End-of-Life and Palliative Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) with Serious Illnesses (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 153

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 153

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR 19-153 supports early-stage research on end-of-life and palliative care needs for adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with serious, advanced illnesses. In this announcement, AYA is defined as ages 12 through 24, consistent with World Health Organization and CDC definitions. The main goal is to build knowledge about what young people in this age range want and need when facing life-limiting disease, how they think about and make decisions, and which palliative or end-of-life care approaches best support them and the people close to them. The FOA places special emphasis on the fact that AYA experiences are not simply a younger version of adult illness or an older version of pediatric illness; this group often faces a unique mix of developmental, family, social, educational, and identity-related challenges that shape how care should be delivered.

The research scope is broad but centered on two connected themes. First, it encourages studies that directly examine AYA perspectives, priorities, wishes, communication preferences, and decision-making processes as illness progresses. That can include how AYA want to talk about prognosis, what matters most to them in terms of quality of life, how they balance independence with family involvement, and what they need from clinicians to feel heard and respected. Second, it invites research on specific end-of-life and palliative care (EOLPC) models designed to address the full range of AYA needs, including physical symptoms and comfort, psychological distress, spiritual concerns or meaning-making, and social needs such as relationships, school or work disruption, peer connections, and caregiver dynamics. The intent is to support evidence development around care models that work in real settings and that better align clinical care with what AYA patients and their families actually value.

This is an R21 mechanism, meaning it is meant for exploratory or developmental projects that can generate foundational data, pilot test approaches, refine measures, or establish feasibility for larger future studies. The FOA is labeled “Clinical Trial Optional,” which generally means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required. That flexibility allows the opportunity to fund a range of designs, from observational and qualitative research that captures lived experiences and decision pathways, to pilot interventions or care delivery strategies that could later be scaled up or tested in larger trials.

Key logistical details from the source information include that the activity areas fall under education and health, with CFDA numbers 93.361 and 93.399. The award ceiling listed is $200,000, positioning it as a smaller, targeted grant suited for hypothesis development, early model testing, or building preliminary evidence. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program administered by NIH. The original closing date shown is 2022-01-07, and the FOA record indicates a creation date of 2019-01-08, which is useful context for anyone checking current availability or looking for reissued or related announcements.

Eligibility is intentionally expansive to encourage participation from many types of organizations that can contribute to AYA serious-illness and palliative care research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility aligns with the reality that AYA palliative care touches many systems, including hospitals, hospices, community organizations, schools, and culturally specific or geographically focused institutions.

Overall, PAR 19-153 is aimed at strengthening the evidence base for how best to care for seriously ill adolescents and young adults as they approach end of life or require palliative support, with attention to the whole person and the surrounding family and caregiver network. The announcement signals NIH interest in research that does a better job capturing AYA voices, clarifying how decisions are made in the context of serious illness, and developing or refining palliative care models that address physical comfort while also responding to emotional health, spiritual concerns, relationships, and the social realities of being 12 to 24 while living with a life-threatening condition.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "End-of-Life and Palliative Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) with Serious Illnesses (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.361, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• 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 19 153

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