Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 168

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 168

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PA-18-168; CFDA: 93.361) supports exploratory and developmental research aimed at improving how children and adolescents live with and manage chronic health conditions. The central focus is on strengthening self-management and, in turn, improving quality of life for young people and their families who face the day-to-day, long-term demands of chronic illness. Because chronic condition management is not a short-term challenge but an ongoing responsibility that often spans developmental stages and family transitions, the program is designed to encourage early-stage, innovative projects that can generate new approaches, pilot data, and proof-of-concept findings that may later be scaled or tested more broadly.

The FOA emphasizes that effective self-management in pediatric chronic illness is shaped by many interacting influences rather than a single factor. Applicants are encouraged to design research that accounts for individual differences (such as age, developmental level, motivation, skills, and health literacy) as well as biological and psychological factors that can affect adherence, symptom monitoring, coping, and functional outcomes. It also highlights the importance of the child or adolescent within a broader family and caregiver context, recognizing that parents, guardians, and other caregivers often share management responsibilities and strongly influence routines, treatment follow-through, and emotional support. In addition, the opportunity specifically calls attention to sociocultural context and family-community dynamics, acknowledging that culture, language, community resources, social support, stigma, and socioeconomic conditions can either support or hinder self-management.

Another major theme is the role of the healthcare system and care delivery environment. The FOA invites research that considers how clinical workflows, provider communication, access to specialty care, care coordination, and transitions between pediatric and adult services affect a young person’s ability to manage a condition over time. It also encourages projects that leverage technological advances, which can include tools and platforms that help with tracking symptoms, medications, appointments, or health behaviors, as well as solutions that facilitate communication between families and care teams. Environmental factors are also within scope, which can involve the settings where children live, learn, and play, including home, school, neighborhood, and broader physical or policy environments that shape daily management tasks and health-related opportunities or barriers.

This is an R21 mechanism, meaning it is intended for exploratory or developmental research rather than large, fully powered definitive trials. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which signals that applicants may propose a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the scientific question, but a clinical trial is not required. The award ceiling listed is $200,000, supporting smaller, time-limited projects aimed at testing feasibility, refining an intervention or strategy, developing measures or methods, or generating preliminary evidence that can justify a larger subsequent study.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations and, notably, certain non-U.S. 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) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as 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, U.S. territories or possessions, Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized), and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth signals an interest in drawing ideas and partnerships from diverse research, education, clinical, and community settings, including those serving populations that may experience disproportionate chronic disease burdens or barriers to care.

Administrative details in the source listing identify the opportunity as discretionary grant funding within the education and health activity categories. The posting date (creation date) is November 8, 2017, and the original closing date shown is May 7, 2020. Overall, the opportunity is structured to spark innovative, multidisciplinary work that treats pediatric self-management as a complex, real-world challenge shaped by development, families, healthcare systems, technology, and the environments where children and adolescents grow up.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.361.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-07. (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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