Key Dates

Related Announcements

• NOT-AA-24-009 - Notice of Participation of the NIAAA in NOSI: Analysis of Existing Linked Datasets to Understand the Relationship between Housing Program Participation and Risk for Chronic Diseases and Other Conditions (R01-Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).  See NOFO PA-20-185.

Issued by

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Office of AIDS Research (OAR)

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers. The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers.

Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Disease Prevention (ODP)

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)

Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)

Purpose

This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) expresses the interest of the participating Institutes and Offices in the evaluation of the effects of housing program participation on risk for chronic diseases and conditions within the missions of the participating Institutes and Offices. Housing programs or policies of interest may be supported by federal, state, or local-level agencies or organizations. Applications in response to this NOSI must propose to evaluate existing datasets with housing program participation data that can be administratively linked to health outcome data. Projects that propose to evaluate longitudinal health outcomes are particularly encouraged.   

Background

Access to affordable, high-quality housing is a key social determinant of health (SDOH) and therefore represents a critical non-medical factor that can affect a wide-range of health and quality-of-life outcomes and health risks. Historical and contemporary housing-related policies in the United States, including segregation, discrimination and redlining has had long-term adverse consequences, such as inequitable distribution of resources and housing insecurity, particularly among communities that have been marginalized and stigmatized, and is a known contributor to health disparities. Housing insecurity, which encompasses challenges related to a lack of secure shelter, such as having trouble paying rent, overcrowding, and moving frequently, is also often associated with poor housing quality, high residential turnover, or homelessness. In addition, households experiencing housing insecurity are more likely to live in low-resourced, high poverty neighborhoods with high exposure to environmental hazards, lower quality schools and educational programs, lower access to healthy and affordable food, lack of dependable transportation, higher levels of violence and crime, a lack of safe green space and resources for physical activity, and reduced access to healthcare. Land use, public housing, and neighborhood development also influence housing choice and can contribute to segregation and inequitable access to resources needed to engage in and sustain healthy behaviors.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as state and local-level agencies and organizations, support a range of programs and policies designed to address housing insecurity and reverse neighborhood disinvestment (https://www.hud.gov/topics). The efforts include direct provision of government-supported public housing, vouchers for rental housing, and emergency or short-term rental assistance programs. Therefore, some healthcare programs have begun to screen for housing insecurity and provide referrals to housing programs and resources.

Research evidence suggests that programs designed to reduce housing insecurity are associated with improvements in educational and socioeconomic (employment and household earnings) outcomes, reductions in neighborhood violence, and improvements in respiratory outcomes. However, more research is needed to evaluate the effects of housing programs on other health conditions, particularly chronic diseases or conditions and their underlying risk factors and related health behaviors across the lifespan. More research is also needed to determine how housing programs or policies impact health-related outcomes in diverse U.S. populations and across geographic locations such as rural areas. The combined effects of participation in housing-related programs in addition to other social services programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or other programs, on health outcomes are also understudied.

In the United States, opportunities exist to connect data on housing program participation to health-related information through controlled access data source(s) with administrative linkages across diverse federal, state, and local governments, and other large healthcare organizations. For example, HUD maintains housing program participation data which can be linked to health and other outcomes data, including Medicare and Medicaid data. Information about examples of federal data sources that can be linked and analyzed for housing and health outcomes is available at HUD’s Housing and Health Data Dashboard | HUD USER. Other data sources may be available across other Federal agencies and at the state, local, and/or healthcare system or payor level. Some NIH-funded clinical studies may also have relevant datasets. Note that there may be costs and detailed Agency/organizational approval procedures associated with accessing relevant datasets.

This NOSI invites applications proposing to conduct secondary analyses to evaluate the health effects of participation in housing-related programs using existing administratively linked datasets. Applicants may use data science, mixed methods, and other computational approaches to analyze these data. Applicants are encouraged to examine multi-level constructs that include individual and contextual factors such as social determinants of health, (e.g., neighborhood characteristics, food insecurity, transportation, and healthcare access, etc.) as well as participation in other social services/programs to examine how these factors may interact to impact prevention, onset and progression, and/or treatment of chronic disease and other health conditions. Comorbidities involving chronic diseases, inclusive of multiple co-morbidities, may also be assessed.

