Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 356
The Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21) funding opportunity (PAR-16-356) is an NIH discretionary grant designed to jump-start early-stage, high-impact human epigenomics studies that connect social experiences to biological changes that matter for health. The central idea is to support exploratory and developmental research that can uncover how experiences across the life course, including adverse exposures (such as chronic stress, discrimination, neighborhood disadvantage, poverty, trauma, or food insecurity) as well as protective or positive factors (such as social support, cultural connectedness, stable housing, or other resilience-promoting conditions), may alter gene function through epigenomic mechanisms. The FOA is specifically aimed at producing insights that help explain health trajectories and disease risk in minority populations and other groups experiencing health disparities, with an emphasis on identifying and characterizing underlying mechanisms rather than simply documenting correlations.
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is generally intended for innovative, early-phase projects that test new ideas, develop preliminary data, or pilot novel approaches before a larger confirmatory study. In practical terms, applicants are expected to propose creative, mechanistic human epigenomic investigations that can reveal how the social environment gets "under the skin" through epigenetic regulation, potentially shaping long-term health outcomes. While the notice does not list specific assays or methods in the text provided, the term "human epigenomic investigations" commonly encompasses work on DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility, non-coding RNAs, and related regulatory features, ideally tied to well-characterized social exposures and health endpoints relevant to disparity populations. The focus on multiple life stages also signals that projects may examine sensitive developmental windows (for example, prenatal life, early childhood, adolescence, or aging) when social experiences could have especially strong or lasting biological effects.
The program is administered by the National Institutes of Health and is categorized under Education and Health funding activity areas, with CFDA numbers 93.307 and 93.399. The award ceiling is listed as $200,000, indicating a relatively modest budget consistent with exploratory research goals. The original closing date shown in the source data is November 15, 2018, and the FOA creation date is July 7, 2016, which is useful context for understanding the timeline and that this specific listing reflects that historical solicitation.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as stated); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional applicant categories often central to minority health and disparities research capacity, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, there are clear limits regarding foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign elements (for example, collaborations, samples, or specific project activities abroad) if they meet NIH policy requirements and are justified scientifically, even though the primary applicant organization must be domestic.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted NIH investment in cutting-edge social epigenomics, explicitly anchored in minority health and health disparities. It supports projects that move beyond describing social adversity and instead aim to map plausible biological pathways that could explain why socially patterned exposures translate into unequal disease burdens, and how positive social conditions might confer biological protection. The R21 structure and $200,000 ceiling point toward pilot-scale, mechanism-oriented studies that can set the stage for larger research programs, improved interventions, or more precise understanding of how social context shapes gene regulation and downstream health outcomes in populations that have historically faced disproportionate risk.Apply for PAR 16 356
- 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 (R21)" 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.)
- 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 funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Social Epigenomics Research Focused on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21), with FOA number PAR-16-356.
What agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the overall purpose of PAR-16-356?
The goal is to jump-start early-stage, high-impact human epigenomics research that links social experiences across the life course to biological (epigenomic) changes that matter for health, particularly in minority health and health disparities contexts.
What does "social epigenomics" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, social epigenomics refers to research exploring how social and environmental experiences may influence gene regulation through epigenomic mechanisms (for example, changes that affect how genes function without changing the underlying DNA sequence), and how those changes may relate to health trajectories and disease risk.
What kind of NIH grant mechanism is this?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is generally intended for exploratory and developmental research. It is commonly used for innovative, early-phase projects that test new ideas, develop preliminary data, or pilot novel approaches that could later support larger studies.
What types of research projects are a good fit for this R21?
Projects are expected to be creative, mechanistic human epigenomic investigations that help explain how social experiences may get "under the skin" via epigenetic regulation and potentially shape long-term health outcomes, especially for groups experiencing health disparities.
Does the FOA emphasize mechanisms or correlations?
The emphasis is on identifying and characterizing underlying mechanisms rather than simply documenting correlations between social factors and health outcomes.
What kinds of social experiences or exposures does the FOA highlight?
The FOA highlights adverse exposures such as chronic stress, discrimination, neighborhood disadvantage, poverty, trauma, and food insecurity, as well as protective or positive factors such as social support, cultural connectedness, stable housing, and other resilience-promoting conditions.
Does the opportunity consider different life stages?
Yes. The description signals interest in experiences across the life course and notes that projects may examine sensitive developmental windows such as prenatal life, early childhood, adolescence, or aging, when social experiences could have especially strong or lasting biological effects.
What populations are the focus of this FOA?
The FOA is explicitly focused on producing insights that help explain health trajectories and disease risk in minority populations and other groups experiencing health disparities.
What does "human epigenomic investigations" refer to here?
While the provided text does not list specific assays, it indicates the work should be human epigenomics. The description notes that human epigenomic investigations commonly include areas like DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility, and non-coding RNAs, ideally connected to well-characterized social exposures and health endpoints relevant to disparity populations.
Is this intended to fund large, definitive clinical studies?
Based on the R21 mechanism and the stated intent to "jump-start" early-stage work, this opportunity is geared toward pilot-scale, exploratory, developmental studies rather than large, confirmatory programs.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $200,000, which aligns with the exploratory nature of an R21.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The listing includes CFDA numbers 93.307 and 93.399.
What funding activity areas is this opportunity categorized under?
It is categorized under Education and Health funding activity areas.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA creation date shown is July 7, 2016.
What is the closing date shown for this listing?
The original closing date shown is November 15, 2018, indicating this listing reflects a historical solicitation timeline.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, including:
- State, county, city, or 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
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations not federally recognized as tribal governments
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category as stated)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category as stated)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Are certain institution types specifically highlighted as encouraged or relevant applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights additional applicant categories often central to minority health and disparities research capacity, including:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- Eligible federal agencies
- Tribal governments other than federally recognized
- U.S. territories or possessions
Can a foreign organization apply as the main applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Are foreign components allowed at all?
Yes. The FOA states that foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign elements (such as collaborations, samples, or specific project activities abroad) if they meet NIH policy requirements and are scientifically justified, even though the primary applicant organization must be domestic.
What is the main "value add" this FOA is trying to generate for minority health and health disparities?
The FOA aims to support research that helps explain why socially patterned exposures translate into unequal disease burdens by mapping plausible biological pathways (epigenomic mechanisms). It also supports work examining how positive social conditions might confer biological protection.
How does this FOA describe the kinds of outcomes or impacts it hopes to enable?
Based on the description, supported projects are intended to generate mechanistic insights that can set the stage for larger research programs, improved interventions, or a more precise understanding of how social context shapes gene regulation and downstream health outcomes in populations facing disproportionate risk.
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| NIDA Program Project Grant Applications (P01) Apply for PAR 16 393 Funding Number: PAR 16 393 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Secondary Analyses of Alcohol and Chronic Disease (R03) Apply for PA 16 394 Funding Number: PA 16 394 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Secondary Analyses of Alcohol and Chronic Disease (R01) Apply for PA 16 395 Funding Number: PA 16 395 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Engineering Next-Generation Human Nervous System Microphysiological Systems (R21) Apply for PAR 16 397 Funding Number: PAR 16 397 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08) Apply for PAR 16 400 Funding Number: PAR 16 400 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Engineering Next-Generation Human Nervous System Microphysiological Systems (R01) Apply for PAR 16 398 Funding Number: PAR 16 398 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K23) Apply for PAR 16 399 Funding Number: PAR 16 399 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01) Apply for PAR 16 401 Funding Number: PAR 16 401 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NLM Express Research Grants in Biomedical Informatics (R01) Apply for PAR 16 404 Funding Number: PAR 16 404 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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