Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) | PAR 21 349

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 349

This NIH funding opportunity (PAR-21-349) supports R01 research projects aimed at unpacking how social connectedness and social isolation work "under the hood" and how they shape human health, wellbeing, illness course, and recovery. The emphasis is on explaining mechanisms, processes, and trajectories of social relationships, including the biopsychosocial pathways through which social experiences get translated into measurable biomedical and behavioral outcomes. In practical terms, the FOA is looking for studies that help answer questions about why, how, and under what conditions social ties (or the lack of them) influence things like physiology, behavior, symptoms, resilience, and recovery-related functioning, rather than projects primarily focused on delivering or testing a specific service or product.

A key requirement is that applications must involve basic experimental studies with humans that meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial. That means investigators must prospectively assign human participants to one or more conditions by manipulating independent variables (for example, experimentally altering aspects of social interaction, perceived support, inclusion/exclusion experiences, social threat/safety cues, or structured social exposure) and then assess biomedical and/or behavioral outcomes in humans. Even though these are considered "clinical trials" under NIH policy because of the prospective assignment and outcome assessment, the intent remains basic science: the study should be designed to understand fundamental phenomena related to social connectedness or isolatedness, without needing to have a near-term applied endpoint such as a finalized intervention, program implementation, or product development.

The FOA also clarifies what does not belong under this specific announcement. If a proposal is primarily observational in humans (for example, longitudinal cohort tracking without experimental manipulation) or relies on model animal research, it should be submitted to the companion version of the FOA that is designated "Clinical Trials Not Allowed." In other words, this specific announcement is reserved for experiments in humans where the research team controls assignment to conditions and uses that manipulation to probe causal mechanisms tied to social connection and isolation.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant mechanism using the NIH R01 funding instrument, and it spans multiple NIH CFDA program areas (including several institutes and centers listed under the CFDA numbers provided). The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health. The original closing date listed for this opportunity is 2024-06-21, and the public summary does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and governments, such as state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other categories. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, tribal governments other than federally recognized ones, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Overall, the opportunity is geared toward rigorous, experimentally controlled human research that can identify causal biopsychosocial pathways linking social connection or isolation to health and recovery outcomes.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.399, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-10-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-21. (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 21 349

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