Administrative Supplement for Research on Dietary Supplements (Admin Supp-Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 20 227

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this NIH funding opportunity (PA 20-227) designed to support?

This opportunity provides administrative supplements to active NIH-funded projects so investigators can add or expand research on dietary supplements and/or dietary supplement ingredients, specifically as they relate to health maintenance and disease prevention.

Does the existing (parent) NIH grant have to already be focused on dietary supplements?

No. A key feature of this supplement is that the parent award does not need to be about dietary supplements. The goal is to help investigators incorporate dietary supplement questions, measurements, analyses, or mechanistic work into an active project when doing so strengthens the overall science and addresses important evidence gaps.

Who is connected to or associated with this program within NIH?

The program is connected to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). ODS has broad interests and does not restrict topics to particular diseases, organ systems, or population groups based on the information provided.

How broad is the scientific scope for supplement activities under this FOA?

The scope is intentionally wide and can include pre-clinical, clinical (as long as it is not a new clinical trial), behavioral, and epidemiological research, as long as the work fits within the context of an existing NIH-funded award.

What are examples of activities that could be added to an existing project?

Examples described include adding dietary supplement exposure assessment to an ongoing cohort study, testing biological mechanisms of supplement ingredients using existing models or samples, analyzing existing clinical data to explore supplement-related outcomes, or embedding new supplement-focused aims within the approved framework of a current project.

Can the supplement be used to add dietary supplement exposure measures to an ongoing cohort study?

Yes. Adding dietary supplement exposure assessment to an ongoing cohort study is specifically mentioned as an example of how this supplement mechanism may be used.

Can the supplement support mechanistic studies of dietary supplement ingredients?

Yes. Mechanistic work is contemplated, including testing biological mechanisms of supplement ingredients using existing models or samples.

Can the supplement be used for secondary analyses of existing human or clinical data?

Yes. The description includes analyzing existing clinical data to explore supplement-related outcomes as a practical example of eligible work.

Is clinical research allowed under this FOA?

Clinical research may be included as long as it does not initiate a new clinical trial. Human-focused work such as secondary analyses, observational studies, and adding measurements to ongoing studies (when consistent with the parent award) is described as allowable.

Are new clinical trials allowed under this FOA?

No. A major limitation is that this FOA does not support the initiation of new clinical trials. In general, you cannot propose a brand-new trial that prospectively assigns participants to an intervention solely under this supplement mechanism.

If new clinical trials are not allowed, what types of human-focused research are still possible?

The FOA still allows a range of clinical or human-focused activities that do not constitute starting a new clinical trial, including secondary analyses, observational studies, and measurements added to ongoing studies when consistent with the parent award.

What is the main purpose of offering administrative supplements rather than standalone grants?

Based on the description provided, the purpose is to enable researchers with active NIH awards to incorporate dietary supplement-related questions, measures, or mechanistic work into existing projects in a way that strengthens the science and fills evidence gaps around real-world supplement use, benefits, and harms.

What kinds of projects does NIH/ODS appear to prioritize for funding under this opportunity?

Applications are prioritized when they address areas where dietary supplement research is missing or behind, resolve conflicting findings by clarifying benefits versus risks, and identify gaps and opportunities that can move the field forward.

Is there a particular emphasis on benefits versus risks of dietary supplements?

Yes. The description highlights strengthening the evidence base around real-world supplement use, including both potential advantages and potential harms, and prioritizes work that can clarify benefits versus risks where findings conflict.

Are special populations a focus area for this supplement program?

Yes. There is particular interest in research that targets special population groups where more evidence is needed, based on the information provided.

Does this FOA restrict topics to specific diseases or organ systems?

No. ODS is described as having broad interests and not limiting topics to specific diseases, organ systems, or population groups.

Is the focus only on disease treatment?

No. The framing is about health maintenance and disease prevention, including evaluating how dietary supplements might support health, improve maintenance of function, or reduce chronic disease risk.

Does the FOA include any interest in training or building research capacity?

Yes. ODS emphasizes building research capacity. Supplement activities may include research and training components intended to help develop the next generation of investigators and methods for studying dietary supplements in relation to health and prevention.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply for this funding?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types that commonly participate in NIH funding, including various units of government, institutions of higher education (public, state-controlled, and private), tribal governments and organizations (federally recognized and not federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses, and other entities.

Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations explicitly mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. Regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and other entities are explicitly mentioned among eligible applicants.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are explicitly listed as eligible based on the information provided.

Is this described as a discretionary grant program?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant program under NIH.

Does this FOA connect to multiple CFDA program numbers?

Yes. It spans multiple CFDA program numbers, reflecting that these administrative supplements may attach to many different NIH parent award lines.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The FOA was created on June 9, 2020.

What is the listed original closing date?

The listed original closing date is April 15, 2023.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) shown for this opportunity?

The award ceiling shown is up to $1,000,000.

How many awards are expected?

The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided information.

What is the overall emphasis of the research supported by this FOA?

The overall emphasis is on strengthening the evidence base around dietary supplements and their ingredients in the context of health maintenance and disease prevention, with attention to real-world use and both potential benefits and harms, using an administrative supplement to an active NIH award.