Community Partnerships to Advance Research (CPAR) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 381

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 381

The Community Partnerships to Advance Research (CPAR) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (PA 18-381) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to strengthen research through direct, intentional partnerships with community groups. The central idea is that better health interventions and better health outcomes are more likely when researchers and communities work together from the start, using Community Engaged Research (CEnR) approaches. Rather than treating communities only as study sites or recruitment pools, CPAR emphasizes relationship-building, shared priorities, and collaboration that can improve how interventions are developed, adapted, implemented, and evaluated in real-world settings.

This FOA uses the R21 mechanism, which is commonly associated with early-stage, exploratory, or developmental projects. In practical terms, CPAR supports projects that are still building evidence, testing approaches, refining interventions, or generating the kind of preliminary data and community partnership infrastructure that can lead to larger future studies. The "Clinical Trial Optional" label means applicants may propose a study that includes a clinical trial if it fits the project goals, but a clinical trial is not required. The focus stays on community-partnered research methods and the potential to improve health, whether the work is formative, piloting an intervention, or testing feasibility.

The program’s stated purpose is to encourage researchers to partner with community organizations in ways that strengthen trust, improve communication, and create durable relationships that last beyond a single project. By using CEnR methodologies, applicants are expected to show how communities will be involved in shaping the research question, selecting or tailoring strategies, guiding recruitment and retention approaches, interpreting results, and sharing findings back in useful, accessible ways. The underlying expectation is that this kind of shared process produces interventions that fit the community context better and therefore have a stronger chance of being effective and sustainable.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, covering many types of applicants that can support community-engaged health research. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; and independent school districts. A range of higher education institutions can apply, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal eligibility includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), along with Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) as explicitly highlighted in the FOA language. The opportunity also welcomes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, reflecting the community-based nature of many health challenges and interventions.

Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they hold 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education. For-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses themselves, may also apply. In addition, the FOA specifically calls out several other eligible applicant types to encourage participation from institutions and organizations that often serve populations experiencing health disparities or that have strong community ties. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Notably, the FOA also lists non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) as eligible, which can be important for projects involving cross-border communities, global health partnerships, or research questions where community engagement methods are transferable across settings.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding activity category is listed under education and health, and the CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 93.361. The award ceiling is listed as $200,000, which is consistent with the exploratory nature of many R21 projects and encourages focused, well-scoped aims that can be accomplished within a limited budget. The NIH is the sponsoring agency. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2021-01-07 and a creation date of 2017-12-18, which is helpful context for understanding when the announcement was first posted and the timeline shown in the source listing.

In short, CPAR (R21) is aimed at projects where the quality of the community partnership is not just a supporting detail but a core component of the science. It prioritizes community-engaged methods that strengthen relationships, produce more relevant and acceptable interventions, and ultimately contribute to improved health outcomes, especially in settings where community trust, cultural relevance, and local implementation realities strongly shape whether research translates into real benefits.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Partnerships to Advance Research (CPAR) (R21 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 2017-12-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (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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