Time-Sensitive Research on Health Risk and Resilience after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA MD 18 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 18 006

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued this discretionary grant opportunity, RFA-MD-18-006, titled "Time-Sensitive Research on Health Risk and Resilience after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." It uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically meant for exploratory or developmental research projects that can move quickly to generate early findings, pilot data, or proof-of-concept results. As stated in the title and eligibility language, clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, so proposed work needs to focus on observational, measurement, implementation-supporting, or other non-trial research approaches rather than testing clinical interventions in a trial framework.

The central goal of the funding is to support research that is time-sensitive in nature and directly tied to the health impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NIH is specifically interested in studies that examine risk factors and resilience factors that influence both short-term and long-term health outcomes after the hurricanes. In practical terms, this can include work that captures perishable post-disaster data, documents health-relevant exposures and disruptions, and analyzes how individuals, families, health systems, and communities adapt during the immediate aftermath and throughout the recovery period. The emphasis on both risk and resilience signals interest not only in harms and vulnerabilities (for example, disrupted care, environmental hazards, housing instability, stress, or loss of infrastructure) but also in protective factors (for example, social support, community networks, effective local response, continuity of care strategies, and adaptive coping) that may buffer negative outcomes.

A defining feature of this opportunity is speed. NIH designed it with a shortened submission timeline and an expedited process for peer review, council concurrence, and award issuance. The intent is to allow researchers to get funded while the most time-sensitive questions can still be studied, rather than after recovery has progressed and key information is no longer available. The announcement indicates that the full cycle from application submission to award is expected to take roughly 3 to 4 months, which is notably faster than standard NIH timelines and is meant to enable rapid initiation of research activities.

Eligibility is broad and spans many common U.S. applicant types. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or 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 and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying under those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional entities captured under "others." The announcement also explicitly highlights additional categories as eligible, 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, and U.S. territories or possessions. This wide eligibility is consistent with the topic, since post-disaster research often depends on partnerships across universities, health providers, community organizations, and local governments.

At the same time, the opportunity places strict limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In addition, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. In effect, the applicant organization and the project components must remain domestic, aligning the work closely with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as U.S. jurisdictions and with NIH policy requirements for this particular emergency-focused funding.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under education and health within the grants system and is associated with multiple NIH CFDA numbers (93.121, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.855, 93.866), reflecting involvement or relevance across several NIH programs and institutes. The notice was created on 2018-02-08, and the original closing date listed is 2018-04-16, underscoring the short window intended to push rapid proposal development and fast research starts. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided text, so applicants would typically need to consult the full funding announcement for budget guidance, project period expectations, and any institute-specific interests or constraints.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Time-Sensitive Research on Health Risk and Resilience after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (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): 93.121, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.855, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-04-16. (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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