Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 881
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR-18-881 is a K18 Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Award focused on mobile and wireless health technology and data analytics, with a specific aim of building research skills through cross-training at the intersection of behavioral and social sciences (BSS) and STEM fields. The program is designed for independent investigators who want a structured, mentored, short-term experience to expand or retool their expertise so they can conduct stronger, more innovative research that uses modern digital health tools such as wearable sensors, mobile applications, electronic health record data, and advanced analytics approaches. A key point of the announcement is that it supports career enhancement and skills development rather than launching an independent clinical trial; the opportunity is explicitly labeled as "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed."
A central emphasis of the program is cross-disciplinary training. NIH is particularly interested in two groups of applicants: (1) established behavioral and social science researchers who want to gain STEM-based skills like big data methods, computational modeling, engineering approaches, computer science, or mathematics, and (2) STEM-trained scientists who want to build competence in behavioral and social science theories, methods, and frameworks that are essential for understanding human behavior, health decision-making, adherence, engagement, and real-world implementation. The broader idea is that mobile and wireless health research often fails when it leans too heavily on technology without a deep understanding of people, or when it leans too heavily on behavioral theory without the technical capacity to build, evaluate, or analyze data from digital systems. This K18 mechanism is meant to close that gap by funding a mentored learning plan that meaningfully changes what an investigator can do in their research.
The eligible science areas are framed around mobile and wireless health technology and the data streams these tools generate. That includes work involving wearable devices and sensors, smartphone-based interventions and assessments, passive and active data capture, data integration with electronic health records, and analytic strategies that can handle complex, high-volume, high-velocity, or high-variety data. While the announcement is not limited to any single disease area in the text provided, the program is positioned as an education and health-oriented grant opportunity under multiple CFDA numbers (93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, 93.313), signaling that it can align with a range of NIH institute and center missions as long as the proposed cross-training and resulting research capability fit the mobile/wireless health and analytics focus.
In terms of who can apply, NIH lists a wide range of eligible applicant organizations, reflecting that this is a discretionary grant program open to many sectors. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled colleges and universities, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The opportunity is also open to nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, for-profit organizations that are not small businesses, and small businesses, along with an "Other" category that NIH sometimes uses for additional eligible entities. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. This explicit inclusion signals an interest in broad participation and, in practice, supports the involvement of institutions serving populations that are often underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research.
Foreign eligibility is limited in a way that is typical for many NIH career-focused mechanisms. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, the announcement clarifies that foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant can include certain project elements or collaborations that occur outside the U.S. when appropriately justified and structured under NIH policy.
Administratively, the opportunity is issued by NIH and uses the grant funding instrument type. It falls under the education and health activity categories, reinforcing that the award is intended to enhance researcher capability through mentored training rather than serving as a standard research project grant. The source data lists an original closing date of 2020-07-12, and it does not provide an award ceiling or expected awards count in the excerpt provided. Overall, the program can be understood as a targeted career enhancement pathway for independent investigators who want to add serious technical depth in mobile/wireless health technologies and analytics, or add equally serious behavioral and social science depth to technology-driven work, with the goal of producing better integrated, more effective digital health research going forward.Apply for PAR 18 881
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Awards in Mobile and Wireless Health Technology and Data Analytics: Cross-Training at the intersection of Behavioral and Social Sciences and STEM Disciplines (K18 Independent 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): 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, 93.313.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-07-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-12. (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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FAQs: NIH PAR-18-881 (K18) Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Award
What is PAR-18-881?
PAR-18-881 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity for a K18 Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Award. It supports a structured, mentored, short-term experience designed to help independent investigators expand or retool their expertise in mobile and wireless health technology and data analytics, with a strong emphasis on cross-training between behavioral and social sciences (BSS) and STEM fields.
What is the main purpose of this K18 award?
The main purpose is career enhancement and research skills development. The award is meant to build new, meaningful capability through a mentored learning plan so investigators can conduct stronger, more innovative research that uses modern digital health tools and advanced analytics approaches.
Is this opportunity focused on training or on running a research project?
Based on the information provided, this opportunity is positioned as an education and health-oriented career enhancement program. It emphasizes mentored skills development and cross-disciplinary training rather than functioning like a standard research project grant.
