Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01) | PAR 16 355

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 355

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-16-355) is a discretionary grant program designed to push forward human epigenomics research that directly examines how social experiences can shape gene function and, in turn, influence health over time. The central idea behind this FOA is that social and environmental conditions are not just "background context" for health disparities; they can become biologically embedded through epigenomic mechanisms. NIH is looking to support research that identifies and characterizes those mechanisms, especially in populations that experience minority health burdens and persistent health disparities.

A key emphasis of the FOA is the role of social experiences across the life course. That includes negative exposures such as chronic stress, discrimination, poverty, neighborhood disadvantage, trauma, or limited access to resources, as well as positive or protective experiences such as social support, community cohesion, cultural connectedness, or other resilience-related factors. The goal is to understand how these experiences at different stages of life may affect epigenomic patterns and gene regulation in ways that alter health trajectories, contribute to disease susceptibility, or modify risk and progression of illness. In practice, this points to research that connects social determinants of health to measurable epigenomic changes in humans and ties those changes to outcomes relevant to minority health and health disparities.

The funding mechanism is the NIH R01, which generally supports mature, hypothesis-driven research projects of meaningful scope. The activity areas listed for this FOA are education and health, and the associated CFDA numbers are 93.307 and 93.399. The opportunity was created on 2016-07-07, with an original closing date of 2018-11-15, indicating it was released as a time-bounded announcement (applicants should always confirm whether a reissue or active version exists if they are seeking current funding).

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city/township governments; 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories that are often central to disparity-focused research and community-engaged work, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). It also notes that eligible agencies of the federal government, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized tribes may apply.

The FOA draws an important distinction regarding foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, described as foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain foreign collaborations or elements when they meet NIH policy definitions and requirements. This structure allows international scientific contributions while keeping the applicant organization domestically based.

Overall, this opportunity is aimed at building strong evidence for how social conditions and lived experiences can influence biology through epigenomic pathways, with a specific and explicit focus on racial/ethnic minority populations and other health disparity groups. NIH is signaling interest in research that goes beyond documenting disparities to uncovering mechanisms: how social exposures get "under the skin," how they may alter gene regulation, and how those molecular changes relate to disease risk, resilience, and health outcomes across time.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.307, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-07-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-11-15. (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.

Apply for PAR 16 355

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