Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 21 191

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 191

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-191) supports research aimed at reducing firearm-related injuries and deaths in the United States. The opportunity is grounded in the reality that close to 40,000 people in the U.S. die each year from firearm-related causes, with the majority of deaths attributed to suicide (about 60 percent) and a large share to homicide (about 37 percent). Beyond fatalities, NIH highlights that many more people experience non-fatal firearm injuries, including both intentional and unintentional incidents, underscoring a broad public health burden that extends well past mortality statistics.

This program stems from direction and funding included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), where accompanying legislative language recommended that NIH take a comprehensive approach to studying both the underlying causes of firearm injury and the evidence-based ways to prevent it. Importantly, the scope of work is framed within specific legislative mandates and limitations on NIH funding, referenced in NIH notices NOT-OD-21-058 and NOT-OD-21-056. Within those boundaries, NIH is encouraging research that can build practical, evidence-driven knowledge about why firearm injuries occur, who is most at risk, and what strategies can reliably prevent harm.

The research priorities emphasized in the announcement fall into several connected areas. First, NIH seeks studies that improve understanding of the determinants of firearm injury, meaning the individual, social, environmental, and systemic factors that increase or decrease risk. Second, the opportunity prioritizes research that improves identification of people at risk of firearm injury, explicitly including both potential victims and potential perpetrators, reflecting an interest in prevention strategies that address multiple pathways to harm. Third, NIH encourages the development and early testing (piloting) of innovative interventions designed to prevent firearm injury and mortality, which can include new approaches in clinical, community, educational, or policy-adjacent settings as long as they fit NIH rules. Fourth, there is a strong implementation focus: applicants are encouraged to study how to improve the delivery, uptake, and real-world impact of existing evidence-based interventions, recognizing that proven strategies do not automatically translate into consistent practice or equitable outcomes.

Mechanistically, the funding uses an R21/R33 structure and is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional." In general terms, that means proposals may include a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the research question, but a clinical trial is not required. The R21/R33 design is commonly used to support exploratory or early-stage work (R21) that can transition into a second phase (R33) if initial milestones are met, making it a fit for projects that begin with feasibility testing, intervention refinement, or proof-of-concept and then expand into more rigorous evaluation.

Eligibility is broad and spans many types of U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other qualifying entities. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the opportunity clearly restricts foreign involvement in the application structure. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. In other words, this is intended to be carried out through U.S.-based applicant organizations without foreign components.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under NIH and falls under broad public service areas including education, health, and social services. It lists multiple CFDA numbers (93.213, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.313, 93.865, 93.866), reflecting that multiple NIH institutes or program lines may be involved in supporting or administering related research areas. The original closing date shown is April 30, 2021, and the source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement or NIH institute guidance for budget expectations and programmatic fit.

Overall, the grant opportunity is designed to grow the evidence base around firearm injury and mortality prevention by supporting studies that clarify risk and protective factors, improve risk identification for both victims and perpetrators, create and pilot new preventive interventions, and strengthen how proven interventions are implemented in real-world settings, all while operating within NIH statutory and policy constraints.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention Research (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.313, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-30. (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.

Apply for PAR 21 191

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: