Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 213

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 213

The Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity, identified as PAR-18-213, is a discretionary NIH grant program that supports rigorous research on how interactions between humans and animals affect health and development across the lifespan. The announcement is set up as an R01 mechanism, meaning it is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven projects that can produce generalizable findings, with clinical trials allowed but not required (so applicants can propose either observational/mechanistic work or intervention studies, depending on the research question). Overall, the goal is to strengthen the evidence base around when, how, and for whom human-animal interaction is beneficial, neutral, or potentially harmful, and to generate findings that could inform clinical practice, public health approaches, and service delivery models.

The FOA emphasizes three main research directions. First, it invites studies on the impact of human-animal interaction on typical and atypical child development and health. This can include work examining developmental outcomes, social-emotional functioning, stress physiology, mental health, physical health indicators, or risk and resilience factors in children, including those with developmental or behavioral conditions. Second, it encourages evaluation of animal-assisted interventions for children and adults with disabilities or those who need rehabilitative services. This point is geared toward testing structured interventions that incorporate animals in therapeutic, educational, or rehabilitation contexts, and assessing whether these programs improve functional outcomes, quality of life, participation, symptom burden, or other clinically meaningful endpoints. Third, it calls for research on the effects of animals on public health, including the cost effectiveness of involving animals in reducing and preventing disease. That framing signals interest not only in whether HAI-related strategies work, but also whether they are scalable, economically justified, and capable of producing measurable population-level benefits, such as reduced healthcare utilization, improved prevention outcomes, or other public health gains.

From an eligibility standpoint, the program is broadly open to a wide range of applicant types. 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 as governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In addition, the FOA explicitly highlights that many other entities are eligible, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth reflects the interdisciplinary and cross-sector nature of HAI research, which often involves partnerships among universities, healthcare systems, community service providers, disability and rehabilitation organizations, and public health stakeholders.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.865 and is administered by the National Institutes of Health. The source information provided includes an original closing date of 2019-03-30 and an award ceiling listed as $499,999, which suggests an upper bound captured in the listing data (though in NIH practice, actual budgets are typically determined by the project scope, the FOA terms, and NIH budget policies for the specific institute/center supporting an award). The listing notes the creation date as 2017-11-21 and does not specify an expected number of awards in the provided fields. Taken together, this FOA is aimed at supporting well-designed, evidence-focused studies that clarify the mechanisms, outcomes, and real-world value of human-animal interaction and animal-assisted approaches in developmental, clinical, rehabilitative, and public health contexts.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-03-30. (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 $499,999.00 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 18 213

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