NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 20 207

FAQs: NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - PA 20-207

What is PA 20-207?

PA 20-207 is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity that supports high-quality scientific conferences and meetings using the R13 research conference support mechanism. It is intended to fund well-justified convenings that align with public health priorities and advance the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to support scientific gatherings that meaningfully align with public health priorities and help advance NIH mission areas. Supported meetings are expected to move a field forward by sharing research findings, building consensus, identifying research gaps, fostering collaboration, developing standards or best practices, and strengthening the scientific workforce connected to NIH priorities.

What kinds of activities or outcomes are conferences expected to support?

Based on the description provided, conferences under this opportunity are generally expected to have strong scientific value and a clear purpose such as disseminating research results, enabling substantive scientific exchange, identifying gaps and future directions, building collaborations, creating consensus statements, and/or developing standards or best practices that can influence research and practice in NIH-relevant areas.

Are clinical trials allowed under PA 20-207?

No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this parent R13 opportunity. Applicants should plan meeting content and proposed activities accordingly and stay within NIH policy boundaries for this specific announcement.

What funding instrument does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses the NIH R13 funding instrument, which is specifically associated with support for research conferences and scientific meetings.

Is this opportunity limited to a single scientific area?

No. The funding activity category is described as broad and cross-cutting across education and health-related domains, reflecting that NIH may support conferences across many biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and population health areas depending on the NIH Institute or Center involved.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as wide and inclusive for U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include U.S. state, county, city, or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, among others.

Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?

Yes. Higher education institutions are eligible, including public and state-controlled colleges and universities as well as private institutions of higher education.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are applying under the nonprofit categories described (and not as institutions of higher education when applying under those nonprofit categories).

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations are eligible, including small businesses and other for-profit entities that are not classified as small businesses. This can be relevant for professional conference organizers, scientific societies with for-profit arms, or specialized convening organizations.

Does the opportunity encourage applications from specific institution types or community organizations?

Yes. The announcement explicitly includes additional eligible applicant types to encourage broader participation. Examples listed 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; and regional organizations.

Are U.S. territories eligible to apply?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included as eligible applicants, supporting conference activity that benefits researchers and communities in those jurisdictions.

Can federal government agencies apply?

Yes. Eligible agencies of the federal government are explicitly listed among eligible applicant types.

Are non-federally recognized tribes eligible to apply?

Yes. Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized are explicitly listed as eligible applicant types.

Can a foreign organization apply as the applicant?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, described as foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.

Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

Are any international elements allowed at all?

Yes, in a limited sense. While foreign organizations cannot be the applicant, the announcement allows foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This typically means a U.S. applicant may include justified international elements if they meet NIH policy requirements and are properly described and approved, but the applicant organization must be domestic and the structure must comply with NIH rules.

Does the summary record list a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

No. The summary record described does not specify an award ceiling.

Does the summary record list the expected number of awards?

No. The summary record described does not list an expected number of awards. This often means these details can be variable, institute-specific, and/or dependent on annual appropriations and program priorities.

What do reviewers or NIH staff typically expect to see in a conference proposal under this kind of mechanism?

The description indicates that applicants generally need to demonstrate strong scientific value, clear public health relevance, and alignment with the mission priorities of the NIH Institute or Center being targeted. For a conference support mechanism, expectations commonly include clarity on the meeting purpose and format, the caliber and appropriateness of invited participants, plans to promote meaningful exchange, and how meeting outcomes will be disseminated to maximize impact.

How should applicants think about choosing an NIH Institute or Center?

The opportunity emphasizes alignment with the scientific missions of the specific participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Applicants should shape the meeting topic, goals, and expected outcomes so they clearly align with the mission priorities of the NIH Institute or Center they intend to target.

What is the funding opportunity number for this program?

The funding opportunity number is PA 20-207.

What does "Parent R13" mean in this context?

In this context, "Parent R13" refers to an NIH parent announcement that uses the R13 activity code for research conference support and may be used across multiple NIH Institutes and Centers. The description also notes that parent announcements often operate on recurring due dates and may be updated or reissued over time.

Are the dates listed in the record final, or should applicants verify them?

Applicants are advised to treat the listed dates (including an original closing date of February 10, 2021 and a creation date of May 8, 2020) as part of an archived source record and verify current submission windows and active receipt dates directly in the live NIH funding announcement and the NIH Guide, since parent announcements can have recurring due dates and may be updated or reissued.

What is the best overall way to describe PA 20-207?

It is NIH support for scientific convenings that can accelerate progress in health-related research and practice, with key boundaries that include the prohibition on clinical trials under this specific parent R13 announcement and restrictions on foreign entities serving as applicants.