Conducting Rural Health Research, Needs Assessments, and Program Evaluations – Funding & Opportunities
For additional funding options, please see RHIhub's Online Library: Funding & Opportunities
Understanding the Intersection of Social Inequities to Optimize Health and Reduce Health Disparities: The Axes Initiative (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Funding for research to examine the pathways through which social determinants of health (SDOH), and related biological, psychological, and behavioral factors impact health and health disparities. The primary populations of focus are those that experience health disparities in the U.S., including racial and ethnic minority populations, people with lower socioeconomic status, underserved rural populations, sexual and gender minority populations, and people with disabilities.
Funding for research to examine the pathways through which social determinants of health (SDOH), and related biological, psychological, and behavioral factors impact health and health disparities. The primary populations of focus are those that experience health disparities in the U.S., including racial and ethnic minority populations, people with lower socioeconomic status, underserved rural populations, sexual and gender minority populations, and people with disabilities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Letter of Intent (Optional): Jan 14, 2025
Application Deadline: Feb 14, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Letter of Intent (Optional): Jan 14, 2025
Application Deadline: Feb 14, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Maternal and Child Health Secondary Data Analysis Research (MCH SDAR)
Funding to support applied research through analysis of existing databases and/or administrative records to improve the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of healthcare services and health outcomes for underserved maternal and child health populations. Underserved populations include Indigenous and Native American persons, people in rural areas, persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality, among others.
Funding to support applied research through analysis of existing databases and/or administrative records to improve the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of healthcare services and health outcomes for underserved maternal and child health populations. Underserved populations include Indigenous and Native American persons, people in rural areas, persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality, among others.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Feb 25, 2025
Sponsors: Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Feb 25, 2025
Sponsors: Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Technology Development to Reduce Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Funding to develop and translate medical technologies aimed at reducing disparities in healthcare access and health outcomes. Medical technologies should be effective, affordable, culturally acceptable, and deliverable to those who need them. Priority health disparity populations include racial and ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, sexual and gender minorities, and medically underserved populations in rural and urban areas.
Funding to develop and translate medical technologies aimed at reducing disparities in healthcare access and health outcomes. Medical technologies should be effective, affordable, culturally acceptable, and deliverable to those who need them. Priority health disparity populations include racial and ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, sexual and gender minorities, and medically underserved populations in rural and urban areas.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: May 2, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: May 2, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research Using Implementation Science to Support the Delivery of Evidence-Based Practices in Community-Based Mental or General Medical Healthcare Settings
Notice of Special Interest for mental health services and implementation research to support the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based practices in community-based settings that deliver care to people with mental illness. Health disparity populations, including individuals living in rural areas, are a priority.
Notice of Special Interest for mental health services and implementation research to support the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based practices in community-based settings that deliver care to people with mental illness. Health disparity populations, including individuals living in rural areas, are a priority.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: May 8, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: May 8, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NLM Information Resource Grants to Reduce Health Disparities and Promote Health Equity (G08 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Funding for projects that use information technology to improve the organization and management of health-related information for consumers and their healthcare providers experiencing health disparities.
Funding for projects that use information technology to improve the organization and management of health-related information for consumers and their healthcare providers experiencing health disparities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Letter of Intent (Optional): Apr 25, 2025
Application Deadline: May 25, 2025
Sponsors: National Institutes of Health, Office of Research on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Letter of Intent (Optional): Apr 25, 2025
Application Deadline: May 25, 2025
Sponsors: National Institutes of Health, Office of Research on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. National Library of Medicine
High-Priority Research in Tobacco Regulatory Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Grants to support high-priority biomedical and behavioral research that will provide scientific data to inform regulation of tobacco products to protect public health. Projects must focus on one or more of the high-priority research topics and may include focus on vulnerable populations including rural.
Grants to support high-priority biomedical and behavioral research that will provide scientific data to inform regulation of tobacco products to protect public health. Projects must focus on one or more of the high-priority research topics and may include focus on vulnerable populations including rural.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Letter of Intent (Optional): Apr 6, 2025
Application Deadline: Jun 6, 2025
Sponsors: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Letter of Intent (Optional): Apr 6, 2025
Application Deadline: Jun 6, 2025
Sponsors: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42- Clinical Trial Optional)
Funding for small businesses to develop products, processes, and services that can be used to improve minority health and/or reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities in one or more NIH-defined health disparity population groups. Technologies should be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable.
Funding for small businesses to develop products, processes, and services that can be used to improve minority health and/or reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities in one or more NIH-defined health disparity population groups. Technologies should be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Optional): May 10, 2025
Application Deadline: Jun 10, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Letter of Intent (Optional): May 10, 2025
Application Deadline: Jun 10, 2025
Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06)
Offers grants for new or continued Native American Research Centers for Health, which support research and research training to meet the health needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
Offers grants for new or continued Native American Research Centers for Health, which support research and research training to meet the health needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Optional): Jun 8, 2025
Application Deadline: Jul 8, 2025
Sponsors: Indian Health Service, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Letter of Intent (Optional): Jun 8, 2025
Application Deadline: Jul 8, 2025
Sponsors: Indian Health Service, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Co-infection and Cancer (R01 and R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Grants for research on the roles of co-infection and cancer to inform prevention and treatment strategies for infection-related cancers. Applicants are encouraged to investigate co-infection and its relation to causes of risk among racially/ethnically diverse populations and those from urban and rural areas who are poor and medically underserved, and populations who may have a disproportionate burden of infection-related cancers.
Grants for research on the roles of co-infection and cancer to inform prevention and treatment strategies for infection-related cancers. Applicants are encouraged to investigate co-infection and its relation to causes of risk among racially/ethnically diverse populations and those from urban and rural areas who are poor and medically underserved, and populations who may have a disproportionate burden of infection-related cancers.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Nov 5, 2025
Sponsors: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Nov 5, 2025
Sponsors: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE)
Notice of Special Interest for research to address the HIV epidemic using innovation to tailor strategies for the barriers and strengths in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. States with a disproportionate occurrence of new HIV diagnoses in rural areas are a program priority.
Notice of Special Interest for research to address the HIV epidemic using innovation to tailor strategies for the barriers and strengths in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. States with a disproportionate occurrence of new HIV diagnoses in rural areas are a program priority.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Jan 10, 2026
Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health
Application Deadline: Jan 10, 2026
Sponsors: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health
Last Updated: 1/7/2025