Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 19 009
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Promoting Research on Music and Health: Fundamentals and Applications (R21 Clinical Trials Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-19-009) supports early-stage, exploratory research aimed at building a stronger scientific foundation for how music influences health. The central goal is twofold: first, to deepen understanding of how music affects the brain, the body, and behavior; and second, to use that knowledge to inform the development of evidence-based music interventions that can improve health outcomes or help treat specific diseases and disorders. Because it uses the NIH R21 mechanism, the emphasis is on innovative, preliminary, and high-impact ideas that can generate key proof-of-concept data and set up larger, more definitive studies later.
The scope of projects under this FOA is broad and spans basic, translational, and early intervention research. On the fundamentals side, applicants may propose studies that examine how music is processed in the brain, how musical experiences modify neural circuits, and how those changes relate to cognition, emotion, motor function, stress responses, or social behavior. The opportunity also encourages work on music-related effects on biological functions across the lifespan, including childhood development and learning, adulthood, and aging. This can include research on specific physiological systems and pathways that may be influenced by music exposure or participation, such as autonomic regulation, neuroendocrine responses, immune and inflammatory processes, sleep and circadian biology, pain modulation, or neuroplasticity mechanisms. On the applications side, the FOA allows preliminary intervention studies designed to lay the groundwork for future therapeutic approaches, including the development, refinement, and initial testing of music-based interventions in relevant populations. Clinical trials are optional, meaning an applicant can propose a clinical trial if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required for all projects.
A notable feature of the announcement is its encouragement of collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams when that approach strengthens the science. NIH explicitly highlights collaborations among basic researchers (for example, neuroscientists or physiologists), technology developers (such as those working on sensors, mobile health platforms, or music-delivery tools), music intervention experts (including music therapists or specialists in music-based protocols), and other clinical researchers. The intent is to support rigorous projects that connect mechanistic understanding with practical intervention design, measurement, and implementation considerations.
Eligibility is wide and includes many organization types commonly able to apply for NIH grants. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicants 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, certain tribal governments that are not federally recognized, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, but non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which can enable specific international collaborations or research activities when justified.
Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity in the health-related research space, listed under multiple CFDA numbers (93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.268, 93.273, 93.361, 93.853, 93.867), reflecting involvement across NIH institutes and programs that intersect neuroscience, behavior, rehabilitation, and broader health domains. The original posting date (creation date) was October 30, 2018, and the original closing date listed is February 28, 2019. The announcement describes it as an R21 opportunity with an exploratory focus; award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source details, which is common in some FOAs where final counts and amounts depend on application volume, merit, and available appropriations.
Overall, this FOA is designed for researchers who want to test innovative ideas about music as a biologically and behaviorally meaningful stimulus and to translate that understanding into practical, testable music-based approaches that could eventually become reliable tools for prevention, health promotion, symptom management, or treatment in specific clinical conditions.Apply for RFA NS 19 009
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting Research on Music and Health: Fundamentals and Applications (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): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.268, 93.273, 93.361, 93.853, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-10-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-28. (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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institutes of Health
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Environment, Health
Next opportunity: Mobile Technologies Extending Reach of Primary Care for Substance-Use-Disorders (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)
Previous opportunity: Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN) Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Required)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA NS 19 009
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA NS 19 009) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Immuno-Oncology Translation Network (IOTN): Cancer Immunoprevention Research Projects (UG3/UH3) Apply for RFA CA 19 012 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 19 051 Funding Number: PAR 19 051 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 19 055 Funding Number: PA 19 055 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 19 053 Funding Number: PA 19 053 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 19 054 Funding Number: PA 19 054 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 19 052 Funding Number: PA 19 052 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 091 Funding Number: PA 19 091 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 092 Funding Number: PA 19 092 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 088 Funding Number: PA 19 088 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 098 Funding Number: PAR 19 098 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 19 121 Funding Number: PA 19 121 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 19 122 Funding Number: PA 19 122 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 19 131 Funding Number: PA 19 131 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 19 132 Funding Number: PA 19 132 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| U.S.-China Program for Biomedical Collaborative Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 19 009 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 158 Funding Number: PAR 19 158 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Summer Research Education Experience Program (Clinical Trials Not Allowed R25) Apply for PAR 19 164 Funding Number: PAR 19 164 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) Apply for PA 19 187 Funding Number: PA 19 187 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Summer Research Education Experience Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 197 Funding Number: PAR 19 197 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH); K12 Clinical Trial Optional Apply for RFA OD 19 020 Funding Number: RFA OD 19 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA NS 19 009", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.