Tobacco, Alcohol, and Cannabis Policy Research for Health Equity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 25 241

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NIH funding opportunity PAR 25-241?

PAR 25-241, "Tobacco, Alcohol, and Cannabis Policy Research for Health Equity (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)," is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity that supports short, exploratory policy research projects. The focus is on how new or adapted U.S. policies related to tobacco, alcohol, and/or cannabis affect health equity, especially for populations experiencing disproportionate burdens of risk and harm.

What is the main goal of this opportunity?

The main goal is to generate practical, policy-relevant evidence about whether, how, and for whom policies change patterns of product use and exposure (including secondhand exposure). The intent is to help reduce inequities tied to cancer prevention by addressing substance use and exposure in communities that have historically been underserved or harmed.

What substances and policy areas are covered?

The opportunity covers policies related to tobacco, alcohol, and/or cannabis. Policy topics can vary, but the work must clearly connect policy changes to health equity outcomes, including unequal patterns of use or exposure and the mechanisms that drive these differences.

Is this a basic science funding opportunity?

No. This opportunity is designed for policy research rather than basic science. It emphasizes evaluating real-world policies as they are implemented across real settings and jurisdictions.

What kinds of policies or settings can be studied?

Projects are encouraged to evaluate real-world policies as they are implemented in places such as states, counties, cities, tribal jurisdictions, schools, or housing settings. The intent is to study policy in action, not only in theory.

What aspects of policy are applicants encouraged to examine?

Projects might examine policy adoption, implementation, enforcement, compliance, and unintended consequences. Across these topics, NIH expects a clear equity throughline, meaning the project should explicitly examine disparate impacts and why unequal outcomes occur.

What does "health equity" mean in the context of this announcement?

In this announcement, health equity is addressed by focusing on populations that experience disproportionate burdens of risk and harm related to tobacco, alcohol, and/or cannabis use and exposure. Applicants are expected to study whether policies change patterns of use or exposure differently across groups and to investigate the mechanisms that lead to unequal outcomes.

How does this opportunity connect to cancer prevention?

The opportunity is framed within a broader cancer prevention mission. Tobacco use, alcohol use, and cannabis use or exposure can contribute to cancer risk directly or indirectly. Because policy approaches can be scalable levers for population-level prevention, the program aims to strengthen evidence that can reduce inequities tied to cancer prevention.

What does the R21 mechanism mean for project scope?

Because the funding mechanism is an R21, the program is oriented toward early-stage, innovative, or high-impact pilot work. The expectation is that projects can quickly test ideas, build preliminary evidence, and set the stage for larger future studies.

Are clinical trials required?

No. The announcement is designated "Clinical Trial Optional," which means applicants may propose clinical trial activities if appropriate, but they are not required to include a clinical trial.

Is community engagement required?

Yes. A defining feature of the announcement is the expectation for authentic engagement with one or more community organizations. NIH signals that community partnership should not be a cosmetic add-on; funded projects should involve real collaboration with organizations embedded in the populations affected by the policies being studied.

What is the purpose of partnering with community organizations?

The practical goal of community engagement is to improve relevance, trust, feasibility, and impact. It is also intended to help ensure that research questions, methods, interpretation, and dissemination reflect community priorities and lived experience.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.

Does the announcement highlight any specific institution types as eligible?

Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs). It also mentions faith-based or community-based organizations, certain eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

No. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components are not allowed.

Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations allowed?

No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, consistent with NIH policy restrictions referenced in the notice.

Which agency is offering this grant?

The awarding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What type of grant is this?

This is listed as a discretionary grant opportunity.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is listed under education and health.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.393, and 93.399.

What is the posted award ceiling?

The posted award ceiling is $200,000.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The opportunity has an original closing date of January 7, 2028.

What types of outcomes or evidence is NIH trying to produce through this program?

NIH is seeking evidence that is practical and policy-relevant, clarifying how tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis policies shape inequities in use and exposure (including secondhand exposure). The longer-term aim is to strengthen cancer prevention and improve health equity in the United States.

Do proposed projects need to address unintended consequences?

They can. The announcement notes that projects might examine unintended consequences, alongside adoption, implementation, enforcement, and compliance, with attention to equity and disparate impacts.

Does the opportunity focus on new policies only?

No. The emphasis includes how new or adapted U.S. policies related to tobacco, alcohol, and/or cannabis affect health equity.

Does the opportunity allow research across multiple jurisdictions?

The announcement encourages studying real-world policies implemented in varied places (for example, states, counties, cities, tribal jurisdictions, schools, or housing settings). It does not limit applicants to a single setting in the information provided.