Implementation Research for Multi-morbidity Management in the Context of Non-communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and US Tribal Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 25 213

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 213

This NIH grant opportunity (PAR-25-213) supports R01 research projects focused on implementation research for managing multi-morbidity in the context of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The core idea is not simply to test whether an intervention works in ideal conditions, but to study how evidence-based approaches to NCD prevention and care can be adopted, delivered, improved, and sustained in real-world settings where people commonly live with more than one chronic condition at the same time. The opportunity is issued by participating NIH Institutes and Centers in partnership with the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD), signaling a strong emphasis on practical, scalable solutions that can move effective NCD strategies into routine care and community systems.

The geographic and population focus is clearly defined. Projects must address NCD-related multi-morbidity management in World Bank-defined low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and/or in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal Nation populations within the United States. This reflects a priority to improve outcomes in settings that often face disproportionate NCD burden, gaps in access to coordinated chronic care, workforce and infrastructure limitations, and structural barriers that can make long-term disease management difficult. By explicitly including US Tribal Nation populations alongside LMIC settings, the program underscores shared implementation challenges such as delivering culturally grounded care, strengthening health systems, and ensuring interventions remain feasible and sustainable over time.

The research mechanism is an R01, and clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose studies with or without a clinical trial component as long as the work is grounded in implementation research. In practice, that usually means projects could test strategies like care integration models, task-shifting and team-based care, patient navigation, digital health supports, medication access and adherence systems, quality improvement approaches, community-clinical linkages, or policy and financing levers, with outcomes focused on implementation success (for example, uptake, fidelity, reach, acceptability, feasibility, cost, and sustainability) alongside relevant health outcomes. The emphasis on multi-morbidity also implies interest in approaches that reduce fragmentation and improve coordination across conditions rather than addressing a single disease in isolation.

Eligibility is broad and designed to encourage participation from a wide range of institutions and organizations. Eligible applicants include federal, state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities. The announcement also highlights additional eligible groups 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), faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, non-domestic (non-US) entities/foreign organizations, US territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized. Overall, NIH is signaling that strong implementation partnerships can come from academic centers, health systems, Tribal entities, community organizations, and cross-sector coalitions, including international partners in LMIC contexts.

From a funding and timing standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within NIH program areas spanning health and related social services (the listing includes multiple CFDA/assistance listing numbers, reflecting participation across NIH components). The stated award ceiling is $500,000 (as provided in the source data). The original application closing date is January 7, 2026. The opportunity record lists expected awards but does not provide a number in the provided source, so applicants should plan with the understanding that awards will depend on NIH priorities, available funds, and application quality.

In practical terms, a competitive application will typically show a strong rationale for the implementation problem being addressed, a clear evidence base for the intervention(s) being implemented, and a rigorous plan to study implementation in real-world conditions. Because the target contexts include LMICs and Tribal Nation populations, reviewers generally look for genuine partnerships, cultural and contextual fit, and plans that strengthen local capacity while producing lessons that can be adapted or scaled. The overarching goal is to generate actionable evidence on how to improve delivery and long-term management of NCD care for people living with multiple chronic conditions in settings where the need is high and the path from evidence to routine practice is often the hardest.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementation Research for Multi-morbidity Management in the Context of Non-communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and US Tribal Populations (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): 93.233, 93.242, 93.313, 93.393, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867, 93.989.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-07. (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 $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.

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