Innovation Award for Mechanistic Studies to Optimize Mind and Body Interventions in NCCIH High Priority Research Topics (R33) | PAR 17 162

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 162

The Innovation Award for Mechanistic Studies to Optimize Mind and Body Interventions in NCCIH High Priority Research Topics (R33) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity that supports research aimed at figuring out how complementary or integrative mind and body interventions actually work. The central idea is that mind and body approaches (for example, interventions that engage attention, emotion regulation, movement, breathing, or other psychosocial and behavioral processes) are widely used, but they cannot be reliably improved or tailored to specific health problems unless the underlying biological, psychological, and behavioral mechanisms are better understood. By focusing on mechanism, the program is meant to move beyond simply asking whether an intervention helps and instead clarify why it helps, for whom it helps, and which intervention components are driving meaningful change. That knowledge is then expected to inform the design of more targeted, optimized interventions for particular conditions or disorders that fall within NCCIH high priority research topics.

This opportunity is offered as an NIH R33, which is an innovation-oriented research grant mechanism often used for projects that need to push methodological or conceptual boundaries and produce mechanistic insights that can directly support intervention optimization. The funding opportunity number is PAR-17-162, and it sits within the NIH health research activity category (CFDA 93.213). The posted award ceiling in the source information is $500,000, indicating that budgets are capped at that level under this announcement as presented. The original closing date listed for the opportunity was January 24, 2018, and the opportunity record was created on February 9, 2017, which situates it as a time-limited solicitation within that period.

A key feature of the announcement is broad eligibility across many types of U.S.-based organizations that can conduct health research. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education). The opportunity also allows applications from for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and from small businesses, reflecting NIH's general openness to diverse organizational models when they can support rigorous research. In addition, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) are explicitly included.

The notice also emphasizes inclusion of institutions and organizations that often serve specific communities or have particular governance structures. It highlights 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; eligible agencies of the federal government; regional organizations; and U.S. territories or possessions. Taken together, the eligibility language signals an intent to encourage proposals from a wide range of research environments, including those closely connected to underserved or historically underrepresented populations, which is especially relevant when studying mind and body interventions that may be delivered in community, clinical, or culturally grounded settings.

On the international side, the opportunity draws an important distinction between foreign applicants and foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities that are foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization under this opportunity. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible, meaning a U.S. applicant can include work performed at an overseas component if it meets NIH rules. The announcement also states that foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. In practical terms, this means a U.S.-based applicant can propose certain types of international collaboration or overseas performance sites when scientifically justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot serve as the main applicant.

Overall, this grant opportunity is designed for investigators who can connect mind and body intervention research with strong mechanistic measurement and theory. The program rationale is that mechanistic understanding is not an academic add-on but the foundation for improving interventions, selecting the right outcomes and biomarkers, refining intervention components, and matching interventions to the patients and conditions most likely to benefit. By funding mechanistic studies specifically tied to optimization, the R33 aims to accelerate progress toward mind and body interventions that are more precise, more scalable, and more effective for real-world clinical problems within NCCIH priority areas.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovation Award for Mechanistic Studies to Optimize Mind and Body Interventions in NCCIH High Priority Research Topics (R33)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-02-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (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 $500,000.00 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.

Apply for PAR 17 162

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