Evaluation of longitudinal health outcomes in populations experiencing or at risk for health disparities are of particular interest. Outcomes across the lifespan and for populations that experience health disparities are of particular interest. Projects to understand the pathways through which participation in housing programs in combination with other social services programs or policies addressing diverse SDOHs are also strongly encouraged. Applications proposing to collect new data would not be responsive to this NOSI.

Examples of research that would be responsive to this NOSI include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Examine how housing-focused programs or interventions (e.g., mobility services, emergency rental assistance, eviction prevention, or housing first programs) at the Federal, state, local, and/or other organizational level impact health outcomes, including both intended or unintended consequences, at the individual, community, population, and other levels;
• Evaluate how participation in housing-focused programs alone or in combination with other social services programs affects risk or prevention of chronic diseases, other health outcomes, and health care utilization;
• Assess the effects of multi-level programs, such as neighborhood stabilization, neighborhood revitalization, or other neighborhood and environmental programs, on risk for chronic diseases and health conditions during critical periods, including pregnancy, early childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, or older adulthood;
• Evaluate how changes in federal, state and/or local policies relate to housing access, stability, and neighborhood environments affect residential displacement, community stability, and subsequent health outcomes in populations at risk for chronic diseases and conditions;
• Assess data from federal, state or locally supported randomized controlled trials addressing housing instability or homelessness to understand their effect(s) on long-term health outcomes.
• Explore how programs designed to enhance housing availability as well as programs to enhance accessibility (i.e., housing that includes accessibility features such as grab-bars, extra-wide hallways, or entry-level bedrooms) impact patients with specific medical or treatment needs that are common to many diseases and chronic conditions, for example, impaired mobility/ambulation, increased fall risk, and need for home treatments.

Specific Interests of Participating Institutes and Offices:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): NIDDK is interested in applications focused on understanding how programs addressing housing insecurity and intersecting social determinants of health contribute to the development, progression and/or management of diseases and conditions within its mission (diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutritional disorders, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases). NIDDK is particularly interested in health outcomes among health disparity populations and other understudied groups with or at risk for these diseases across the lifespan. More details on NIDDK health disparities and health equity research recommendations and opportunities can be found in the NIDDK Pathways to Health for All report. NIDDK has many research areas within its mission, but not all research related to relevant diseases may be appropriate for NIDDK. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIDDK staff prior to submission to determine whether the proposed project is within the goals and mission of the Institute.

National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI is interested in applications that address topics related to the role of housing across the cancer control continuum.  Examples include:

• Proposals using the SEER-Medicare Housing Assistance Data: https://healthcaredelivery.cancer.gov/seermedicare/aboutdata/housing.html
• Studies of how housing and neighborhood factors influence cancer related exposures. This could involve studies of carcinogens such as components of air pollution or chemical carcinogens as well as aspects of the housing environment influencing behaviors related to cancer risk, e.g., access to healthy food or amenities for physical activity. 
• Projects addressing the social and safety environment as potential influences on cancer related health behaviors. 
• Studies of how location, distance, and transit options influence initiation and completion of cancer screening and treatment. 
• Research on how financial aspects of housing influence access, initiation, and completion of cancer care. Financial aspects of housing relevant to care might include housing instability, excessive housing costs, inadequate housing, and unwanted moves.
• Analyses of the role of housing in cancer survivorship and palliative care.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): NHLBI is interested in applications that evaluate whether and how participation in programs addressing housing insecurity influences the prevention, management, treatment of heart, lung blood, and sleep related diseases and conditions. Applications should use complex data science, mixed methods, machine learning, and other computational approaches to analyze existing housing and health-related data available through data linkages sponsored by federal, state, local governments, and/or other organizations. NHLBI is particularly interested in research that focus on addressing health disparities and among populations across the lifespan – ranging from children to older adults. When possible, applicants are encouraged to leverage NHLBI-funded datasets that are available through BioLINCC. Applicants are encouraged to email the scientific contact for this NOSI to discuss their application.

