Identifying Innovative Mechanisms or Interventions that Target Multimorbidity and Its Consequences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Program Description

NIMHD supports research projects that seek to support the identification of shared mechanisms and development of innovative interventions to address multimorbidity or multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and its consequences.

The prevalence of MCCs is rising in the United States and worldwide and it is difficult to improve outcomes for people with MCCs. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) aims to advance intervention research that target MCCs across multiple disease areas. Intervention research activities should be designed to study:

1. Mechanisms or pathways that prevent MCCs, including the identification of early biomarkers, behavioral pathways, and individual and contextual risk factors and interactions that contribute to the development of common MCCs.
2. Targeted therapies and management, including self-management, of MCCs to delay progression and prevent onset of new diseases.
3. Innovative health care partnership models for managing or treating MCCs.

Studies may include shared mechanisms, and assessments of interactions between risk factors and interventions that address MCCs at different periods of the lifespan in diverse populations.

As a participating organization, NIMHD seeks projects that address interventions for multimorbidities more prevalent in populations that experience health disparities, including African Americans/Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, and sexual and gender minorities. Projects are required to address two or more co-occurring conditions, risk factors, or their combination.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Multilevel interventions addressing at least two determinants of health, one of which being a determinant at the interpersonal, community or societal level (see the NIMHD Research Framework).
• Evaluation of natural experiments, programs, and policies that may affect the onset or management of multimorbidity.
• Health impact assessment of existing or planned policies or programs on the prevention or management of multimorbidity.
• Partnerships between health and non-health sectors to implement new interventions or expand existing ones to delay the onset or improve the management of multimorbidity.
• Studies of how primary care centers (including FQHCs) can partner with community resources to delay the onset or improve the management of multimorbidity.

NIH Guide No.: PAR-20-180

Page updated June 21, 2021