Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R21) | PA 17 116

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 116

The Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R21) funding opportunity (PA 17-116) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant designed to support exploratory and developmental research aimed at improving how children and adolescents manage chronic health conditions, with the larger goal of enhancing day-to-day functioning and overall quality of life. The central idea behind the announcement is that chronic disease management is not a short-term task or a one-time intervention; it is an ongoing, often lifelong responsibility that children gradually assume alongside their families and caregivers. Because self-management affects medication adherence, symptom monitoring, lifestyle adjustments, school participation, emotional well-being, and family routines, the FOA encourages early-stage studies that can generate new insights, pilot data, or promising approaches that may later be scaled or tested in larger trials.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on the many interacting influences that shape self-management in real life. Rather than treating self-management as purely an individual behavior, the FOA explicitly encourages applicants to account for factors such as individual differences and developmental stage, biological and psychological contributors (for example, stress responses, cognition, mental health, and coping), the role of families and caregivers, and the broader sociocultural context that can affect beliefs, access to resources, communication, and trust. It also highlights the importance of looking at how families interact with community settings like schools and youth organizations, and how healthcare system factors (such as care coordination, provider communication, clinic workflows, and continuity of care) can either support or undermine a child or teenager trying to manage a condition over time. In addition, the announcement calls attention to technological advances and environmental influences, leaving room for research that explores how tools like digital health supports, remote monitoring, apps, or other technologies can help, as well as how neighborhood, housing, transportation, or environmental stressors may impact the feasibility of self-management.

The mechanism for this opportunity is the NIH R21, which is typically used for projects that are exploratory in nature and may involve innovative concepts, early feasibility work, or pilot testing. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, signaling that awards are intended to fund smaller, focused projects that can establish proof of concept, refine intervention components, develop measures, test recruitment and retention strategies, or generate preliminary evidence needed for a subsequent larger study. The activity categories connected to the funding include education and health, reflecting the reality that pediatric chronic condition management often spans clinical care, school settings, and family education.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, allowing applications from many types of organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects NIH interest in attracting ideas and partnerships from diverse settings, including communities that may face distinct barriers to chronic condition self-management and related health outcomes.

Key administrative details included with the opportunity identify NIH as the sponsoring agency, list the CFDA number as 93.361, and note an original closing date of January 24, 2018, with the FOA created on January 9, 2017. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an invitation to develop and test new, practical approaches for helping children and adolescents live better with chronic conditions by strengthening self-management in ways that reflect the complexity of families, communities, healthcare systems, culture, technology, and the environments where young people grow up.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R21)" 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 2017-01-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (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.

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