Unveiling Health and Healthcare Disparities in Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases in Latin America: Setting the Stage for Better Health Outcomes Across the Hemisphere (R01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is offering a funding opportunity titled “Unveiling Health and Healthcare Disparities in Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases in Latin America: Setting the Stage for Better Health Outcomes Across the Hemisphere.” This opportunity is administered under the R01 grant mechanism and reflects NIH’s longstanding commitment to advancing biomedical and public health research, particularly in areas that address disparities affecting vulnerable populations. NIH supports a broad portfolio of health-related research and collaborates globally to improve outcomes through scientific discovery and evidence-based policy. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support innovative, collaborative, and multidisciplinary research focused on understanding and addressing disparities in non-communicable and chronic diseases. These diseases represent a significant burden of morbidity and mortality across Latin America and among Hispanic and Latino populations in the United States. The initiative emphasizes clinical epidemiology, evaluation of healthcare and public health policies, and validation of measurement tools that can improve the understanding of inequities in health outcomes and access to care. Funding under this program is intended to support research activities that generate actionable evidence to inform interventions and policy improvements. While specific award amounts and total funding levels are not stated in the summary, applicants are expected to propose comprehensive research projects consistent with the R01 mechanism, which typically supports multi-year, investigator-initiated research. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this opportunity. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, allowing applicants to focus fully on the scientific and operational aspects of their proposed research without additional financial burden. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes a wide range of organizational types such as state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, tribal governments, and for-profit entities. Additional eligible applicants include minority-serving institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, and certain federal agencies. While non-domestic entities are generally not eligible to apply directly, foreign components within U.S.-based organizations are permitted, and collaboration with Latin American institutions is a required component. Specifically, research teams must include at least one principal investigator or multiple principal investigators from institutions located in Latin America, ensuring meaningful international collaboration. The application process follows NIH standard submission procedures through Grants.gov and requires applicants to prepare a detailed research proposal aligned with the goals of the funding opportunity announcement. While specific application components are not detailed in the summary, applicants can expect to include elements such as a research strategy, budget justification, biosketches, and supporting documentation. Evaluation criteria will likely focus on scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and the strength of the collaborative partnerships, particularly the integration of Latin American investigators. The timeline for this opportunity indicates that it was posted on January 8, 2025, with updates as recent as June 3, 2026. The current closing date for applications is June 3, 2026, suggesting that the opportunity may follow a recurring or cyclical schedule typical of NIH funding announcements. Applicants are encouraged to consult the full announcement for detailed deadlines and submission cycles. For assistance, NIH provides a centralized contact email at grantsinfo@nih.gov and directs applicants to additional agency contacts listed in the full opportunity announcement. The performance period and award notification timelines are not specified in the summary but are generally defined within the full NIH guidance.

Ensure strong international collaboration with Latin American partners and clearly address health disparities using rigorous epidemiological methods