Are independent clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?
No. The opportunity is explicitly labeled as "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed."
Who is the intended applicant audience?
The program is designed for independent investigators who want a structured, mentored, short-term experience to expand or retool their expertise at the intersection of BSS and STEM, specifically in mobile and wireless health technology and data analytics.
What kind of cross-training does NIH emphasize?
NIH emphasizes cross-disciplinary training that meaningfully bridges behavioral and social sciences with STEM approaches, reflecting the idea that successful mobile and wireless health research requires both strong technical capacity and a deep understanding of human behavior and real-world implementation.
Which two applicant backgrounds are specifically highlighted as priorities?
NIH is particularly interested in: (1) established behavioral and social science researchers seeking STEM-based skills (such as big data methods, computational modeling, engineering approaches, computer science, or mathematics), and (2) STEM-trained scientists who want to build competence in behavioral and social science theories, methods, and frameworks relevant to human behavior, health decision-making, adherence, engagement, and implementation.
Why is cross-disciplinary training considered important for mobile and wireless health research?
The announcement highlights that mobile and wireless health research can fail if it relies heavily on technology without understanding people, or relies heavily on behavioral theory without the technical ability to build, evaluate, or analyze digital systems and their data streams. This K18 mechanism is intended to close that gap.
What technology areas are within scope for this funding opportunity?
Eligible science areas include mobile and wireless health technologies and the data streams they generate. Examples listed include wearable devices and sensors, smartphone-based interventions and assessments, passive and active data capture, and integration of these data with electronic health records.
What types of data and analytics approaches are within scope?
The opportunity includes analytic strategies for complex digital health data, including data that are high-volume, high-velocity, or high-variety, as well as approaches involving advanced analytics.
Does the opportunity specify particular digital health tools?
Yes. The description mentions modern digital health tools such as wearable sensors, mobile applications, electronic health record data, and advanced analytics approaches.
Is the opportunity limited to a single disease area?
No single disease area limitation is stated in the information provided. The opportunity is framed around building capability in mobile and wireless health technology and analytics, and it can align with a range of NIH institute and center missions so long as the proposed cross-training fits the stated focus.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The information provided lists multiple CFDA numbers: 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, and 93.313.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
NIH lists a broad range of eligible applicant organizations, including various government entities (state, county, city/township, and special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled colleges and universities, and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized are also listed as eligible.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity is open to nonprofits that are 501(c)(3) and nonprofits that are not 501(c)(3).
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant list includes for-profit organizations that are not small businesses as well as small businesses.
Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included in the eligible applicant types.
Are institutions that serve underrepresented populations explicitly included?
Yes. The information provided explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), signaling broad participation and support for institutions serving populations often underrepresented in research.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly listed among additional eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among additional eligible applicants.
Are eligible federal agencies able to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly included in the list of additional eligible applicants.
Can foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply as the applicant organization?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed at all?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means a U.S.-based applicant can include certain project elements or collaborations outside the U.S. when appropriately justified and structured under NIH policy.
What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses the grant funding instrument type.
Which activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under education and health activity categories, reinforcing that it is intended to enhance researcher capability through mentored training.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The source data provided lists an original closing date of 2020-07-12.
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or number of expected awards?
No. The excerpt provided does not state an award ceiling or an expected number of awards.
What is the overall goal of the program for an investigator's future work?
The overall goal is to produce better integrated, more effective digital health research by enabling investigators to gain serious technical depth in mobile/wireless health technologies and analytics, or equally serious behavioral and social science depth for technology-driven work.
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| Physical Activity and Weight Control Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Effects on Biomarkers of Prognosis and Survival (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 893 Funding Number: PAR 18 893 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Prevention of HPV-related Cancers in HIV-infected individuals: United States-Latin American-Caribbean Clinical Trials Network: Partnership Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 18 018 Funding Number: RFA CA 18 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
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| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R21-Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 19 010 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 918 Funding Number: PAR 18 918 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Communication and Decision Making for Individuals with Inherited Cancer Syndromes (U01 Clinical Trial Optional). Apply for RFA CA 19 001 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Quantitative Imaging Tools and Methods for Cancer Response Assessment (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 919 Funding Number: PAR 18 919 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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