PAR-25-324 Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award Extension Request (Type 4 eSubmission Clinical Trial Optional)

The goal of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to support feasibility trials of complementary and integrative health approaches with physical and/or psychological therapeutic inputs (often called mind and body interventions) for conditions that have been identified by NCCIH as high-priority research topics. This funding opportunity is intended to support feasibility clinical trials that provide new information that are scientifically necessary for the planning and conduct of a subsequent clinical efficacy or effectiveness study, pragmatic trial, or dissemination and implementation trial within NCCIHs mission. NCCIH expects that applications to this NOFO will describe the planned future clinical trial and in so doing demonstrate that the proposed (R34) research is scientifically necessary to design or plan the subsequent competitive full-scale clinical trial. Under this R34, the data collected should be used to fill gaps in scientific knowledge necessary to develop a competitive full-scale clinical trial, including, but not limited to the following: examining feasibility and acceptability of interventions lacking published data; tailoring or adapting the content or structure of an intervention to a specific population, modality, or setting; refining the intervention to determine the most appropriate frequency or duration; determining feasibility of recruitment, retention, and data collection procedures; refining and assessing the feasibility of protocolized multi-component interventions; or examining acceptability and adherence of control conditions. The subsequent full-scale clinical trial should have the potential to make a significant impact on public health. Prior to submitting to this NOFO, applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate NCCIH Scientific/Research contact person for the science area of the planned application.

This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), utilizing the U24 grant funding mechanism, encourages applications for a collaborating Data Coordinating Center (DCC) application that accompanies an investigator-initiated multi site clinical trial (Phase III and beyond) application submitted under companion PAR-21-243. The DCC application must be specific to the companion Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) application. The objective of the DCC application is to propose a comprehensive plan that provides overall project coordination, and administrative, data management, and biostatistical support for the proposed clinical trial. Both a DCC application and a corresponding CCC application need to be submitted simultaneously for consideration by NCCIH. Trials for which this NOFO applies must be relevant to the research mission of NCCIH and considered a high priority by the Center. For additional information about the mission, strategic vision, and research priorities of NCCIH, applicants are encouraged to consult the NCCIH website (http://www.nccih.nih.gov). Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate Scientific/Research contact for the area of science for which they are planning to develop an application prior to submitting to this NOFO.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages applications for investigator-initiated fully remotely delivered and conducted clinical trials to assess the efficacy or effectiveness of complementary and integrative health interventions in NCCIH- designated areas of high research priority. Applications submitted under this NOFO are expected to propose a remotely delivered and conducted fully powered clinical trial with no in-person contact between research staff and study participants and may utilize mHealth tools or technologies. Applicants must provide justification for the remotely delivered approach and provide preliminary data on the feasibility and safety of the approach, along with evidence that the intervention has promise of clinical benefit. Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate NCCIH Scientific/Research contact for the area of science for which they are planning to develop an application prior to submitting to this NOFO.