Improving Smoking Cessation in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Populations via Scalable Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 251

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 251

The grant opportunity titled "Improving Smoking Cessation in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Populations via Scalable Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR 18-251) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant focused on reducing smoking-related health disparities. The central goal is to support intervention research that can meaningfully improve smoking cessation outcomes specifically among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, recognizing that these populations often face higher tobacco use rates, lower quit success, and greater barriers to accessing effective treatment. The announcement emphasizes that funded projects should not only be innovative, but also realistic to scale so they can reach large numbers of people and create broad public health impact rather than remaining limited to small, resource-intensive programs.

A key theme of the FOA is the dual requirement that proposed interventions be (1) targeted to socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and (2) designed with scalability in mind. In practice, this means applicants are encouraged to design cessation strategies that fit the real-world contexts in which disadvantaged smokers live and seek care, such as safety-net clinics, community health settings, public housing environments, community-based organizations, and other systems that serve low-income or underserved communities. The FOA is open to a wide range of approaches, including the development and testing of novel smoking cessation interventions that could be expanded to broad populations, as well as projects that improve existing cessation programs that are already scaled or widely available. For example, applicants could propose ways to enhance the effectiveness, quality, accessibility, utilization, or cost-effectiveness of established interventions, including improving engagement, adherence, reach, or outcomes in disadvantaged groups.

The opportunity also makes clear that projects may include clinical trials, but they are not required, as reflected by the "Clinical Trial Optional" designation. This allows applicants to propose the most appropriate study design for their stage of research and the intervention being tested, ranging from early-phase development and optimization work to more definitive testing, implementation-oriented studies, or effectiveness-focused trials. Importantly, the FOA supports up to five years of funding, and it explicitly allows time and resources not just for the intervention itself, but also for research planning, intervention delivery, and follow-up activities. That structure signals interest in well-designed studies that can capture meaningful cessation outcomes over time and evaluate whether effects are durable rather than short-lived.

Eligibility is broad, reflecting an interest in bringing in diverse institutions and community partners that are positioned to reach disadvantaged populations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses, among others. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities. This broad eligibility aligns with the FOA's emphasis on scalable impact and reaching communities that have historically been underserved.

Administratively, the funding instrument is an NIH R01 research project grant under CFDA 93.399, categorized under education and health. The posting indicates an original closing date of June 13, 2019, and a creation date of November 30, 2017. While the summary does not list a specific award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the core purpose is clearly defined: to generate scalable, high-impact cessation interventions that can reduce tobacco-related inequities by improving quit outcomes among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, either through new intervention development or by strengthening and adapting interventions that already operate at scale.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving Smoking Cessation in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Populations via Scalable Interventions (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): 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-06-13. (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 18 251

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