Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 487
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "New Onset Depressive Symptoms in Acute Illness (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-17-487) supports exploratory research aimed at understanding why depressive symptoms can newly emerge during or after a sudden acute medical illness. The central focus is on etiology and pathobiology: identifying the biological, psychological, and contextual mechanisms that help explain incident depressive symptoms that arise in the setting of an acute health event, even when the physical illness itself appears to resolve. The NIH highlights a key gap in the field: while it is well recognized that depressive symptoms can persist and interfere with functional recovery long after the acute medical insult, there remains limited knowledge about the underlying drivers of these symptoms, including how acute illness may trigger or accelerate depressive processes. By improving understanding of these mechanisms, the program aims to lay groundwork for more personalized and holistic approaches to recovery that address both physical and mental health trajectories.
This opportunity uses the R21 grant mechanism, which is generally designed for early-stage, high-risk/high-reward, and concept-developing projects. In practical terms, that means the NIH is encouraging innovative studies that may generate preliminary data, test new ideas, or open up emerging lines of inquiry rather than requiring a fully mature, large-scale research program. The FOA explicitly states that clinical trials are not allowed, so proposed projects should not involve assigning human participants to interventions to evaluate health-related outcomes. Instead, applicants would typically consider observational studies, mechanistic investigations, analyses of existing datasets or biospecimens, development or validation of measures relevant to post-acute depressive symptoms, or other non-interventional designs that can advance causal or mechanistic understanding without constituting a clinical trial.
The research scope implied by the FOA centers on acute illness as the initiating context, with attention to depressive symptoms that are new in onset rather than simply ongoing depression that predates the illness. The NIH interest includes clarifying factors that contribute to a sustained symptom trajectory versus those that mitigate risk and support resilience. This can include, for example, biological responses to acute insults (such as inflammation, neuroendocrine stress responses, immune signaling, metabolic disruption, sleep-wake disturbances, pain physiology, or neurovascular effects), as well as psychological and environmental contributors (such as acute stress, trauma-like responses to hospitalization, delirium-related experiences, social isolation, functional impairment, and barriers to rehabilitation). The broader goal is to connect these etiologic factors to recovery outcomes, since lingering depressive symptoms can slow return to work or school, reduce adherence to follow-up care, worsen perceived quality of life, and impair physical rehabilitation even when the primary medical condition improves.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program under NIH, categorized within education and health-related funding activity areas and associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.361. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, indicating the maximum amount available under the terms provided in the source data. The FOA record shows an original closing date of January 7, 2021, and a creation date of September 19, 2017. (Programs like this sometimes have multiple receipt dates or get reissued under new announcements, but the provided listing reflects the specific record and dates supplied.)
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public, private, academic, nonprofit, tribal, and governmental entities. Eligible applicants 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; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits 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 explicitly notes additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), as well as Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Overall, this FOA is aimed at pushing the science of post-acute mental health beyond simple documentation of depression after illness and toward a clearer, mechanism-based understanding of why new depressive symptoms occur, which patients are most vulnerable, and what protective factors may alter the course. The expected payoff is a stronger evidence base to inform future screening strategies, risk stratification, and integrated recovery models that treat mental health symptoms as a core component of acute illness recovery rather than an afterthought.Apply for PA 17 487
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "New Onset Depressive Symptoms in Acute Illness (R21 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): 93.242, 93.361.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-09-19.
- 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.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?
The opportunity is titled "New Onset Depressive Symptoms in Acute Illness (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) is PA-17-487.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
This FOA supports exploratory research to understand why depressive symptoms can newly emerge during or after a sudden acute medical illness. The emphasis is on etiology and pathobiology: identifying biological, psychological, and contextual mechanisms that help explain incident (new-onset) depressive symptoms in the setting of an acute health event, including cases where the physical illness appears to resolve.
What kind of research gap is NIH trying to address with this FOA?
NIH highlights that while persistent depressive symptoms after acute illness are well recognized and can interfere with functional recovery, there is still limited knowledge about what drives these symptoms and how acute illness may trigger or accelerate depressive processes. This FOA aims to build the mechanistic understanding needed to move beyond documenting the problem and toward explaining it.
