Stimulating Urology Interdisciplinary Team Opportunity Research (SUITOR) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), has reissued the Stimulating Urology Interdisciplinary Team Opportunity Research (SUITOR) Program under Funding Opportunity Number PAS-22-074. This R01 Research Project Grant supports interdisciplinary research focused on benign urological conditions, particularly neurourology, which addresses the neural and behavioral underpinnings of benign urologic diseases. This FOA encourages investigator-initiated projects to advance understanding of neural contributions to urologic function and disease, shifting the prior program focus from urinary incontinence to a broader emphasis on neurourology. The SUITOR program emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary research teams, including those from diverse scientific backgrounds, to deepen insights into neural mechanisms, develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and improve clinical outcomes in benign urology. Research topics relevant to this FOA include studies on neural innervation of the bladder and other urologic structures, the role of neural components and muscle or vascular interactions, neuroimmunological processes affecting urologic function, and the effects of conditions like spinal cord injuries on genitourinary health. Applications exploring neural-behavioral influences on subtypes of urologic diseases, mental health impacts on urology, or novel technologies for nervous system analysis and therapy are also encouraged. Multidisciplinary, team-based research proposals are preferred to strengthen the methodological rigor and clinical applicability of findings. Approximately $1,125,000 per year is allocated for awards under this program, with NIDDK aiming to fund up to three grants each fiscal year through 2025. There is no cap on application budgets, but budgets should realistically reflect project needs. Project periods are capped at five years, and application types accepted include new, renewal, and resubmission proposals. Clinical trials are optional under this FOA. Multi-Principal Investigator (PI) applications are encouraged, particularly for interdisciplinary projects, and early-stage investigators are welcomed to apply. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (both public and private), nonprofits, for-profit entities, local and state governments, and tribal and federal agencies, as well as other eligible groups like school districts and community-based organizations. Foreign institutions are not eligible, though non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are allowed. Required registrations include SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov; organizations should account for these prerequisites to avoid submission delays. Proposals may be submitted via the NIH ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system (S2S) platforms. Applications are due on standard NIH R01 submission dates, with deadlines provided for new and resubmission applications through May 8, 2025. Each cycle follows NIH’s structured review, council, and start date sequence, with review and award cycles detailed to aid planning. For example, applications due February 5, 2025, will be reviewed in July 2025, with potential project start dates in December 2025. Applicants are advised to submit applications early to correct any submission errors. Evaluation criteria include significance, innovation, and approach, as well as investigator qualifications, the scientific environment, and the study timeline. Projects are reviewed for their potential impact on advancing neurourology, with a focus on robust interdisciplinary collaboration. Additional NIH review standards apply, such as protection for human subjects, inclusion criteria across gender, age, and ethnicity, and adherence to policies for vertebrate animal research, biohazards, and budget justification. Data management and sharing plans are mandatory for submissions, and applications proposing over $500,000 in direct costs require prior NIDDK consultation. For guidance or program inquiries, applicants should contact NIDDK’s program officials to discuss relevance and timeline expectations.