Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 036
The NIH funding opportunity PAR-24-036 supports clinical observational (CO) research in musculoskeletal, rheumatic, and skin diseases using the R01 grant mechanism, with the explicit restriction that clinical trials are not allowed. In practice, this means the program is meant for studies that observe and analyze people, patient groups, populations, or existing clinical data and biospecimens without assigning participants to an intervention as part of the research. Projects are expected to focus on understanding disease mechanisms, risk factors, natural history and progression, variability in symptoms and outcomes, predictors of prognosis, and/or real-world patterns in clinical presentation and care as they relate to musculoskeletal, rheumatic, and dermatologic conditions. Because the activity category is health (CFDA 93.846) and the sponsor is the National Institutes of Health, applicants should expect typical NIH expectations around rigor, reproducibility, human subjects protections, data management and sharing, and clear justification of observational design choices, such as cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, registry-based, or secondary analyses of existing datasets.
This opportunity is broad in who can apply within the United States and U.S.-affiliated jurisdictions. Eligible applicant types include state, county, city, 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories that NIH often emphasizes for broad participation, including 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 or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.
At the same time, there are important limits regarding non-U.S. applicants. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the notice clarifies that "foreign components," as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This typically means a U.S.-based applicant can include certain internationally performed elements of the work when they are justified, appropriately overseen, and compliant with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot serve as the primary applicant.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the standard NIH grant instrument (R01). The posting lists an original closing date of 2026-11-02. The award ceiling, number of expected awards, and similar volume details are not specified in the provided source text, which is common for many NIH program announcements where budget levels depend on project scope, NIH institute priorities, and the applicant's justification within standard R01 policies. Overall, PAR-24-036 is aimed at supporting well-designed, hypothesis-driven or discovery-oriented observational studies that can advance understanding of musculoskeletal, rheumatic, and skin diseases without moving into interventional clinical trial territory.Apply for PAR 24 036
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Clinical Observational (CO) Studies in Musculoskeletal, Rheumatic, and Skin Diseases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.846.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-02. (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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FAQs: NIH PAR-24-036 (R01) Clinical Observational Research in Musculoskeletal, Rheumatic, and Skin Diseases
What is PAR-24-036?
PAR-24-036 is an NIH funding opportunity that supports clinical observational (CO) research in musculoskeletal, rheumatic, and skin diseases using the R01 grant mechanism. A key restriction is that clinical trials are not allowed under this opportunity.
What type of research does this opportunity fund?
This opportunity funds clinical observational research, meaning studies that observe and analyze people, patient groups, populations, or existing clinical data and biospecimens. The work should not involve assigning participants to an intervention as part of the research.
Are clinical trials allowed under PAR-24-036?
No. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed. Projects must remain observational and must not include assignment of participants to an intervention as part of the research.
What does "clinical observational" mean in practice for this program?
In practice, clinical observational work under this program generally involves studying participants as they are (or as they receive real-world care) without the research protocol assigning an intervention. The focus is on observing, measuring, and analyzing outcomes, characteristics, and patterns using approaches such as cohorts, case-control designs, cross-sectional studies, registries, and secondary analyses of existing datasets.
What disease areas are included?
The scope includes musculoskeletal diseases, rheumatic diseases, and dermatologic (skin) diseases.
What kinds of scientific questions are projects expected to address?
Projects are expected to focus on advancing understanding of one or more of the following, as they relate to musculoskeletal, rheumatic, and skin conditions:
- Disease mechanisms
- Risk factors
- Natural history and progression
- Variability in symptoms and outcomes
- Predictors of prognosis
- Real-world patterns in clinical presentation and care
What study designs are appropriate for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity calls for clear justification of observational design choices. Examples of observational designs specifically aligned with the description include cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, registry-based studies, and secondary analyses of existing datasets.
Can applicants use existing clinical data and biospecimens?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes studies that use existing clinical data and biospecimens, as long as the work remains observational and does not assign participants to interventions.
Can a project be hypothesis-driven or discovery-oriented?
Yes. The opportunity is aimed at supporting well-designed observational studies that are either hypothesis-driven or discovery-oriented, provided they remain within non-interventional clinical observational boundaries.
What grant mechanism is used?
The funding uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism.
What is the activity category and CFDA number listed?
The activity category is health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.846.
Who is the sponsor?
The sponsor is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What kinds of NIH expectations should applicants plan for?
Based on the description, applicants should expect typical NIH expectations including rigor and reproducibility, human subjects protections, data management and sharing, and a clear rationale for the chosen observational design (for example, why a cohort or registry-based approach is appropriate).
Who is eligible to apply as the applicant organization?
The opportunity is broad for U.S. and U.S.-affiliated jurisdictions. Eligible applicant types listed include:
- State, county, city, 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
- Tribal organizations that are not federally recognized
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Are there additional applicant categories specifically highlighted?
Yes. The announcement highlights additional eligible categories NIH often emphasizes for broad participation, including 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 or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply as the applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Can non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant entity.
Are foreign components allowed at all?
Yes. The notice states that "foreign components," as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. In practical terms, this means a U.S.-based applicant may include certain internationally performed elements of work when justified and appropriately overseen, consistent with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot be the primary applicant.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The posting lists an original closing date of 2026-11-02.
Is the award ceiling or number of expected awards provided?
No. The provided information does not specify an award ceiling, the number of expected awards, or similar volume details. This can be common for NIH program announcements where budget levels depend on project scope, NIH institute priorities, and the applicant's justification within standard R01 policies.
How should applicants think about budget expectations given the lack of a stated ceiling?
Based on the information provided, applicants should expect that budget decisions will depend on the project scope and justification under standard NIH R01 policies, rather than a fixed award cap stated in the announcement text.
What is the main purpose of PAR-24-036 in one sentence?
The main purpose is to support well-designed observational studies that advance understanding of musculoskeletal, rheumatic, and skin diseases while staying clearly outside interventional clinical trial territory.
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