Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation

Grants to USA and Territories schools, government and Tribal agencies, businesses, IHEs, and nonprofit organizations for research to benefit public health. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take up to six weeks to finalize. Funding is intended to address knowledge gaps in policies and programs related to obesity at the population level, or any differential effects on sub-populations.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) establishes an accelerated review/award process to support time-sensitive research to evaluate a new policy or program that is likely to influence obesity related behaviors (e.g., dietary intake, physical activity, or sedentary behavior) and/or weight outcomes in an effort to prevent or reduce obesity. This FOA is intended to support research where opportunities for empirical study are, by their very nature, only available through expedited review and funding. All applications to this FOA must demonstrate that the evaluation of an obesity related policy and/or program offers an uncommon and scientifically compelling research opportunity that will only be available if the research is initiated with minimum delay.This funding opportunity announcement is intended to encourage and support research in which a unique and time sensitive opportunity has arisen to collect baseline data and then prospectively assess effectiveness of an imminent policy or program that is likely to prevent or reduce obesity in a given population (e.g. reduce energy intake, increase activity, or decrease sedentary behavior).For the purposes of this FOA:Policy is broadly defined to include both formal public policies at local, state and federal levels of government, and organizational level policies, such as those implemented by large organizations, worksites or school districts. Examples include, but are not limited to, the development of supermarkets in underserved areas, calorie labeling requirements, taxes on foods and/or beverages, after-school and summer programs, modification of the built (or human-made) environments to encourage walking or cycling for transportation or leisure.Program is defined as a set of activities initiated by governmental or other organizational bodies to enhance obesity prevention and control. Examples might include programs implemented worksites, healthcare organizations, after-school or summer programs, or communities that can be expected to improve obesity related behaviors such as energy intake and activity level. This FOA is not intended to support the initiation and delivery of new programs; rather, it is intended to support evaluation of the effectiveness of programs and/or policies that are being or will be implemented regardless of NIH grant funding.