Strategies to Provide Culturally Tailored Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Seriously Ill American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 058

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 058

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity PAR 19 058, titled "Strategies to Provide Culturally Tailored Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Seriously Ill American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)," supports early-stage, exploratory research aimed at improving palliative and end-of-life care for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people with advanced illness. The central goal is to expand both the quality and the real-world use of evidence-based interventions in end-of-life and palliative care (often shortened to EOLPC), with a clear emphasis on approaches that are culturally tailored to AI/AN individuals, their families, and their communities. In practice, this means the FOA is looking for projects that do more than prove an intervention works in theory; it is focused on strategies that can be accepted, implemented, and sustained in settings that serve AI/AN populations, while respecting community values, beliefs, and care preferences.

This opportunity uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for pilot, feasibility, or developmental studies that can generate the groundwork for larger future projects. Clinical trials are optional under this FOA, so applicants can propose either clinical trial or non-trial research, as long as it is aligned with the objective of increasing effective, evidence-based palliative and end-of-life care for AI/AN communities. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under the Health and Education activity areas, and it is listed under CFDA 93.361. The stated award ceiling is $200,000, signaling that projects should be well-scoped and targeted, often emphasizing development, adaptation, feasibility testing, or early effectiveness signals rather than large, multi-site definitive trials.

A key theme of the FOA is cultural tailoring. Applicants are expected to address the reality that palliative and end-of-life care intersects with culture, family systems, spiritual beliefs, communication norms, and community structures. The intent is to support research that thoughtfully adapts or implements proven palliative care interventions so they fit AI/AN contexts, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model developed in other populations or health systems. This could include studying ways to improve access to palliative care, strengthen communication about goals of care, increase symptom management support, integrate community or traditional supports when appropriate, or reduce barriers that prevent seriously ill AI/AN individuals and families from benefiting from services that are already known to help. The FOA also explicitly frames the target as not only individuals with advanced illness, but also their families and broader communities, recognizing that decision-making and caregiving often involve more than the patient alone.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, reflecting NIH interest in partnerships and community-engaged research capacity. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. It also includes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and an "other" category that allows additional entities as defined by NIH policy. The FOA further highlights 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, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities. This wide eligibility range is consistent with the program's emphasis on reaching communities through trusted local organizations and institutions and supporting research in diverse service settings.

From the administrative details provided, the opportunity was created on 2018-11-07 and listed an original closing date of 2022-01-07. The expected number of awards is not specified in the supplied data. Overall, PAR 19 058 is best understood as an NIH-supported pathway for researchers, tribal entities, community organizations, and institutions to develop and test culturally grounded strategies that make high-quality palliative and end-of-life care more accessible, acceptable, and effective for AI/AN people facing serious illness, while generating evidence that can guide broader adoption of successful approaches.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategies to Provide Culturally Tailored Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Seriously Ill American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.361.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-11-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-07. (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 $200,000.00 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 PAR 19 058

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