Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes and Reduce Health Disparities in Rural Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has announced a forecasted funding opportunity titled "Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes and Reduce Health Disparities in Rural Populations." This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), identified as FOR-NR-25-007, is a re-issuance of a previous opportunity (RFA-NR-24-005) and will be administered under the R01 activity code, which supports discrete, specified, and circumscribed research projects. As a forecasted opportunity, it is not yet accepting applications but is expected to open for applications starting June 13, 2025. This grant opportunity focuses on supporting research to develop, adapt, or evaluate social determinants of health (SDOH) interventions, or to test strategies for implementing SDOH interventions that have already shown effectiveness in rural populations. It prioritizes interventions aimed at mitigating or eliminating negative SDOH impacts or enhancing positive SDOH influences within rural communities. Projects may involve pragmatic or hybrid effectiveness/implementation study designs, and they may include evaluation of interventions affected by contextual events such as hospital closures, new employment opportunities, school consolidations, or changes in internet access. Both multi-level and bundled interventions are encouraged, including those that operate at organizational, community, or population levels. Individual or interpersonal interventions may also be incorporated if part of a larger multi-level strategy. This forecasted opportunity is categorized under the discretionary funding category with the CFDA listing 93.361 for Nursing Research. The estimated application due date is August 12, 2025, and the anticipated award and project start date is April 1, 2026. The total program funding, award ceiling, and award floor have not yet been disclosed. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding opportunity. Eligibility for this grant is broad, encompassing state governments, county governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), Native American tribal governments (both federally recognized and other tribal organizations), public housing authorities, small businesses, and other for-profit organizations that are not classified as small businesses. This makes the opportunity accessible to a wide range of potential applicants engaged in health research and intervention within rural populations. This NOFO is being announced in advance to give applicants adequate time to form partnerships, design robust projects, and prepare proposals. The NIH strongly encourages collaborations that will improve responsiveness to the unique health challenges in rural settings. Potential applicants seeking additional information are encouraged to contact Dr. Karen A. Kehl, PhD, RN, at the National Institute of Nursing Research. She can be reached at karen.kehl@nih.gov or by phone at 301-594-8010. Interested parties should monitor the NIH and Grants.gov websites for updates and the official release of the funding opportunity on or after the estimated post date of June 13, 2025. Once published, application materials and full submission guidelines will become available, and applicants will have approximately two months to submit completed proposals before the August 12, 2025 deadline.