Symptom Cluster Characterization in Chronic Conditions (R01) | PA 17 462

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 462

The Symptom Cluster Characterization in Chronic Conditions (R01) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-17-462) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant initiative that supports research aimed at better understanding how groups of symptoms occur together in people living with chronic conditions. The central idea is that symptoms rarely happen in isolation; instead, patients often experience clusters of related symptoms that may share underlying biological or behavioral mechanisms and may jointly influence day-to-day functioning. NIH is encouraging both preclinical and clinical studies, as well as secondary analyses of existing datasets, that characterize these symptom clusters in ways that can ultimately guide more effective treatments and interventions. The long-term emphasis is on improving functional outcomes and overall quality of life, not just reducing single symptoms one at a time.

This opportunity uses the R01 research project grant mechanism, which is the NIH’s standard, investigator-driven funding instrument for substantial research projects. The initiative is broad in the types of research it will consider, explicitly including preclinical work (for example, studies that explore mechanisms contributing to symptom clustering) and clinical research (for example, observational or interventional studies that identify, validate, and track symptom clusters in patient populations). It also highlights secondary data analysis, signaling that applicants can build strong projects using large existing cohorts, clinical databases, or previously collected trial data to examine symptom patterns, trajectories, and correlates over time. In practical terms, competitive applications would typically move beyond simply listing co-occurring symptoms and instead aim to define clusters rigorously, explore their stability and predictors, and show how the findings could inform clinical decision-making or the development of targeted interventions.

Eligibility is intentionally expansive across government, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; 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 other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other applicants as permitted under NIH policies. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant types 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, and U.S. territories or possessions. These details underscore NIH’s interest in encouraging participation from diverse institutions and community-linked organizations that may be well positioned to study symptom burdens in real-world settings and across varied populations.

There are important constraints related to non-U.S. entities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply directly, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. In other words, while a foreign institution cannot be the primary applicant, an eligible U.S.-based applicant may include a defined foreign component in the project when it is scientifically justified, consistent with NIH rules for international collaboration.

From the listing information provided, the program falls under CFDA number 93.361 and is categorized under Education and Health. The opportunity record shows a creation date of August 16, 2017, with an original closing date of January 7, 2021. Award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, which is common for NIH program announcements because budgets and the number of funded projects often depend on application pressure, scientific merit, and available appropriations rather than a fixed cap and quota published in the notice.

Overall, this R01 opportunity is designed for research teams that can bring rigorous measurement and analytic strategies to the study of symptom clusters in chronic illness, connect those clusters to meaningful patient-centered outcomes like function and quality of life, and generate knowledge that can be translated into more precise or more effective symptom management interventions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Symptom Cluster Characterization in Chronic Conditions (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.361.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (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.

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