Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and organizations conducting dissemination and implementation science studies. Eligible applicants include universities, colleges, federal agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations, tribal institutions, and foreign entities. Research must focus on identifying or testing strategies to improve adoption, adaptation, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions, practices, or policies in health settings. All work must align with the mission of a National Institute or Center at NIH.
Applicants can study barriers to implementation, benefits of de-implementation, or advance D&I research methods and measures. Clinical trial components are not allowed under this specific funding mechanism. Projects should generate actionable knowledge for improving health practice and policy.
This grant is for research institutions and organizations conducting dissemination and implementation science studies. Eligible applicants include universities, colleges, federal agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations, tribal institutions, and foreign entities. Research must focus on identifying or testing strategies to improve adoption, adaptation, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions, practices, or policies in health settings. All work must align with the mission of a National Institute or Center at NIH.
Applicants can study barriers to implementation, benefits of de-implementation, or advance D&I research methods and measures. Clinical trial components are not allowed under this specific funding mechanism. Projects should generate actionable knowledge for improving health practice and policy.
Program description
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support studies that will identify, develop, and/or test strategies for overcoming barriers to the adoption, adaptation, integration, scale-up, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions, practices, programs, tools, treatments, guidelines, and policies. Conversely, there is a benefit in understanding circumstances that create a need to stop or reduce (de-implement) the use of practices that are ineffective, unproven, low-value, or harmful. In addition, studies to advance dissemination and implementation research methods and measures are encouraged. All applications must be within the scope of the mission of one of the Institutes/Centers listed above.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Faith-based Organization
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- TCU (Tribal Colleges)
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for research institutions and organizations conducting dissemination and implementation science studies. Eligible applicants include universities, colleges, federal agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations, tribal institutions, and foreign entities. Research must focus on identifying or testing strategies to improve adoption, adaptation, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions, practices, or policies in health settings. All work must align with the mission of a National Institute or Center at NIH.
Applicants can study barriers to implementation, benefits of de-implementation, or advance D&I research methods and measures. Clinical trial components are not allowed under this specific funding mechanism. Projects should generate actionable knowledge for improving health practice and policy.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative (research strategy)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketch(es)
- Letters of Commitment from partner organizations
- Institutional Review Board approval documentation (if human subjects involved)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.399 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$22,629,848
-
$20,187,190
-
$19,625,661
-
$19,227,026
-
$18,138,327
-
$17,827,646
-
$17,614,587
-
$16,535,118
-
$16,126,587
-
$14,347,054
Top States by Funding
- NY 7 awards $57.6M
- SC 3 awards $46.6M
- DE 3 awards $43.2M
- IL 3 awards $38.4M
- WI 3 awards $37.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Can clinical trials be included in this grant?
No. This R03 mechanism explicitly excludes clinical trial research components.
Who is eligible to apply?
Universities, colleges, federal agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations, HBCUs, tribal institutions, and foreign entities may apply if their work aligns with an NIH Institute or Center mission.
What types of research are supported?
Studies identifying barriers to implementation, testing implementation strategies, advancing D&I methods, or examining de-implementation of ineffective practices are supported.
Is there cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant mechanism.
What is the typical timeline?
The deadline is January 7, 2028. Award amounts and project duration vary based on application scope and reviewer assessment.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your research question explicitly with the mission of a specific NIH Institute or Center. This is a hard requirement.
- Focus your narrative on removing barriers to real-world adoption of evidence-based practices, not just testing interventions in controlled settings.
- Use a recognized implementation science framework to structure your study design and outcomes.
- Budget realistic costs for dissemination and implementation activities, not just research staff time.
- Demonstrate preliminary data showing the specific barrier or implementation challenge your project addresses.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when research is framed as a clinical trial or focuses on efficacy testing rather than implementation strategy testing. Weak alignment with a specific NIH Institute or Center mission significantly reduces competitiveness. Insufficient detail on implementation science methods or unclear dissemination plans are frequent reviewer criticisms.
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