Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01) | PAR 15 346

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 15 346

The Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01) funding opportunity (PAR 15-346) is a National Institutes of Health discretionary grant designed to rapidly support rigorous evaluations of newly implemented, real-world policies or programs that could meaningfully affect obesity-related behaviors and outcomes. The central focus is on research that examines how a new policy or program influences behaviors linked to obesity, such as dietary intake, physical activity, and sedentary behavior, and/or downstream weight-related outcomes. The intent is prevention or reduction of obesity through evidence that can guide decision-making about interventions occurring in communities, schools, workplaces, health systems, or other settings where policy and program changes can shift population-level behavior.

A defining feature of this FOA is speed and timing. It was created for situations where the chance to study a policy or program is unusually time-limited, meaning the research cannot wait for typical grant cycles without losing the opportunity to collect critical baseline data, capture early implementation effects, or observe outcomes during a narrow evaluation window. Applications must make a clear case that the study is both scientifically compelling and uncommon, and that it can only be carried out if funding and project start-up occur with minimal delay. In practice, this usually means the policy/program is new or about to launch, the evaluation requires immediate data collection aligned with implementation dates, and the research design depends on real-time conditions that cannot be recreated later.

Because the opportunity is explicitly time-sensitive, the NIH set up an accelerated review and award process. The program aims for awards to be issued within about four months of the application due date, recognizing that standard timelines could undermine the feasibility of the evaluation. At the same time, the announcement notes that administrative requirements and unforeseen circumstances can still push award dates beyond that target. Another important constraint is that applications submitted in response to this FOA are not eligible for resubmission, so applicants are expected to submit a well-developed proposal the first time, with a strong justification for urgency and a credible plan to execute quickly if funded.

The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, which generally supports substantial, hypothesis-driven or evaluation-focused research efforts. While the FOA description does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards in the provided source data, the R01 structure typically implies support for a multi-year, investigator-led project with a well-defined evaluation plan, appropriate analytic methods, and the capacity to manage partnerships and data collection in applied settings.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and entities capable of conducting the work. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; 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; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), 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, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized ones, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA clearly restricts foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. These restrictions emphasize that the work must be led and conducted within eligible domestic organizational structures.

In short, this opportunity funds fast-start, policy-relevant obesity research where timing is everything. It is meant for investigators and organizations prepared to move quickly to evaluate a newly occurring policy or program change, using strong empirical methods to generate evidence about effects on obesity-related behaviors and weight outcomes, with the understanding that the window for meaningful study may close if the project cannot begin right away.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.399, 93.847, 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-07-12. (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 15 346

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: