Self-Management Interventions and Technologies to Sustain Health and Optimize Functional Capabilities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 146

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 146

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Self-Management Interventions and Technologies to Sustain Health and Optimize Functional Capabilities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PA-18-146) supports clinical research projects that test and refine ways people can better manage their own health and day-to-day functioning when they are living with conditions that threaten independence. The core idea is to fund interventions and practical technologies that help individuals maintain or optimize the functional abilities they already have, reduce the risk of further disability, and better navigate their environments. This includes approaches that improve health and quality of life, not only through medical management but also through strategies that strengthen physical, sensory, motor, and mental capabilities in real-world settings.

A central theme of the announcement is maintenance and restorative care tailored to the individual. Rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all program, the FOA emphasizes interventions that can be adapted to a person s existing functional level, goals, preferences, and interests. The target population is broadly described as people who need assistance to sustain function, which can include those with chronic illness, age-related limitations, or physical or cognitive disabilities. NIH signals particular interest in research aimed at preserving functional capabilities in conditions such as cardiac and respiratory insufficiency, movement limitations linked to arthritis, chronic back pain, stroke, and other causes of physical or cognitive impairment. In practice, that could translate into studying coaching models, home-based rehabilitation supports, symptom monitoring systems, assistive or mobile health tools, behavior change programs, and other self-management supports that enable people to remain active and independent longer.

The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, which generally supports substantial, hypothesis-driven clinical research with a defined project period and clear outcomes. Clinical trials are optional under this FOA, meaning applicants may propose either clinical trials or other types of clinical research, as long as the project fits the goal of evaluating self-management interventions or technologies that measurably affect functional outcomes, disability prevention or delay, and quality of life. The activity categories listed for the opportunity are Education and Health, and the associated CFDA numbers are 93.173 and 93.361, reflecting NIH program areas tied to rehabilitation, functional capacity, and related health research.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organizational types that can conduct clinical research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations. This wide eligibility reflects NIH s interest in solutions that can be developed and tested across diverse populations and care settings.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity with the NIH as the sponsoring agency. The opportunity was created on 2017-11-07, and the original closing date listed is 2020-01-07. The source excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text and NIH institute or center guidance to understand budget expectations, review criteria emphasis, and any institute-specific priorities. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a call for rigorous clinical research on scalable, person-centered self-management supports that help people preserve function, avoid or slow disability, and live better with chronic or disabling conditions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Self-Management Interventions and Technologies to Sustain Health and Optimize Functional Capabilities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.361.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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