National Institute of Aging (NIA): NIA is interested in midlife exposures with an effect on later-life health (including but not limited to Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) and aging. Housing is a critical macro-social factor that affects health throughout the life course. While considerable research on housing and health has taken place, relatively little of it has focused on adults over 65 or how housing affordability and stability – closely tied to housing insecurity – affect health. The NIA is particularly interested in applications that can address these two gaps in what is known about how housing affects health. 

There are several emerging issues that highlight the importance of housing insecurity for health across the life course, particularly older adults: the increasing mean age of un-housed individuals across the U.S.; individuals over 50 becoming homeless for the first time; and the unique challenges of aging in place, particularly for adults with disabilities or cognitive challenges.  

In developing their applications, applicants should also consider applying innovative methods and research designs to propose applications addressing these gaps. Applications that can examine causality are of interest as these types of projects can help to identify mechanisms that can be targeted for future intervention. Further, the adverse effects of housing on health are felt inequitably. NIA is interested in supporting applications that apply a health inequity lens. To that end, it may be worthwhile to consider comparisons across groups differentially affected by housing insecurity (e.g., rural vs. urban residents, racial/ethnic differences, varying family structures). The NIA Health Disparities Research Framework will also be helpful in framing such comparisons.  

Other helpful resources for applicants include the many data resources offered by NIA, such as those highlighted in the Gateway to Global Aging, as well as others accessible from the Data Resources for Behavioral and Social Research on Aging.  

Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• The unique challenges of aging in place, particularly for adults with disabilities, cognitive challenges, or who are kinless or living alone;
• Research projects that focus on rural areas;
• Projects with a focus on older adults with a history of criminal penal system involvement & housing stability;
• Projects that examine the extent to which homes are equipped for older adults’ needs in the face of extreme weather and disasters;
• Programs that address housing disrepair and their effects on health and aging; and
• The effect of the low-income housing tax credit and health outcomes.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): The NICHD mission is to lead research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. The NICHD's broad and diverse research portfolio includes research related to conception and pregnancy; typical and atypical development in childhood; childhood trauma, injury, and critical illness; the transition from adolescence to adulthood; reproductive health; rehabilitation; intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities; and population dynamics across the lifespan.

In response to this NOSI, topics of interest to NICHD include, but are not limited to, research on how housing insecurity, instability, and program participation affect:

• Maternal and child health and well-being generally;
• Genetic and other biological mechanisms that influence maternal and child health;
• Mortality and morbidity risks of infants, children, adolescents, young and middle age adults;
• Family formation and fertility;
• Health of sexual and gender minority youth;
• Health outcomes during pregnancy and in early childhood that could affect health behaviors and chronic conditions later in life;
• Experiences of and exposure to trauma and/or traumatic events; and
• Emergency medical response and services to children across the care continuum.

Applicants are also encouraged to evaluate programmatic interventions that can prevent or ameliorate biological and health problems in women and children using natural experiments and quasi-experimental designs. Applications should address disparities and social determinants that align with housing conditions and neighborhood ecosystems to affect health such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual/gender minority status, disability status, peer and social networks, poverty and economic hardship, and interpersonal and structural stigma and discrimination. When possible, applicants should leverage NICHD-funded datasets that are available through Data Sharing for Demographic Research (DSDR) and NICHD’s Data and Specimen Hub (DASH), for instance Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), and the Future of Families and Child Well Being study. 

Applications to NICHD that address the mission and priorities of other institutes that are not participating in this NOSI will not be prioritized for funding by NICHD. Applicants are encouraged to contact NICHD staff early in the development of the application to better understand how it may fit NICHD’s research priorities.

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD): The mission of the NIMHD is to lead scientific research to improve minority health and reduce health disparities. NIMHD supports the study of many aspects of minority health and health disparities from biological and population sciences to clinical, behavioral, and translational research, as well as research on health care services, health systems and workforce development. NIMHD focuses on the full continuum factors that contribute to health disparities and their interrelations.

