Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R21) Clinical Trials Optional | PAR 18 378

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 378

The Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R21) Clinical Trials Optional funding opportunity (PAR 18-378) is a discretionary National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program designed to support early-stage, exploratory research that advances the tools and approaches used across behavioral and social science research. The central aim is not to test a particular health or education intervention in a specific population, but to strengthen the underlying scientific methods that make behavioral and social science studies more accurate, reliable, and informative. Projects are expected to focus on innovations in research design, measurement, data collection, and data analysis, with the goal of improving how researchers study human behavior, social processes, and related outcomes.

Because this is an R21 mechanism, the emphasis is typically on novel, high-impact ideas that may still be in the development or proof-of-concept phase. Applicants would generally propose work that creates, refines, or evaluates methodological advances such as improved study designs, better instruments and measures (including psychometric improvements and validation work), more efficient or less biased data collection approaches (including technology-enabled or field-based methods), and new analytic strategies that address common challenges like missing data, measurement error, causal inference, complex longitudinal or multilevel structures, and combining or harmonizing data sources. The "Clinical Trials Optional" designation means the program can support applications that include a clinical trial component when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required; proposals can be strictly methodological without running an intervention trial.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, spanning many types of U.S. and international organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other qualified entities. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). In practical terms, this means applications can come from a wide range of research, education, community, governmental, and organizational settings, as long as the proposed work meaningfully contributes to methodological progress in behavioral and social science.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed under NIH as the sponsoring agency, uses the grant funding instrument, and falls under education and health-related activity categories. It is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.273, 93.313, 93.399, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting that the program aligns with several NIH components and research areas. The original posting date was November 21, 2017, and the original closing date shown is September 7, 2019. No award ceiling or expected number of awards is provided in the supplied listing, so applicants would typically look to NIH R21 standard budget and project period conventions and the detailed FOA text for limits, submission cycles, and institute-specific priorities.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as an invitation to build better scientific infrastructure for behavioral and social research: more rigorous designs, more valid and equitable measurements, more robust data collection strategies, and more defensible analyses. Successful applications would make a clear case that the proposed methodological innovation addresses a real and widespread barrier in the field and that it could be used beyond a single study, improving the quality and credibility of future behavioral and social science research across settings and populations.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R21) Clinical Trials Optional" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.213, 93.273, 93.313, 93.399, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-07. (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 18 378

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