PAR-22-132 - Implementation Research to Reduce Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Burden in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and Tribal Nations During Critical Life Stages and Key Transition Periods (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

NOT-TW-22-006 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Implementation Research on Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Risk Factors among Low- and Middle-Income Country and Tribal Populations Living in City Environments.

Fogarty International Center (FIC)

The Fogarty International Center (FIC) and partner National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes and Centers (ICs) have reorganized NIH participation in the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) and intends to publish Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) that will utilize yearly Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) to invite applications for implementation research on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in World Bank-defined low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and marginalized Native American/Alaska Native populations in the United States.

NCDs account for 60% of deaths globally. Importantly, this global burden is felt even more deeply in LMICs and marginalized communities, where 80% of deaths from chronic diseases now occur. While NCDs account for the greatest loss of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) around the world, prevention and treatment sciences for these are relatively under-resourced in LMICs and Native American/Alaska Native communities where the burden is rising fastest. The GACD was formed in 2010 in response to this concern and supports research and associated training to accelerate and improve prevention and treatment of NCDs in under-resourced environments. The GACD represents 15 of the world’s largest funding agencies, including the NIH. Collectively, these agencies provide over 80% of global public funding for health research. The GACD collaboration is the first of its kind to specifically address non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Specifically, this GACD initiative supports implementation research to examine which interventions work, for whom, and under what circumstances. These projects may also address how interventions can be adapted and scaled up in ways that are feasible, acceptable, accessible, sustainable, and equitable in a given national context.

Implementation research is the study of methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies into routine health care and public health settings to improve impact on population health. This discipline is characterized by a variety of research designs and methodological approaches, partnerships with key stakeholder groups (e.g., patients, providers, organizations, systems, and/or communities), and the development and testing of ways to effectively and efficiently integrate evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies into routine health settings. Additional information and resources on implementation science can be found on the GACD website. Since 2010, the GACD partner agencies have supported 110 projects in the areas of hypertension, lung diseases, diabetes, mental health, cancer, and hypertension/diabetes intervention scale-up. GACD has supported 1,200 researchers at 300 institutions in 70 countries through investment of over US $220 million through its partner agencies. NIH has supported 11 GACD awards across these NCD domains and plans a new approach for cross-cutting, trans-NIH funding over the coming years. The NIH, in partnership with the GACD alliance, is pleased to announce the intention to increase the frequency of its grant opportunities to tackle the growing burden of NCDs in LMICs and indigenous communities. In the future, funding calls will be announced annually each fall or winter, beginning in 2021.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. Applications will be accepted from US and LMIC institutions only. Eligible LMIC institutions are defined by the World Bank at the following link: datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups

NIH partners plan to publish one or more FOAs and companion NOSIs associated with the GACD in Winter 2021 with expected application due dates in Spring 2022. Historically, the following NIH ICs have participated in GACD-associated FOAs and are anticipated to participate with upcoming funding opportunities: National Cancer Institute (NCI); National Eye Institute (NEI); 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 on Drug Abuse (NIDA); National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD); and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

These FOAs will utilize the R01 (Clinical Trial Optional) and R61/R33 (Clinical Trial Required) activity codes. Yearly NOSIs will be utilized to solicit applications in response to these FOAs for the upcoming call topics highlighted below.

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise in implementation research to consider applying through these upcoming FOAs and companion NOSIs.

In addition, collaborative investigations combining relevant expertise will be encouraged and these investigators should also begin considering applying for this application.

While to-date, GACD-related funding opportunities have supported disease-specific research, the next three funding calls will target common NCD risk factors and multi-morbidities, in alignment with the GACD Strategic Plan. All calls will focus on implementation research that includes hybrid effectiveness-implementation designs.

The 2021-2023 call topics are anticipated as follows:

2021: NCD prevention in adolescents, young adults and other vulnerable stages across the life course: implementation research focused on interventions that address common NCD risk factors, reduce health risk and/or enhance positive health and lifestyle behaviors in young people and in other vulnerable life course stages (e.g., early childhood, elderly), and develop/test implementation strategies to support the uptake and scale up of these interventions.

2022: Interventions in urban environments to reduce NCD risk: implementation research focused on individual, community, and/or structural level interventions that can reduce NCD risk and/or maximize the health-promoting potential of cities. Trans-disciplinary and multi-sectoral partnerships among the health, urban planning, and behavioral sciences will be encouraged.

2023: Integrated management of multi-morbidity: implementation research focused on integrating interventions in clinical, community, and public health settings for optimizing management and care for patients coping with multiple conditions.

All calls will enable the incorporation of digital innovation (e.g., AI, Big Data, telemedicine) into NCD implementation research.

The GACD alliance is committed to supporting research undertaken through genuine multi-sectoral partnership among high and low/middle-income country academics, policymakers, local authorities, for-profit institutions, non-profit organizations, and community groups. Where possible, research questions should be driven by local stakeholders and other intended beneficiaries of the research project.

While every effort will be made to move forward with the three call topics as described above, the NIH and GACD reserve the right to change one or more future call topics due to unforeseen circumstances.