Projects must include a focus on one or more of the following NIH-designated populations that experience health disparities in the United States: racial and/or ethnic minority populations, less privileged socioeconomic status (SES), underserved rural populations, persons with disabilities, and sexual and gender minorities (SGM) groups. Projects focused on rural populations, SGM groups, and people with disabilities are encouraged to examine intersections with of race and/or ethnicity, and SES.

Comparison groups/populations may also be included as appropriate for the research questions posed. NIMHD encourages projects that examine multiple domains of influence (e.g., biological, behavioral, sociocultural, environmental, physical environment, health system) and multiple levels of influence (e.g., individual, interpersonal, family, peer group, community, societal) to understand and address health disparities (see the NIMHD Research Framework, https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/overview/research-framework.html, for more information). In response to this NOSI, topics of interest to NIMHD include, but are not limited to:

• Studies that address care seeking behaviors for youth and young adults experiencing unstable housing. This may include youth with intersecting identities of race, sex, and gender.
• Studies that assess the effectiveness of new or existing housing or other policies and programs. This may include the impact these programs and policies may have on improving social and clinical outcomes, and in preventing families from making harmful trade-offs that affect their health.
• Studies at the intersection of race, sex, gender, and other chronic conditions for populations at greater risk for experiencing adverse conditions in relation to housing.
• Studies that evaluate the impact of events, policies, or housing initiatives in relation to care seeking and treatment behaviors of populations that experience health disparities (i.e., natural experiments).
• Studies that address health-related social factors and social determinants that affect mental and physical health outcomes, such as housing conditions, environmental, and neighborhood factors. Examples may include exposure to overcrowding, toxins, unsafe housing, and other physical hazards, stressors due to the effects of unaffordable housing, unstable housing, homelessness, etc. 

Applications to NIMHD that address the mission and priorities of other institutes that are not participating in this NOSI will not be prioritized for funding by NIMHD. Applicants are encouraged to contact NIMHD staff early in the development of the application to better understand how it may fit NIMHD’s research priorities.

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR): NINR supports research aligned with our mission and strategic priorities, conducted by scientists from any discipline. NINR discovers solutions to health challenges through the lenses of health equity, social determinants of health, population and community health, prevention and health promotion, and systems and models of care. Drawing on the strengths of nursing’s holistic, contextualized perspective, core values, and broad reach, NINR funds multilevel and cross-sectoral research that examines the factors that impact health across the many settings in which nurses practice, including homes, schools, workplaces, clinics, justice settings, and the community.

Applicants are encouraged to contact NINR program staff early in the development of an application for funding in an effort to discuss alignment with the NINR mission and strategic priorities.

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR): OBSSR is part of the Office of the Director of NIH and works in partnership with the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) to ensure that behavioral and social sciences research is well integrated into the NIH research enterprise. In alignment with its 2024 strategic priorities, OBSSR is interested in providing co-funding support for project(s) funded under this NOSI that focus on the following: housing as it may be related to Behavior Change, Maintenance, and Mechanisms of impact; housing as it may be related to social connection and health; and housing as a method to advance multi-level research.

The OBSSR does not accept assignment of applications or manage awards that are funded. Please contact one of the participating ICs listed in this announcement for inquiries regarding the suitability of the proposed project for the FOA and the IC's research portfolio.

Office of Disease Prevention (ODP): The ODP is the lead office at the NIH responsible for assessing, facilitating, and stimulating research in disease prevention. In partnership with the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers, the ODP strives to increase the scope, quality, dissemination, and impact of NIH-supported prevention research. The ODP provides co-funding support for research that has strong implications for disease and injury prevention, health equity, and research that includes innovative and appropriate research design, measurements, and analysis methods. For this NOSI, ODP is interested in supporting research that evaluates the effect of housing interventions and policies on risk and protective factors for the leading causes of disease and health conditions across the lifespan. 

