Watch the video module: Finding the Right NIH Funding Opportunity

The program official may recommend specific notice of funding opportunities (NOFOs) for the proposed application. Each IC uses different types of Funding Opportunity Announcements for clinical trial applications, so it is important to confirm that the IC you want to receive your application is participating in the NOFO that you use for your submission. Part 1 of the NOFO will list all of the participating organizations and the components of that organization that are participating. NIH advertises availability and grant support through Funding Opportunity Announcements in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts or Grants.gov.

There are 2 main types of NOFOs commonly used by NIH for clinical trial applications:

• Request for Applications (RFA)
  • This type of NOFO is used when there are specific areas of science where more research is needed, and applications are encouraged for investigator-initiated research in this specific area of science. RFAs have specific funds designated for the area of science described in the NOFO and typically have a one-time specific deadline.
• Program Announcements (PA, PAS, PAR)
  • This type of NOFO is used when there is an area of scientific interest for one or more ICs where investigator-initiated research is needed. These NOFOs are generally less specific than RFAs and often have multiple receipt dates.
  • Parent Announcements are a type of program announcement that are more generic and allow investigators to submit research in any area of science to any of the participating ICs. Typically, many, but not all, NIH ICs participate in these parent NOFOs. If there is not a focused RFA, PA, PAR, or PAS for your area of research, then applying via a parent announcement NOFO is an acceptable option, as long as the IC you want to receive your application participates in the parent NOFO.

PCORI Funding Opportunities

PCORI funding opportunities focus on patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER), that is research that compares the benefits and potential harms of different health care options to provide evidence that patients and other health care decision makers need to make informed choices. Funded projects must be designed, conducted in partnership with patients and other healthcare stakeholders.

PCORI offers 2 main types of CER funding opportunities:

Broad Funding Announcements: This type of funding invites investigator initiated research in any health topic area. Applicants must relate their research to at least 1 of the following PCORI National Priorities for Health.

• Increase Evidence for Existing Interventions and Emerging Innovations in Health
• Enhance Infrastructure to Accelerate Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
• Advance the Science of Dissemination, Implementation, and Health Communication
• Achieve Health Equity
• Accelerate Progress Toward an Integrated Learning Health System.

Focused Funding Announcements: This type of funding seeks applications on specific, high-impact topics selected through patient/stakeholder input.

PCORI also funds projects that support CER, such as methodology studies, as well as projects that support engagement in research and dissemination and implementation of PCORI-funded research findings.