond the funded period. The program specifically encourages multi-sectoral partnerships and applications that demonstrate community engagement and benefit.

The maximum budget for this funding opportunity is $1,000,000 in direct costs annually for up to five years. The scope of research includes, but is not limited to, improving access to healthy food and physical activity, shifting harmful norms, reducing stigma, supporting reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, and addressing social determinants of health. Applications not targeting NIH-designated health disparity populations or lacking community-level interventions will be deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed.

Eligible applicants include a broad spectrum of organizations, such as higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits (including small businesses), local governments, tribal entities, public housing authorities, and more. Foreign entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. All applicants must complete required registrations including SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Principal Investigators must also be registered in eRA Commons.

Applications must be submitted electronically through systems like NIH ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace. Letters of Intent are due 30 days prior to the application due date. The standard NIH submission cycles apply, with the next due date for new applications being October 5, 2024. Applications will undergo NIH’s rigorous peer-review process, evaluating significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment. Reviewers will also assess data management plans, community involvement, and sustainability potential of proposed interventions.

The earliest award start date for applications submitted by October 5, 2024, is expected to be July 2025. The funding opportunity will remain open until January 8, 2027, with additional standard due dates in 2025 and 2026. For support, applicants can contact scientific staff at NIMHD or the NIH help desks for assistance with submissions or technical issues.