Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 151

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 151

The Chronic Condition Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: PA 18 151) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to support research that helps children and adolescents living with chronic health conditions manage their day-to-day care more effectively and, as a result, improve their 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 a continuous, often lifelong responsibility that affects not only the child but also parents, caregivers, and the broader systems that surround the family. Because of that reality, the FOA seeks studies that move beyond narrow or purely educational approaches and instead build a richer understanding of what actually drives successful self-management across childhood and adolescence.

A major emphasis of this FOA is the expectation that applicants will treat self-management as a multi-factor, real-world behavior shaped by many interacting influences. NIH is encouraging research that accounts for individual differences among children and adolescents, including developmental stage, skills, and personal characteristics that may affect adherence and daily decision-making. It also explicitly calls attention to biological and psychological factors, recognizing that symptoms, disease burden, cognition, emotional health, stress, motivation, and mental health conditions can all influence whether self-management strategies are realistic, sustainable, and effective. This framing supports proposals that measure and address underlying mechanisms rather than focusing only on outcomes like appointment attendance or medication use.

The FOA also highlights the family and sociocultural context as essential to pediatric self-management. Children rarely manage chronic conditions in isolation, especially younger children, and even adolescents often rely on adults for logistics, finances, transportation, and emotional support. For that reason, competitive projects may examine how caregiver involvement, parenting practices, household routines, family stress, health literacy, language, cultural beliefs, and stigma shape self-management behaviors and treatment engagement. In the same vein, NIH signals interest in family-community dynamics, which can include school supports, peer relationships, community resources, and social determinants of health that either reinforce or undermine a family s ability to maintain consistent care routines.

Another key component is the role of the healthcare system itself. The FOA encourages research that considers how clinical workflows, care coordination, access barriers, communication quality, and the structure of pediatric to adult care transitions affect self-management and quality of life. This creates space for studies that look at how systems-level features interact with family and individual factors, such as whether certain care models improve problem solving, shared decision-making, or sustained engagement over time. The inclusion of technological advances as a topic area also signals receptiveness to well-justified digital or device-enabled approaches, such as telehealth supports, remote monitoring, mobile apps, text-based coaching, decision aids, or other tools that can reduce burden or improve adherence, as long as the research is grounded in the lived realities of children and families.

The activity category listed for the program is Education and Health, and the funding instrument is an R01 research project grant, with clinical trials listed as optional. In practice, that means applicants may propose a clinical trial if it is appropriate to the research question, but they are not required to do so. Projects could include observational, mechanistic, or intervention research, provided the overall goal is to generate evidence that can improve self-management capacity and quality of life for pediatric populations with chronic conditions. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 93.361, and the opportunity was created on 2017-11-08, with an original closing date shown as 2020-05-07 in the source information provided.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can contribute to pediatric chronic disease research. 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; and public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities. Tribal entities are also included, both federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The announcement allows nonprofit organizations, whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as well as for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. In addition, the FOA explicitly names other 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-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth reflects an intent to attract diverse research teams and settings, including those that serve populations disproportionately affected by chronic disease burden and barriers to consistent care.

Overall, this NIH opportunity is aimed at advancing practical, evidence-based ways to help children and adolescents build and sustain the skills, supports, and systems they need to manage chronic conditions over time. It encourages research that is developmentally informed, family-aware, culturally and contextually grounded, and attentive to how healthcare delivery and technology can either help or hinder real-life self-management.

• 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 (R01 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 2017-11-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-07. (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.

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