Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 163
Use of Technology to Enhance Patient Outcomes and Prevent Illness (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity that supports early-stage clinical research projects exploring how technology can measurably improve patient outcomes and help prevent illness. The focus is on developing, testing, or implementing technology-enabled approaches that make healthcare more effective, more accessible, and easier for patients to follow over time. The announcement is intentionally broad, welcoming a range of clinical areas and patient populations, as long as the work is tied to clear, specific outcomes that are expected to improve because of the technology being proposed.
The FOA emphasizes technologies that can extend care beyond traditional clinic walls and improve the way patients and providers make decisions. Examples named in the announcement include telehealth and other forms of remote care delivery, robotics or automated tools that help with medication adherence, and care delivery models that work in on-site environments such as clinics, homes, or community settings. It also highlights mobile health approaches that can expand access and improve adherence (such as smartphone-based monitoring, reminders, or symptom tracking), and web-based decision support tools that help clinicians and patients choose appropriate actions based on data. The opportunity is not limited to these examples; it also encourages other relevant technologies, particularly those that are emerging or cutting-edge.
In terms of the research scope, projects may address multiple stages of the clinical pathway. That can include assessment and measurement tools, diagnostic supports, the development of technology-enabled interventions, or the implementation of interventions in real-world settings. A key priority is work that uses advanced technology to explain and predict patient trajectories, meaning the research should aim to understand how patients change over time and use that information to anticipate risk, worsening symptoms, or treatment response. The FOA is also looking for approaches that inform interventions (helping tailor what is delivered and when), support real-time clinical decision making (delivering actionable guidance at the point of care), and strengthen long-term management of chronic illness (supporting sustained behavior change, monitoring, adherence, and coordination across settings).
One of the most important expectations in this announcement is that applicants clearly identify which patient outcomes they intend to improve and why the proposed technology is likely to move those outcomes in a meaningful way. It is not enough to describe a novel tool; the application should connect the tool to concrete patient benefits and show how the technology will be used in practice. The FOA specifically calls for clarity on how the technology enhances patient benefits in clinical settings and/or in home and community environments, recognizing that many of the most impactful solutions will operate across these locations.
This is an R21 mechanism, which typically supports exploratory or developmental research rather than large, definitive trials. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants can propose studies that do or do not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial, depending on what best fits the research aims. The source information lists an award ceiling of $200,000, indicating the program is designed to fund smaller, focused projects that generate evidence, feasibility data, prototypes, or early clinical insights that could later support larger-scale studies or implementation efforts.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and special district governments; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and additional entities categorized as "other." The announcement also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based and 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 practical, scalable healthcare technologies that may be developed and tested by diverse organizations embedded in the communities they serve.
The opportunity is identified as PA 18 163, categorized as a discretionary grant in the Education and Health activity areas, with CFDA numbers 93.173 and 93.361. The source data shows a creation date of 2017-11-07 and an original closing date of 2020-01-07. Overall, the grant is aimed at accelerating clinically relevant technology research that can demonstrate a clear link between a technology-enabled approach and improved patient outcomes, especially for chronic disease management, adherence, access, and better decision making in real-world care settings.Apply for PA 18 163
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Use of Technology to Enhance Patient Outcomes and Prevent Illness (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): 93.173, 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.)
- 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 "Use of Technology to Enhance Patient Outcomes and Prevent Illness (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" opportunity?
It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity that supports early-stage clinical research projects that explore how technology can measurably improve patient outcomes and help prevent illness. The announcement is broad and welcomes projects across many clinical areas and patient populations, as long as the proposed technology is tied to clear, specific outcomes expected to improve.
What is the main goal of this NIH funding announcement?
The main goal is to accelerate clinically relevant technology research that demonstrates a clear link between a technology-enabled approach and improved patient outcomes. The opportunity emphasizes practical use in real care contexts, including clinic, home, and community environments, with a focus on access, adherence, decision making, and long-term management (especially for chronic conditions).
What kinds of technologies does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA highlights technologies that extend care beyond traditional clinic walls and improve how patients and providers make decisions. Examples named include telehealth and remote care delivery, robotics or automated tools that support medication adherence, mobile health approaches (such as smartphone-based monitoring, reminders, or symptom tracking), and web-based decision support tools. The FOA is not limited to these examples and encourages other relevant and emerging technologies.
Is this opportunity limited to certain diseases, conditions, or patient populations?
No. The announcement is intentionally broad and welcomes a range of clinical areas and patient populations. The key requirement is that the project is tied to clear patient outcomes that the technology is expected to improve.
What types of research activities are within scope?
Projects may address multiple stages of the clinical pathway, including assessment and measurement tools, diagnostic supports, development of technology-enabled interventions, and implementation of interventions in real-world settings. The FOA supports projects focused on generating feasibility data, prototypes, or early clinical insights consistent with an exploratory/developmental R21 project.
What does the FOA mean by extending care beyond the clinic?
It refers to technology-enabled approaches that operate outside traditional in-person clinical visits, including remote care delivery, home-based or community-based models, and tools that help patients follow care plans over time. The FOA specifically recognizes that impactful solutions may operate across clinical settings as well as home and community environments.
What does the FOA prioritize regarding patient trajectories?
