Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): Population, Clinical and Applied Prevention Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 612

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 612

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released this discretionary grant opportunity, PAR-18-612, titled "Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): Population, Clinical and Applied Prevention Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)." It uses the NIH R01 mechanism, meaning it is designed to support substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects, and it allows (but does not require) clinical trials. The overall goal is to fund rigorous studies that improve understanding of electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes, with a strong emphasis on how ENDS relate to disease prevention and public health outcomes in real-world settings.

The announcement focuses on population-based, clinical, and applied prevention research tied to ENDS. In practical terms, NIH is seeking projects that examine why people start using ENDS (etiology of use), how use patterns spread and change over time in different communities (epidemiology of use), and what the health-related tradeoffs may be. That includes investigating potential risks and potential benefits, as well as how ENDS use may influence other tobacco-related behaviors, such as initiation of combustible cigarette smoking, dual use with cigarettes or other tobacco products, quitting attempts, relapse, and transitions across products. A key feature of the opportunity is its explicit interest in differences across populations, which signals that studies addressing age, socioeconomic factors, geography, racial and ethnic groups, and other demographic or contextual variables are within scope, especially when they inform prevention strategies or health equity.

Because the funding activity category is listed under education and health and is tied to multiple CFDA numbers (93.121, 93.279, 93.307, 93.399), the opportunity sits within NIH's broader public health and biomedical research mission, potentially spanning multiple NIH Institutes or Centers that support tobacco control, prevention science, and population health research. While an award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data, that is common for NIH FOAs where budgets are typically justified by the scientific needs of the project and are evaluated during peer review and programmatic review.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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; and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other eligible entities as NIH permits. The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant 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), and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA places strict limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. In addition, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. Taken together, those restrictions mean the applicant organization must be U.S.-based and the proposed work must be conducted without foreign components as NIH defines them.

The original closing date listed for this opportunity is June 29, 2018, and the creation date is January 31, 2018. Even if the specific submission window has passed, the summary of purpose and scope is still useful as a template for the kind of ENDS-focused prevention and population health research NIH has sought to fund under an R01 structure, particularly studies that connect patterns of ENDS use with measurable health, behavioral, and prevention outcomes across diverse groups.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): Population, Clinical and Applied Prevention Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.279, 93.307, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-01-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-06-29. (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 18 612

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