Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 303
The NIH funding opportunity "Tobacco Control Policies to Promote Health Equity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-20-303) supports short, exploratory research projects that look at how state and local tobacco prevention and control policies can reduce unequal patterns of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure across the United States. The core idea is to generate practical, policy-relevant evidence through either observational studies or intervention research, with an emphasis on innovative approaches that can be tested, evaluated, and potentially scaled. While the award mechanism is an R21, meaning it is meant for early-stage or high-impact exploratory work, the intent is still very applied: the research should help explain what policies work, for whom they work, under what conditions, and how they can close gaps between populations that have historically carried a heavier burden of tobacco-related harm.
A central theme of the FOA is health equity. NIH is specifically interested in projects that address disparities in tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure that contribute to unequal rates of tobacco-related cancers and other health outcomes. In practice, this means the research should focus on populations and communities that experience disproportionate tobacco marketing, higher tobacco retailer density, lower access to cessation resources, weaker protections from secondhand smoke, or policy environments that do not provide the same level of health protection across neighborhoods. The long-term goal is to reduce disparities in tobacco-related cancers and, by extension, promote health equity across all populations.
The FOA is centered on state and local policy, so applicants are expected to study or test policy levers that operate at those levels rather than purely individual-level behavior change programs. This can include evaluating the impact of new or existing tobacco control laws, regulations, or enforcement strategies; examining how policies are adopted and implemented; identifying unintended consequences; or developing and assessing policy interventions designed to improve protections and reduce inequities. Since the announcement allows clinical trials but does not require them ("clinical trial optional"), projects may range from quasi-experimental evaluations of real-world policy changes to controlled intervention studies, as long as they align with NIH definitions and requirements.
NIH also flags health economics as an area where alignment with NIH mission priorities matters, encouraging applicants who plan economics-focused proposals to consult NIH guidance (NOT-OD-16-025). That note is essentially a reminder that economic analyses should be connected to health outcomes and NIH-relevant scientific questions, rather than being purely fiscal or market analyses. For applicants considering cost-effectiveness, taxation impacts, pricing policies, or other economic policy evaluations, the expectation is that the economic work strengthens the public health and equity focus of the project.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The FOA also allows nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, as well as for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. It explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants 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 (AANAPISISs), along with faith-based and community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly excludes non-U.S. institutions and foreign organizations, and it does not allow foreign components of U.S. organizations as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant in the Education and Health activity category under CFDA 93.395, administered by the National Institutes of Health. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, reflecting the smaller, exploratory scope typical of R21 projects. The opportunity was created on 2020-09-04, and the original closing date shown in the source information is 2023-09-07. Overall, the opportunity is designed to help build the evidence base for equitable tobacco control by supporting timely, policy-focused research that can inform decisions at the state and local level and ultimately reduce tobacco-related cancer disparities.Apply for PAR 20 303
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tobacco Control Policies to Promote Health Equity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.395.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-09-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Tobacco Control Policies to Promote Health Equity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is identified as PAR-20-303.
What type of grant mechanism is this?
This is an R21 funding opportunity, which supports short, exploratory research projects intended for early-stage or high-impact exploratory work.
What is the overall purpose of PAR-20-303?
The purpose is to support practical, policy-relevant research on how state and local tobacco prevention and control policies can reduce unequal patterns of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure across the United States, with an explicit focus on health equity.
What does "health equity" mean in the context of this FOA?
Health equity is a central theme of the FOA. NIH is interested in projects that address disparities in tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure that contribute to unequal rates of tobacco-related cancers and other health outcomes, especially among populations and communities that have historically carried a heavier burden of tobacco-related harm.
What kinds of research approaches are supported?
The FOA supports either observational studies or intervention research. Examples mentioned include quasi-experimental evaluations of real-world policy changes and controlled intervention studies, as long as they align with NIH definitions and requirements.
Are clinical trials required?
No. The FOA is "clinical trial optional," meaning clinical trials are allowed but not required.
What is the main focus of the research: individuals or policy?
The FOA is centered on state and local policy. Applicants are expected to study or test policy levers operating at those levels rather than purely individual-level behavior change programs.
What kinds of policies or policy actions can projects focus on?
Projects may evaluate the impact of new or existing tobacco control laws, regulations, or enforcement strategies; examine how policies are adopted and implemented; identify unintended consequences; or develop and assess policy interventions designed to improve protections and reduce inequities.
What kinds of inequities is NIH trying to address through this research?
The FOA points to inequities such as disproportionate tobacco marketing, higher tobacco retailer density, lower access to cessation resources, weaker protections from secondhand smoke, and policy environments that do not provide the same level of health protection across neighborhoods.
What kinds of outcomes is NIH ultimately trying to impact?
The long-term goal is to reduce disparities in tobacco-related cancers and other tobacco-related health outcomes by building evidence on equitable tobacco control policies.
What does NIH mean by "policy-relevant evidence" in this FOA?
The intent is to generate practical evidence that can inform real-world decision-making, including evidence about what policies work, for whom they work, under what conditions, and how they can help close gaps between populations.
Does this FOA support work that could be scaled up?
Yes. The FOA emphasizes innovative approaches that can be tested, evaluated, and potentially scaled.
Can projects examine policy implementation and adoption, not just outcomes?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes examining how policies are adopted and implemented, in addition to evaluating impacts.
Are unintended consequences of tobacco control policies within scope?
Yes. Identifying unintended consequences is explicitly mentioned as an allowable research focus.
Is health economics research allowed under this FOA?
NIH flags health economics as an area where alignment with NIH mission priorities matters. Economics-focused proposals are encouraged to follow NIH guidance (NOT-OD-16-025) so that economic analyses are tied to health outcomes and NIH-relevant scientific questions rather than being purely fiscal or market analyses.
If a project includes cost-effectiveness, pricing policies, or taxation impacts, what is NIH expecting?
The expectation described is that economic work (including cost-effectiveness, taxation impacts, and pricing policy evaluations) should strengthen the public health and equity focus of the project and remain connected to health outcomes.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, including state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.
Are nonprofits eligible?
Yes. The FOA allows nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are eligible, and small businesses are also eligible.
Are institutions that serve specific populations explicitly encouraged or highlighted?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights 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 (AANAPISISs), among others.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes faith-based and community-based organizations as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. institutions or foreign organizations eligible?
No. The FOA clearly excludes non-U.S. institutions and foreign organizations.
Are foreign components of U.S. organizations allowed?
No. The FOA does not allow foreign components of U.S. organizations as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
What federal agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the activity category and assistance listing information provided?
It is described as a discretionary grant in the Education and Health activity category under CFDA 93.395.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000, consistent with the smaller, exploratory scope typical of R21 projects.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2020-09-04.
What closing date is shown in the provided information?
The original closing date shown in the provided source information is 2023-09-07.
Does this FOA focus on state and local policy only, or could it include broader levels?
Based on the provided description, the FOA is centered on state and local policy levers and expects applicants to focus at those levels.
What makes a project a good fit for this R21 FOA, based on the description?
A strong fit is a short, exploratory, applied project that produces policy-relevant evidence about equitable tobacco control at the state and local level, with clear attention to reducing disparities in tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure and the downstream burden of tobacco-related cancers.
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| NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 20 056 Funding Number: RFA CA 20 056 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Providing Research Education Experiences to Enhance Diversity in the Next Generation of Substance Use and Addiction Scientists (R25 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 236 Funding Number: PAR 20 236 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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