Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 089
The grant opportunity titled "Multidisciplinary Research in Vulvodynia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-18-089) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary research grant designed to push forward scientific understanding of vulvodynia, defined here as chronic vulvar pain of unknown cause. The core purpose of the announcement is to signal NIH's ongoing priority and sustained interest in vulvodynia as an important area within its research portfolio, and to invite strong, innovative R01 applications that can move the field toward clearer causes, better prevention strategies, improved diagnostic approaches, and more effective treatments. While clinical trials are not required, they are allowed under this announcement, giving applicants flexibility to propose either basic, translational, clinical, or mixed research designs as long as the work is relevant and scientifically justified.
A central theme of the FOA is the expectation that progress in vulvodynia will benefit from multidisciplinary methods and interdisciplinary teams. In practice, that means NIH is explicitly encouraging applications that bring together complementary expertise across fields such as gynecology, pain medicine, neuroscience, immunology, infectious disease, dermatology, pelvic floor and musculoskeletal research, urology, psychology and behavioral health, epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics and genomics, microbiome science, and health services research. The emphasis on team science reflects the reality that vulvodynia is often complex and multifactorial, with potential biological, neurologic, inflammatory, hormonal, musculoskeletal, psychosocial, and environmental contributors, and that meaningful advances may require studies that integrate multiple levels of evidence rather than relying on a single disciplinary lens.
In terms of research scope, the FOA highlights four broad areas: etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutics. Etiology-focused projects might aim to clarify underlying mechanisms, risk factors, or disease subtypes, including work that distinguishes different clinical presentations and patient trajectories. Prevention research could involve identifying modifiable risk factors, early indicators, or protective interventions, potentially informed by longitudinal studies or population-based approaches. Diagnostic research may include improving clinical phenotyping, developing or validating assessment tools, identifying biomarkers, or establishing clearer criteria that help separate vulvodynia from other conditions with overlapping symptoms. Therapeutics research can include developing, refining, or testing treatments, which may range from pharmacologic approaches and device-based interventions to behavioral therapies, physical therapy, multimodal pain management strategies, or integrated care models; because the FOA is "Clinical Trial Optional," applicants can propose intervention studies when appropriate, but are not limited to them.
Eligibility for this opportunity is broad, spanning many organizational types and reflecting NIH's interest in drawing proposals from diverse settings. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city or township, special district), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows applications from public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. In addition, the announcement explicitly notes other eligible applicant categories 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 (AANAPISIs). Faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are also included, signaling that NIH is open to a wide range of institutional partners and research environments, including international collaboration where it strengthens the science.
From an administrative standpoint, this is an NIH grant using the R01 mechanism, categorized under Health, Income Security and Social Services, with CFDA numbers 93.313 and 93.865. The FOA record indicates a creation date of 2017-11-06 and lists an original closing date of 2019-05-07, meaning the specific posting referenced is tied to that application window. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing, which is common in some NIH announcements where budgets are guided more by project needs, NIH policy, and institute-specific funding considerations than by a single fixed cap in the summary record. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NIH's invitation for well-powered, methodologically rigorous, collaborative research programs that can materially improve how vulvodynia is understood, identified, prevented, and treated, with an explicit preference for proposals that integrate expertise across disciplines to address the condition's complexity.Apply for PA 18 089
- The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Multidisciplinary Research in Vulvodynia (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): 93.313, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-05-07. (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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FAQs: Multidisciplinary Research in Vulvodynia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) - PA-18-089
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Multidisciplinary Research in Vulvodynia (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-18-089.
Who is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary research grant opportunity.
What is the main purpose of the FOA?
The FOA signals NIH's ongoing priority and sustained interest in vulvodynia research and invites strong, innovative R01 applications intended to advance scientific understanding and improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
How does this FOA define vulvodynia?
In this announcement, vulvodynia is defined as chronic vulvar pain of unknown cause.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism.
Are clinical trials required?
No. Clinical trials are not required under this FOA.
Are clinical trials allowed?
Yes. The FOA is "Clinical Trial Optional," so applicants may propose clinical trials when appropriate and scientifically justified.
What types of research projects does NIH appear to be inviting?
The FOA invites basic, translational, clinical, or mixed research designs, as long as the work is relevant to vulvodynia and scientifically justified.
What is a central scientific theme emphasized by the FOA?
A key theme is that progress in vulvodynia research is expected to benefit from multidisciplinary methods and interdisciplinary teams (team science).
Why does NIH emphasize multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary teams for this topic?
The FOA describes vulvodynia as complex and potentially multifactorial, with possible biological, neurologic, inflammatory, hormonal, musculoskeletal, psychosocial, and environmental contributors. Because of that complexity, the FOA encourages integrating evidence across multiple levels rather than relying on a single disciplinary lens.
