Pediatric Obesity Discovery Science Research to Improve Understanding of Risk and Causal Mechanisms for Obesity in Early Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DK 21 025

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 21 025

The Pediatric Obesity Discovery Science Research to Improve Understanding of Risk and Causal Mechanisms for Obesity in Early Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DK-21-025) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program focused on advancing discovery science around how obesity begins and takes hold very early in life. The central goal is to fund innovative research that better identifies risk factors during infancy and early childhood and, more importantly, explains the causal pathways and mechanisms that connect those early risks to later obesity outcomes. Rather than simply documenting correlations, the FOA emphasizes work that can clarify "how" and "why" early exposures, behaviors, and biological processes contribute to obesity development in young children.

A major theme of the announcement is mechanistic understanding. Proposed studies are expected to dig into biological mechanisms that may mediate behavioral and/or metabolic risk for obesity in early childhood. This includes investigating pathways that link early feeding, sleep, activity patterns, or metabolic features to changes in growth trajectories and adiposity, while also considering how these biological pathways interact with real-world influences. The FOA explicitly highlights that risk may be shaped or modified by additional contributors such as psychosocial factors (for example, caregiver stress or family dynamics), contextual factors (such as neighborhood resources or childcare settings), and environmental factors (including exposures and broader living conditions). The overall intent is to support research that can untangle multi-level influences on early obesity and produce insights that are difficult to obtain through single-discipline approaches.

The announcement strongly encourages multidisciplinary teams and cross-cutting perspectives. NIH signals interest in projects that bring together expertise from basic science, translational research, clinical research, and behavioral science, among other relevant areas. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component if it is appropriate for the scientific aims, but a clinical trial is not required. This flexibility is meant to allow investigators to choose the design that best tests the mechanisms they are studying, whether that involves observational cohorts, mechanistic human studies, experimental approaches, or intervention-like designs that can probe causal relationships.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and governments. Eligible applicants listed in the notice include state, county, city, 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; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education under that nonprofit category); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.

At the same time, there are important limits on foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain foreign elements in the project when justified and compliant with NIH policy.

Key administrative details included in the source information are that the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument is a grant, and the activity area is categorized under Food and Nutrition and Health (CFDA 93.847). The original closing date listed is March 8, 2022, and an award ceiling of $500,000 is noted. The opportunity was created on October 4, 2021. Overall, this FOA is positioned for teams aiming to produce foundational, mechanistic insights into the origins of obesity in the earliest stages of life, with a clear expectation that proposals will go beyond description to illuminate causal processes and interacting influences across biology, behavior, and environment.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pediatric Obesity Discovery Science Research to Improve Understanding of Risk and Causal Mechanisms for Obesity in Early Life (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): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-10-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-08. (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 $500,000.00 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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