Exploratory/Developmental Grants Related to the World Trade Center Health Program (R21)

The Exploratory/Developmental Grants Related to the World Trade Center Health Program (R21) funding opportunity is offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the World Trade Center Health Program under Assistance Listing 93.262, Occupational Safety and Health Program. The program supports research activities connected to the long-term health effects experienced by individuals receiving monitoring or treatment under Subtitle C of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, as amended. The opportunity is designed to stimulate innovative and exploratory scientific inquiry into diagnostic uncertainty, treatment effectiveness, and emerging clinical approaches relevant to populations affected by exposure related to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The funding mechanism uses the R21 exploratory and developmental grant structure, which is intended for early-stage research concepts that may not yet have extensive supporting preliminary data. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage investigators to test new ideas, methods, models, technologies, and interventions that may improve care and diagnostic practices for World Trade Center Health Program members. The notice specifically emphasizes projects that explore novel approaches or extend prior findings in new directions with meaningful clinical relevance. Applicants are encouraged to propose high-risk, high-reward concepts that may ultimately contribute to breakthroughs in the understanding or treatment of health conditions affecting eligible populations. The program expects applications to focus on feasibility, conceptual development, and exploratory investigation rather than fully matured clinical implementation studies. Research may include diagnostic methodologies, treatment innovations, intervention models, or other approaches capable of improving health outcomes for affected individuals. The funding announcement anticipates approximately 36 awards with an estimated total program funding level of 18,000,000 dollars. Individual awards may request up to 365,000 dollars. Although the synopsis lists an award floor of zero dollars, the funding guidance indicates this should be treated as unspecified rather than as a true minimum award level. The funding instrument type is a discretionary federal grant. Cost sharing and matching are not required for this opportunity, reducing financial barriers for eligible organizations. The notice does not identify mandatory subawards or indirect cost restrictions within the synopsis information provided. The opportunity supports exploratory and developmental activities and is intended for projects where minimal or no preliminary data are available. Applicants should therefore emphasize innovation, feasibility, and the potential for future scientific advancement. Eligibility for the funding opportunity is broad and includes private institutions of higher education, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal governments and organizations. The opportunity is nationwide in scope for eligible United States entities. However, non-domestic entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of United States organizations are also prohibited. Foreign components as defined in the HHS Grants Policy Statement are not allowed under this competition. These restrictions reinforce the domestic public health focus of the World Trade Center Health Program and ensure that supported research remains connected to United States-based health program populations. Applications must be submitted through the applicable federal grants submission process no later than 11:59 p.m. local time of the applicant organization on the applicable due date. The funding opportunity includes multiple application due dates consisting of June 23, 2026, December 8, 2026, and October 26, 2027. Because the notice provides multiple deadlines over an extended period, the opportunity should be treated as recurring rather than a one-time solicitation. The synopsis does not identify a required letter of intent, concept paper, or pre-application stage. Applicants are expected to complete all required federal registrations and submit the full application package electronically through Grants.gov or associated federal submission systems. The synopsis does not provide detailed review criteria, but R21 mechanisms generally emphasize innovation, significance, feasibility, scientific merit, and the potential for future development into larger-scale research initiatives. The funding opportunity identifies James Yiin, PhD, as the Scientific Program Official and primary contact for applicants experiencing difficulty accessing the announcement electronically or seeking additional guidance. The provided contact email is jcy5@cdc.gov. The opportunity was posted on May 8, 2026, and was last updated on the same date. The archive date is October 27, 2027, indicating that the funding cycle remains active across multiple submission rounds. The overall structure of the opportunity demonstrates a continued federal commitment to supporting innovative occupational and environmental health research connected to the World Trade Center Health Program. By prioritizing exploratory and developmental investigations, the program seeks to expand the evidence base for diagnosis and treatment while encouraging the development of new scientific directions that may improve care for affected populations in future years.

Emphasize innovative exploratory concepts with potential clinical impact; focus on diagnostic or treatment uncertainty affecting World Trade Center Health Program members; clearly explain feasibility and how the project could lead to improved interventions, methodologies, or treatment approaches despite limited preliminary data