Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 033
The Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity, identified as PAR 20 033, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program that supports early-stage, exploratory research on how interactions between humans and animals affect health and development. It uses the R21 mechanism, which is commonly intended for hypothesis-generating studies, pilot projects, and innovative approaches that can produce preliminary evidence and shape future, larger-scale research. Clinical trials are allowed but not required, meaning applicants can propose either observational or interventional work as long as it fits the scientific scope.
The FOA centers on three main research directions. First, it encourages studies that examine how HAI influences typical and atypical child development and health. This can include developmental, behavioral, emotional, social, or physiological outcomes in children, and can cover both general populations and groups with developmental differences or health risks. Second, it solicits evaluations of animal-assisted interventions aimed at children and adults with disabilities or those who need rehabilitative services. In practice, this theme targets structured programs that incorporate animals to support functioning, therapy, recovery, or participation in daily life, and it invites research that tests whether these interventions work, for whom they work, and under what conditions they are most effective and safe. Third, it invites research on animals and public health, including studies that look at broader population-level implications and the cost-effectiveness of involving animals in strategies meant to reduce disease burden or prevent illness. This portion of the FOA makes room for health economics and implementation-oriented thinking, such as whether HAI-related approaches deliver measurable health benefits relative to their costs, and how they might be scaled or integrated into health systems or community settings.
The program is categorized under Health, Income Security and Social Services and is associated with CFDA number 93.865. It is a grant funding instrument rather than a contract or cooperative agreement, which typically means investigators propose their research plans and, if funded, conduct the work with standard NIH oversight and reporting expectations. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or an expected number of awards, the R21 format generally signals a smaller, time-limited project compared with multi-year, full-scale research grants, with an emphasis on producing actionable early findings.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants across government, education, nonprofit, and private sectors. Eligible domestic applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses to apply, and it lists an "Others" category that can cover additional applicant types consistent with NIH policies.
In addition to the standard applicant categories, the FOA explicitly highlights a range of other eligible applicants, signaling an interest in inclusion of diverse institutions and community-based partners. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized. It also includes eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply as well. Collectively, this eligibility structure supports research that can be conducted in varied settings, including clinical, educational, community, and cross-cultural contexts where human-animal relationships and intervention models may differ.
The opportunity was created on October 17, 2019, and the source data lists an original closing date of December 20, 2021. Overall, the FOA is aimed at building a stronger evidence base for when and how human-animal interactions matter for health and development, how animal-assisted interventions can be evaluated with scientific rigor, and how animal involvement might contribute to public health goals in ways that are not only effective but also economically and practically defensible.Apply for PAR 20 033
- The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (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): 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-10-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-12-20. (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.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 031 Funding Number: PAR 20 031 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 032 Funding Number: PAR 20 032 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| NCMRR Early Career Research Award (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 20 042 Funding Number: PAR 20 042 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition: Consortium on Biomarker and Outcome Measures of Social Impairment for Use in Clinical Trials in Autism Spectrum Disorder (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 20 325 Funding Number: RFA MH 20 325 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers 2019 (P50 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 20 016 Funding Number: RFA HD 20 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Archiving and Documenting Child Health and Human Development Data Sets (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 064 Funding Number: PAR 20 064 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Emotional Well-Being: High-Priority Research Networks (U24, Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AT 20 003 Funding Number: RFA AT 20 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Development of the INCLUDE (Investigation of Co-occurring Conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE) Project Data Coordinating Center (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 20 007 Funding Number: RFA OD 20 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Developmental Mechanisms of Human Structural Birth Defects (P01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)) Apply for RFA HD 21 013 Funding Number: RFA HD 21 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Digital, Limited Interaction Trials and Epidemiology (D-LITE): Targeting HIV Incidence in the United States (U01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA AI 19 067 Funding Number: RFA AI 19 067 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers for Collaborative Research in Fragile X and FMR1-Associated Conditions (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 20 003 Funding Number: RFA HD 20 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
| National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) Wave 6 (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AG 21 008 Funding Number: RFA AG 21 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $4,500,000 |
| NICHD Biomedical Informatic Resource Centers Grants (P41 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 126 Funding Number: PAR 20 126 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,750,000 |
| In-Depth Phenotyping and Research Using IMPC-Generated Knockout Mouse Strains Exhibiting Embryonic or Perinatal Lethality or Subviability (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 137 Funding Number: PAR 20 137 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Population Dynamics Centers Research Infrastructure Program FY 2021 (P2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HD 21 010 Funding Number: RFA HD 21 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Postdoctoral Training in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HD 21 014 Funding Number: RFA HD 21 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Genomic Predictors of Pregnancy Loss (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HD 21 005 Funding Number: RFA HD 21 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Catalyzing Innovation in Pediatric Pharmacology Clinical Trial Design and Resource Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 161 Funding Number: PAR 20 161 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Reserch Centers [IDDRC] FY 2021 (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 21 009 Funding Number: RFA HD 21 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Development of Fertility Regulation Methods by Small Business (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 21 007 Funding Number: RFA HD 21 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
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