Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 132

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 132

Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 18-132) that supports exploratory or early-stage research in blood banking and transfusion medicine. The overall purpose is to generate new knowledge, tools, or approaches that can strengthen the safety, quality, and availability of the blood supply, while also improving how transfusion medicine is practiced in real-world clinical and collection settings. The R21 mechanism is typically used for innovative, higher-risk projects that can produce important preliminary data or proof-of-concept results that may later be expanded through larger studies. Clinical trials are allowed but not required, giving applicants flexibility to propose laboratory, epidemiologic, behavioral, health services, or clinical research designs depending on the question being addressed.

The scientific scope centers on public health priorities across the entire transfusion chain, from donor to recipient. On the donor side, the FOA highlights the need for research that improves blood donor health and reduces risks associated with the donation process. This can include studying adverse donor reactions, factors that influence donor safety, and ways to make donation safer and more acceptable. It also emphasizes the ongoing challenge of maintaining an adequate blood supply, encouraging projects that develop and test better donor recruitment and retention strategies, including programs tailored to specific populations or regions and approaches that address barriers to repeat donation.

On the product and recipient side, the opportunity encourages studies that improve the safety and availability of blood products and advance transfusion practice. A key theme is understanding transfusion-associated adverse events: identifying their determinants, clarifying mechanisms and risk factors, and developing practical strategies to prevent or minimize harm. This could involve work on how blood components are collected, processed, stored, or matched; how transfusions are ordered and administered; and how institutions monitor and respond to transfusion reactions. The FOA is broadly framed to support research that reduces transfusion risk, supports evidence-based use of blood components, and ultimately improves patient outcomes while preserving a reliable and sufficient inventory of blood products.

In terms of eligibility, the announcement is open to a wide range of applicant types, reflecting NIH's interest in supporting research capacity across many sectors. Eligible applicants include federal, state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts and special district governments; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility requirements. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant program under the health funding activity category (CFDA 93.839). The listed award ceiling is $200,000, and the original closing date shown in the source information is January 7, 2020, with a creation date of November 8, 2017. Taken together, the FOA is designed to stimulate targeted, innovative research that addresses persistent and emerging problems in transfusion medicine, with the practical goal of protecting donors, safeguarding recipients, and ensuring that blood products remain both safe and available when needed.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (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): 93.839.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-07. (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.

Apply for PAR 18 132

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