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

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 227

This NIH funding opportunity (PA 20-227) offers administrative supplements to existing NIH-funded projects so investigators can add or expand research on dietary supplements and/or their ingredients as they relate to health maintenance and disease prevention. The key idea is that the parent grant does not need to be about dietary supplements already; the supplement is meant to help researchers incorporate dietary supplement questions, measures, or mechanistic work into an active award when doing so would strengthen the science and address important evidence gaps. The program is connected to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), which has broad interests and does not limit topics to specific diseases, organ systems, or population groups.

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. In practical terms, this could mean 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. ODS also emphasizes building research capacity, so supplement activities may include research and training components that help develop the next generation of investigators and methods for studying dietary supplements in relation to health and prevention.

Applications are prioritized when they address areas where dietary supplement research is missing or behind, resolve situations where findings conflict by clarifying benefits versus risks, and identify gaps and opportunities that can move the field forward. There is also particular interest in research that targets special population groups where more evidence is needed, and in work that evaluates how dietary supplements might support health, improve maintenance of function, or reduce chronic disease risk. The overall emphasis is on strengthening the evidence base around real-world supplement use, including both potential advantages and potential harms.

A major limitation is that the FOA does not support the initiation of new clinical trials. That generally means you cannot propose a brand-new trial that prospectively assigns participants to an intervention solely under this supplement mechanism. However, the FOA still allows a range of human-focused work that is not a new trial, such as secondary analyses, observational studies, measurements added to ongoing studies (when consistent with the parent award), or other clinical research activities that do not constitute starting a new clinical trial.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that commonly participate in NIH funding. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also 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, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations.

The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant program under NIH, spanning multiple CFDA program numbers (reflecting that supplements may attach to many different NIH parent award lines). The FOA was created on June 9, 2020, and the listed original closing date is April 15, 2023. The award ceiling shown is up to $1,000,000, with the number of expected awards not specified in the provided data.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Administrative Supplement for Research on Dietary Supplements (Admin Supp-Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.237, 93.286, 93.307, 93.321, 93.351, 93.393, 93.846, 93.847, 93.855, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867, 93.989.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-06-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-15. (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 $1,000,000.00 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.

Apply for PA 20 227

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