A key priority is work that uses advanced technology to explain and predict patient trajectories, meaning research that aims to understand how patients change over time and to anticipate risk, worsening symptoms, or treatment response.
What kinds of outcomes does NIH expect applicants to specify?
Applicants are expected to clearly identify which patient outcomes they intend to improve and explain why the proposed technology is likely to move those outcomes in a meaningful way. The application should connect the technology to concrete patient benefits and describe how it will be used in practice.
Is it enough to propose a novel tool or platform?
No. The FOA states it is not enough to describe a novel tool. The application should link the technology to concrete patient benefits and clearly describe how the technology enhances patient benefits in clinical settings and/or home and community environments.
What types of care settings can the proposed technology address?
The FOA recognizes technologies used in on-site environments such as clinics, homes, or community settings, and it encourages solutions that can operate across these locations. It also highlights tools that deliver actionable guidance at the point of care and those that support ongoing management outside the clinic.
What does "R21 mechanism" mean for the scope of the project?
This is an R21 mechanism, which typically supports exploratory or developmental research rather than large, definitive trials. The program is designed for smaller, focused projects that can generate evidence, feasibility data, prototypes, or early clinical insights that may support later, larger-scale studies.
Are clinical trials required under this funding opportunity?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants can propose studies that do or do not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial, depending on what best fits the research aims.
What is the maximum award amount indicated in the source information?
The source information lists an award ceiling of $200,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many applicant types across public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Examples listed include state, county, city, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other entities.
Are specific community-serving or minority-serving institutions eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly notes eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, and tribally controlled colleges and universities, as well as faith-based and community-based organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity includes U.S. territories or possessions among the explicitly noted eligible applicant types.
Can tribal governments that are not federally recognized apply?
Yes. The announcement explicitly notes that tribal governments that are not federally recognized are eligible.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly notes that non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are eligible.
What types of organizations beyond universities and governments are included?
In addition to universities and governments, the eligibility list includes nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, with certain exclusions for higher education), for-profit organizations, small businesses, public housing authorities, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, community-based organizations, and other entities.
What are examples of projects that align with the FOA?
Examples mentioned include telehealth or other remote care delivery approaches, robotics or automated tools that help with medication adherence, mobile health tools like smartphone-based monitoring and reminders, symptom tracking tools, and web-based decision support tools that help clinicians and patients choose appropriate actions based on data. The FOA also encourages emerging or cutting-edge technologies beyond these examples.
What does the FOA say about decision support and point-of-care guidance?
The FOA highlights web-based decision support tools and emphasizes approaches that support real-time clinical decision making by delivering actionable guidance at the point of care.
What does the FOA say about chronic illness management?
The FOA emphasizes strengthening long-term management of chronic illness, including sustained behavior change, monitoring, adherence, and coordination across settings.
What is the FOA identifier for this opportunity?
The opportunity is identified as PA 18 163.
How is this grant categorized?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the Education and Health activity areas.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.173 and 93.361.
What dates are provided in the source information?
The source data shows a creation date of 2017-11-07 and an original closing date of 2020-01-07.
What is the overall expectation for how the technology will be used?
The FOA expects applicants to show how the technology will be used in practice and to explain how it enhances patient benefits in clinical settings and/or in home and community environments. Projects should be framed around measurable outcomes and practical clinical use, not just technical novelty.
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| Addressing Unmet Needs in Persons with Dementia to Decrease Behavioral Symptoms and Improve Quality of Life (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 165 Funding Number: PA 18 165 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Health Promotion Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Males (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 162 Funding Number: PA 18 162 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Use of Technology to Enhance Patient Outcomes and Prevent Illness (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 145 Funding Number: PA 18 145 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Self-Management Interventions and Technologies to Sustain Health and Optimize Functional Capabilities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 146 Funding Number: PA 18 146 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Symptom Management in HIV-Infected Individuals with Comorbid Conditions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 143 Funding Number: PA 18 143 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Altered neuronal circuits, receptors and networks in HIV-induced Central Nervous System (CNS) dysfunction (R21- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 18 611 Funding Number: RFA MH 18 611 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Palliative Care Needs of Individuals with Advanced Rare Diseases and Their Family Caregivers (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 149 Funding Number: PA 18 149 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovative Questions in Symptom Science and Genomics (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 157 Funding Number: PA 18 157 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Self-Management Interventions and Technologies to Sustain Health and Optimize Functional Capabilities (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 164 Funding Number: PA 18 164 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Palliative Care Needs of Individuals with Rare Advanced Diseases and Their Family Caregivers (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 167 Funding Number: PA 18 167 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Awards for Mid-Career Investigators to Integrate Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences (K18 - No Independent Clinical Trials) Apply for PAR 18 349 Funding Number: PAR 18 349 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Altered neuronal circuits, receptors and networks in HIV-induced Central Nervous System (CNS) dysfunction (R01)-Clinical Trial Not Allowed Apply for RFA MH 18 610 Funding Number: RFA MH 18 610 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Linking the Provider Recommendation to Adolescent HPV Vaccine Uptake (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 008 Funding Number: PAR 18 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Linking the Provider Recommendation to Adolescent HPV Vaccine Uptake (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 019 Funding Number: PAR 18 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Promoting Caregiver Health Using Self-Management (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 150 Funding Number: PA 18 150 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 151 Funding Number: PA 18 151 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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