Surgical Disparities Research (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 20 079

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Surgical Disparities Research (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-20-079)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Surgical Disparities Research funding opportunity (PAR-20-079), a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program in the health domain (CFDA 93.307). It uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism and supports investigative and collaborative research aimed at explaining and reducing disparities in surgical care and surgical outcomes.

What is the main goal of the program?

The goal is to produce evidence that clarifies where inequities occur across the surgical care continuum and identifies practical strategies to improve access, quality, and outcomes for minority and other health disparity populations.

What kinds of disparities is the FOA focused on?

The central focus is on disparities affecting minority and other health disparity populations, especially inequities in surgical care and surgical outcomes. The emphasis is on understanding how and where gaps arise and what can be done to reduce them.

Does the research need to be interventional, or can it be observational?

Either approach can be appropriate. The FOA is designated "clinical trial optional," meaning applicants may propose observational/analytic studies (such as identifying drivers of disparities or analyzing outcomes) or interventional studies, including clinical trials, as long as the project aligns with the purpose of understanding and addressing surgical disparities.

Are clinical trials required?

No. Clinical trials are allowed but not required under this announcement.

What does "clinical trial optional" mean in this FOA?

It means the application may include a clinical trial, but it does not have to. Projects can focus on describing and explaining disparities, evaluating existing programs, or testing interventions (including clinical or care-delivery interventions) if appropriate to the aims.

What is meant by the "surgical care continuum" in the context of this FOA?

The FOA emphasizes identifying where inequities occur across the continuum of surgical care. Based on the provided information, this implies examining disparities at multiple points in how surgical care is accessed and delivered and how outcomes are experienced, with an emphasis on actionable findings.

What level of factors are applicants expected to study?

The FOA expects research to move beyond patient-level explanations and examine multi-level factors that can drive unequal surgical outcomes. Examples noted include patient, clinician, hospital, community, and health system influences, as well as institutional policies and structural or operational barriers.

Is the FOA interested only in describing disparities, or also in fixing them?

The FOA encourages research that goes beyond describing disparities and also tests practical approaches to addressing them. This includes evaluating interventions and strategies that can reduce inequities in surgical care and outcomes.

What types of interventions or strategies does the FOA encourage?

The FOA signals interest in institutional and systems-level strategies, including (but not limited to) changes to workflows, referral pathways, perioperative processes, care coordination models, decision-making supports, quality improvement approaches, and other system redesign efforts that could reduce disparities.

Can a project focus on hospital or health-system changes rather than individual patient interventions?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights interest in institutional and systems-level strategies, so projects may focus on system redesign and operational or policy-related levers that contribute to inequitable care.

Is collaborative or multi-investigator work appropriate for this opportunity?

Yes. The mechanism is an NIH R01, which generally supports substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs and multi-investigator collaborations.

What is the funding mechanism and instrument?

The funding mechanism is the NIH R01 research project grant. The funding instrument is a grant.

Who is the sponsoring agency?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the activity category?

The activity category is health.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.307.

Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Examples listed 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 other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities.

Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among the highlighted eligible applicant categories.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible federal agencies are included among the highlighted eligible applicant categories.

Can foreign organizations apply for this grant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply.

Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the project will be done through a non-U.S. component?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply under this FOA.

Are foreign components allowed in any form?

No. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

What does the FOA imply about where the work must be conducted?

Based on the restrictions stated, the applicant organization and the funded work must be structured to comply with the non-foreign requirements, keeping the project footprint within allowable U.S. contexts and not including foreign components.

Is there an award ceiling or expected number of awards listed in the provided information?

No. The provided source data does not list an award ceiling or the number of expected awards. Applicants would typically consult the full NIH posting for current budget guidance and institute-specific considerations.

What are the key dates included in the provided information?

The source data lists a creation date of December 30, 2019, and an original closing date of July 5, 2022.

What kind of outcomes or impact is the FOA aiming for?

The FOA aims to generate actionable knowledge that health systems and surgical care settings can use to close gaps in outcomes for populations that have been historically underserved or disproportionately burdened.

Does the FOA encourage examining structural or operational barriers?

Yes. The FOA specifically notes interest in examining institutional policies and structural or operational barriers that contribute to inequitable surgical care.