Pilot and Feasibility Clinical Research Grants in Urologic Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 743

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 743

The Pilot and Feasibility Clinical Research Grants in Urologic Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number PAR 18 743, is a National Institutes of Health discretionary grant program designed to support early-stage, small-scale clinical and translational research focused on urologic disorders. It uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism (R21), which is typically meant for projects that are still in the pilot or feasibility phase, where preliminary human data, proof-of-concept results, or foundational clinical evidence are needed before moving into a larger and more definitive study. The announcement explicitly allows, but does not require, clinical trials, meaning applicants can propose either clinical trial work or other types of clinical or translational studies as long as the work is directly relevant to urologic disorders and is positioned as exploratory or developmental rather than full-scale.

The scientific scope is broad but centered on clinical and public health importance. Projects may include pilot clinical studies, feasibility assessments, translational investigations, epidemiological studies, or early clinical trials that address meaningful questions in prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of urologic disorders. A key theme of the program is future leverage: NIH anticipates that some funded R21 projects will produce the data and operational groundwork necessary to justify and design larger studies later on, such as full-scale epidemiological investigations, validation of diagnostic strategies, or randomized clinical trials. In other words, the program is aimed at supporting the kind of smaller, well-justified studies that can de-risk a bigger clinical research agenda by showing early signals of impact, confirming feasibility, refining endpoints, or clarifying recruitment and retention realities.

The opportunity is categorized under Health (and also listed under Food and Nutrition, Health) with CFDA number 93.847, and it is offered as a grant funding instrument. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, indicating the maximum funding level expected under the announcement. While the source data does not specify the number of expected awards, it does indicate the program’s intent to fund projects that can generate clinically useful knowledge and create a bridge to later-stage, more resource-intensive research efforts.

Eligibility is intentionally expansive, reflecting NIH’s broad applicant base. Eligible applicants include a wide range of government entities (state, county, city or township, and special district governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. It also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, and both nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status) and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), as well as small businesses and other applicant types. In addition, the FOA explicitly calls out other eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility suggests NIH is encouraging participation across many institutional settings, including community and underserved-serving organizations that may have unique access to patient populations or clinical settings relevant to urologic disorders.

Key timing details from the source information include an original closing date of September 7, 2020, and a creation date of April 4, 2018. While those dates reflect the specific posting referenced in the source data, the main takeaway for a prospective applicant is the program’s purpose and fit: it is meant for pilot and feasibility clinical and translational studies in urologic disorders with clear potential to inform or launch larger, high-impact clinical research down the line.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pilot and Feasibility Clinical Research Grants in Urologic Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-07. (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 $200,000.00 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 18 743

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