The ODP does not award grants; therefore, applications must be relevant to the objectives of at least one of the participating NIH ICs listed in this announcement. The ODP only accepts co-funding requests from NIH ICs. For questions regarding IC research and/or funding priorities, be sure to contact the relevant IC Scientific/Research Contact(s) named in this NOSI. For additional information about ODP, please refer to the ODP Strategic Plan or visit prevention.nih.gov. 

Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH): ORWH is part of the Office of the Director, NIH, and works with the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers to advance rigorous research of relevance to the health of women. ORWH does not award grants but co-funds women’s health-related applications and research projects that have received an award from one of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) listed in the announcement. Applications seeking ORWH co-funding should ensure that the proposed work is aligned with at least one goal and objective outlined in the 2024 – 2028 NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Research on the Health of Women (https://www.nih.gov/women/strategicplan). ORWH is particularly interested in intersectional approaches and projects exploring upstream causes of health disparities rooted in structural sexism, structural racism, and other social determinants of health.

The ORWF does not accept assignment of applications or manage awards that are funded. Please contact one of the participating ICs listed in this announcement for inquiries regarding the suitability of the proposed project for the FOA and the IC's research portfolio.

Office of AIDS Research (OAR): OAR is part of the NIH Office of the Director and works in partnership with the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices in its coordination of the NIH HIV Research Program and to ensure that HIV/AIDS research is aligned with the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research. OAR does not award grants but seeks to stimulate and promote HIV/AIDS research that aligns with at least one of the strategic goals and objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan. Please contact the relevant ICO Scientific/Research Contact(s) listed with any questions regarding ICO research priorities and funding. 

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after October 7, 2024, and subsequent receipt dates through September 8, 2027.

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) or any reissues of this announcement through the expiration date of this notice.

• PA-20-185 NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the notice of funding opportunity used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-DK-24-029” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to the contacts in Section VII of the listed notice of funding opportunity with the following additions/substitutions:

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Mary Evans, Ph.D.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Telephone: 301-594-4578
Email: [email protected]

(for Healthcare Delivery grants)
Amy Davidoff, Ph.D., M.S.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-5474
Email: [email protected]

(for other grants)
David Berrigan, PhD, MPH
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6752
Email: [email protected]

Alison G.M. Brown, PhD, MS, RDN
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Telephone: (301) 435-0583
Email: [email protected]

Kriti Jain, MSPH, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Phone: 301-594-9024
Email: [email protected]

Randy Capps, PhD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-827-5423
Email: [email protected]

Yewande A. Oladeinde, PhD
NIMHD - NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
Phone: 301-402-1366
E-mail: [email protected]

Julia Seay, PhD
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Telephone: 240-328-4512
Email: [email protected]

Geetanjali Bansal, MSc, PhD - Sr. Science Advisor
NIH Office of AIDS Research- HHS/NIH/OD/DPCPSI
Phone: 240-669-5073
E-mail: [email protected]

Jacqueline Lloyd, PhD, MSW
Senior Advisor for Disease Prevention
Office of Disease Prevention (ODP)
Phone: 301-827-5559
E-mail: [email protected]

Elizabeth Anne Barr, PhD.
ORWH - Office of Research on Women's Health
Phone: 301.402.7895
E-mail: [email protected]

Sarika Parasuraman, Ph.D.
National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Phone: 301-435-5482
E-mail: [email protected]

Financial/Grants Management Contacts

Crystal Wolfrey
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Telephone: 240-276-6277
Email: [email protected]

Joseph Kennard Hemby
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Phone: (301) 451-3933
E-mail: [email protected]

Ryan Blakeney
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Phone: 301-451-9802
Email: [email protected]

Margaret Young
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-642-4552
Email: [email protected]

Priscilla Grant
NIMHD - NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
Phone: 301-594-8412
E-mail: [email protected]

Susan A. Toy
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Telephone: 202-725-8503
Email: [email protected]

Judy Fox
National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Phone: 301-443-4704
E-mail: [email protected]