Advancing Genomic Medicine Research (Clinical Trial Optional) (R21) | RFA HG 20 037

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 20 037

The Advancing Genomic Medicine Research (Clinical Trial Optional) (R21) funding opportunity (RFA-HG-20-037) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to support early-stage, innovative research that helps move genomic medicine into routine clinical care in a thoughtful, evidence-based way. The core purpose is to stimulate new ideas and practical knowledge about when genomic information should be used, where it fits best within healthcare workflows and settings, and how it can be implemented effectively and responsibly. A central theme is that projects should be relevant and beneficial across diverse populations, explicitly including people regardless of ancestral background or sociodemographic status, reflecting a strong emphasis on equitable implementation and avoiding approaches that only work well in narrow or advantaged settings.

This FOA is focused on advancing genomic medicine as a field rather than funding projects tied to only one gene, one disease, or one local environment. In other words, reviewers are looking for work that produces insights that can generalize beyond a single condition or clinic and that can inform broader best practices for clinical genomic integration. The “Clinical Trial Optional” designation means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials if they are appropriate for the research questions, but clinical trials are not required. The mechanism is an R21, which is commonly used by NIH to support exploratory or developmental research that may be higher-risk, higher-reward, and aimed at generating preliminary data, testing new concepts, or piloting approaches that could later be scaled or expanded through larger awards.

Administratively, this is a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) in the health category, associated with CFDA number 93.172. The opportunity was created on June 4, 2020, and the original closing date listed is March 13, 2023. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance for any institute- or program-specific budget expectations, as well as standard R21 limits and project period conventions.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that commonly participate in NIH research funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; 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; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education when categorized separately); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other applicant types. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants and community-centered institutions, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized; faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible agencies of the federal government; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply as well.

Overall, this opportunity is best suited for teams proposing creative, broadly informative genomic medicine implementation research, including studies that address real-world clinical integration, evidence generation for best practices, and strategies that work across diverse populations and healthcare contexts. The emphasis on applicability beyond a single disease or setting signals that the program values findings that can shape how genomic technologies are adopted and used across the healthcare system, not just within one specialized niche.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Genomic Medicine Research (Clinical Trial Optional) (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-06-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-03-13. (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.

Apply for RFA HG 20 037

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: