Leveraging Electronic Health Records for Alcohol Services Research (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 203

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 203

The NIH funding opportunity "Leveraging Electronic Health Records for Alcohol Services Research (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-18-203) supports practical, low-cost studies that use electronic clinical data to answer new and useful health services research questions about how alcohol use disorders (AUD) are treated in real-world healthcare settings. The emphasis is on pragmatic projects that fit into routine care rather than creating expensive, stand-alone research infrastructure. In other words, applicants are expected to make electronic clinical records the backbone of the study, using data that health systems already generate as part of everyday practice.

A central expectation is that most data collection comes from existing electronic sources, especially electronic health records (EHRs) and related systems. Projects may add other data sources when needed, but the major study activities should be integrated into, or directly derived from, routine clinical records and electronic resources. Examples specifically highlighted include patient registries, EHR platforms, enterprise data warehouses, billing and claims data, pharmacy records, and administrative datasets. The goal is both to produce findings that can improve clinical care for people with AUD and to build knowledge about how well EHRs currently support AUD services research, including what barriers still get in the way (such as incomplete documentation, inconsistent coding, workflow variation, data access challenges, or difficulties linking data across systems).

The research focus is on health services questions with clear clinical relevance, meaning studies should be designed to inform how care is delivered, measured, or improved for patients with AUD in routine settings (for example, primary care, emergency departments, specialty addiction treatment, integrated behavioral health, or hospital-based programs). Because the FOA is aimed at leveraging real-world electronic data, strong applications typically align outcomes and exposure measures with what is reliably captured in clinical systems, and they consider implementation realities like clinical workflows, provider documentation practices, and differences across sites. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means projects may include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but a trial is not required.

This opportunity uses the R21/R33 phased innovation mechanism. In general terms, that structure is meant to support early, exploratory work (R21) that can transition into an expanded or confirmatory phase (R33) if milestones are met. That approach fits the FOA's interest in tackling practical EHR-based research challenges, since initial work often involves validating EHR-derived measures, establishing data pipelines, testing feasibility across clinics, or piloting pragmatic approaches before scaling.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant types 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, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized), and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, foreign involvement is restricted. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is health, and the CFDA listing referenced is 93.273. The original closing date shown for this specific posting is May 7, 2020, and the FOA was created on November 17, 2017.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Leveraging Electronic Health Records for Alcohol Services Research (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-17.
• 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.

Apply for PAR 18 203

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