What disciplines or areas of expertise are specifically encouraged?
The FOA explicitly encourages teams that may include expertise such as gynecology, pain medicine, neuroscience, immunology, infectious disease, dermatology, pelvic floor and musculoskeletal research, urology, psychology and behavioral health, epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics and genomics, microbiome science, and health services research.
What broad research areas are highlighted in the FOA?
The FOA highlights four broad areas: etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutics.
What kinds of projects fit under etiology in this FOA?
Etiology-focused projects may aim to clarify underlying mechanisms, risk factors, or disease subtypes, including work to distinguish different clinical presentations and patient trajectories.
What kinds of projects fit under prevention in this FOA?
Prevention research may involve identifying modifiable risk factors, early indicators, or protective interventions, potentially informed by longitudinal studies or population-based approaches.
What kinds of projects fit under diagnosis in this FOA?
Diagnostic research may include improving clinical phenotyping, developing or validating assessment tools, identifying biomarkers, or establishing clearer criteria to separate vulvodynia from other conditions with overlapping symptoms.
What kinds of projects fit under therapeutics in this FOA?
Therapeutics research can include developing, refining, or testing treatments. Examples described in the FOA include pharmacologic approaches, device-based interventions, behavioral therapies, physical therapy, multimodal pain management strategies, or integrated care models.
Does the FOA restrict applicants to only one research approach (for example, only clinical research)?
No. The FOA allows flexibility to propose basic, translational, clinical, or mixed research approaches, including intervention studies when appropriate.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organizational types, reflecting NIH's interest in proposals from diverse settings.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include various levels of government, including state, county, city or township, and special district governments.
Are educational institutions eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Are Tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA allows nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible applicants.
Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed among eligible applicants.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes categories 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 (AANAPISIs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are included among eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among eligible applicants.
Are regional organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Regional organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), indicating NIH openness to international participation where it strengthens the science.
What category is this opportunity listed under?
The FOA is categorized under Health, Income Security and Social Services.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.313 and 93.865.
Is there an award ceiling stated in the provided listing?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the information provided.
Is the expected number of awards stated in the provided listing?
No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the information provided.
What are the key dates shown in the FOA record?
The FOA record indicates a creation date of 2017-11-06 and lists an original closing date of 2019-05-07 for the specific posting referenced.
What is NIH looking for overall in applications under this FOA?
Overall, NIH is inviting well-powered, methodologically rigorous, collaborative R01 research programs that can materially improve how vulvodynia is understood, identified, prevented, and treated, with a preference for proposals integrating expertise across disciplines.
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| Multidisciplinary Research in Vulvodynia (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 096 Funding Number: PA 18 096 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Advancing the Science of Multipurpose Technology for the Prevention of HIV and Unintended Pregnancy (R41/R42) Apply for RFA HD 18 034 Funding Number: RFA HD 18 034 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research to Advance the Understanding and Management of the Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome in Children (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 095 Funding Number: PAR 18 095 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Advancing the Science of Multipurpose Technology for the Prevention of HIV and Unintended Pregnancy (R43/R44) Apply for RFA HD 18 033 Funding Number: RFA HD 18 033 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Contraception Research Centers Program (U54) Apply for RFA HD 18 035 Funding Number: RFA HD 18 035 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Trophoblast Differentiation and Function (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 047 Funding Number: PA 18 047 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Oocyte Mitochondrial Function in Relation to Fertility, Aging, and Mitochondrial Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 093 Funding Number: PA 18 093 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NCMRR Early Career Research Award (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 211 Funding Number: PAR 18 211 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 213 Funding Number: PAR 18 213 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Advancing the Science of Multipurpose Technology for the Prevention of HIV and Unintended Pregnancy (R43/R44) Apply for RFA HD 18 102 Funding Number: RFA HD 18 102 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing the Science of Multipurpose Technology for the Prevention of HIV and Unintended Pregnancy (R41/R42) Apply for RFA HD 18 101 Funding Number: RFA HD 18 101 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 214 Funding Number: PAR 18 214 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 215 Funding Number: PAR 18 215 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NICHD Research Education Programs (R25 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 217 Funding Number: PAR 18 217 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| NICHD Small Grant Program (R03 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 481 Funding Number: PA 18 481 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| NICHD Research Project Grant (R01 - Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 18 480 Funding Number: PA 18 480 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NICHD Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 482 Funding Number: PA 18 482 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| The Role of Stem/Progenitor Cells in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Gynecologic Disorders (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 19 013 Funding Number: RFA HD 19 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Studies in Neonatal and Pediatric Resuscitation (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 485 Funding Number: PA 18 485 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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