What grant mechanism is used, and what does it imply about the stage of research?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is generally intended for early-stage, high-risk/high-reward, concept-developing projects. In practical terms, it is geared toward innovative studies that may generate preliminary data, test new ideas, or open up new research directions rather than requiring a fully mature, large-scale program.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA explicitly states that clinical trials are not allowed. Proposed projects should not involve assigning human participants to interventions in order to evaluate health-related outcomes.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what kinds of study designs are appropriate?
Based on the FOA description, appropriate non-interventional approaches may include observational studies, mechanistic investigations, analyses of existing datasets or biospecimens, and development or validation of measures relevant to depressive symptoms after acute illness. The intent is to advance causal or mechanistic understanding without conducting a clinical trial.
What does "new onset depressive symptoms" mean in the context of this program?
The focus is on depressive symptoms that arise newly during or after an acute illness, rather than depression that was already ongoing before the acute medical event. The initiating context is a sudden acute health insult, and the research emphasis is on incident symptom emergence tied to that context.
What types of acute illnesses are relevant to this FOA?
The FOA describes the initiating context broadly as a sudden acute medical illness or acute health event. It does not list specific diagnoses in the provided summary, but it centers on acute illness as the trigger context for new depressive symptoms.
What scientific topics and mechanisms are within scope?
The FOA encourages research that identifies mechanisms that may explain incident depressive symptoms in the setting of acute illness. Examples described include biological responses to acute insults (inflammation, neuroendocrine stress responses, immune signaling, metabolic disruption, sleep-wake disturbances, pain physiology, and neurovascular effects) as well as psychological and environmental contributors (acute stress, trauma-like responses to hospitalization, delirium-related experiences, social isolation, functional impairment, and barriers to rehabilitation).
Does the FOA care about why some patients recover while others have lingering symptoms?
Yes. The scope includes clarifying factors linked to a sustained depressive symptom trajectory versus factors that mitigate risk and support resilience after acute illness.
How does this FOA connect depressive symptoms to recovery outcomes?
The FOA frames lingering depressive symptoms as clinically important because they can slow return to work or school, reduce adherence to follow-up care, worsen perceived quality of life, and impair physical rehabilitation even when the primary medical condition improves. The research goal is to connect etiologic factors to these recovery outcomes.
What is the intended impact of the research supported by this program?
The program aims to lay the groundwork for more personalized and holistic recovery approaches that address both physical and mental health trajectories. By improving mechanistic understanding, the FOA is intended to support future screening strategies, risk stratification, and integrated recovery models where mental health symptoms are treated as a core component of recovery from acute illness.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000, which indicates the maximum amount available under the terms provided in the source data.
What agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant program offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What funding activity areas is this opportunity associated with?
In the provided information, the opportunity is categorized within education and health-related funding activity areas.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The FOA is associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.361.
What are the key dates shown in the provided FOA record?
The FOA record shows a creation date of September 19, 2017, and an original closing date of January 7, 2021.
Does the provided listing indicate whether there are multiple receipt dates or reissues?
The information notes that programs like this sometimes have multiple receipt dates or may be reissued under new announcements, but the details provided reflect the specific record and dates supplied (including the original closing date of January 7, 2021).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many public, private, academic, nonprofit, tribal, and governmental entities. Eligible applicants 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; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are specific types of minority-serving institutions and community organizations explicitly included?
Yes. The announcement explicitly notes additional eligible groups including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant types listed include eligible federal agencies.
Can organizations in U.S. territories apply?
Yes. The listing includes U.S. territories or possessions as eligible.
Are regional organizations eligible?
Yes. Regional organizations are included in the eligible applicant list.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
Are Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized eligible?
Yes. The listing explicitly includes Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Is the FOA focused on documenting depression prevalence, or on mechanisms?
The FOA is explicitly aimed at moving beyond simple documentation of depression after illness and toward a mechanism-based understanding of why new depressive symptoms occur, which patients are most vulnerable, and what protective factors may alter the course.
What kinds of deliverables or next steps does NIH appear to be aiming for downstream?
Based on the description, the expected payoff is a stronger evidence base to inform future screening strategies, risk stratification approaches, and integrated recovery models that treat mental health symptoms as an essential part of recovery after acute illness.
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