Characterization of the Adolescent Reproductive Transition (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 045

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 045

The government grant opportunity titled "Characterization of the Adolescent Reproductive Transition (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-18-045) is a discretionary NIH research grant designed to stimulate innovative, early-stage work on puberty and the broader trajectory of sexual development during adolescence. Its central goal is to encourage strong, creative applications that can close major scientific gaps in how normative (typical) sexual maturation unfolds in both males and females, and how that maturation leads to the establishment of reproductive competence. The announcement emphasizes that progress in this field will likely require new technologies, novel measurement strategies, and fresh conceptual approaches, suggesting an interest in projects that move beyond traditional methods and bring sharper biological, behavioral, and developmental resolution to the study of pubertal change.

The FOA is positioned around the idea that adolescence is a complex reproductive transition rather than a single event, and that the field still lacks sufficiently detailed, real-world characterization of that transition across individuals and over time. Supported studies are expected to advance foundational knowledge about pubertal timing and tempo, the sequencing of developmental milestones, and the interacting hormonal, physiological, and developmental processes that underpin sexual maturation. Because it uses the NIH R21 mechanism, the opportunity is especially aligned with exploratory or developmental research that can generate high-value preliminary data, test emerging tools, or establish proof-of-concept findings that could later support larger-scale projects. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that applicants may propose clinical trials if appropriate, but are not required to do so; non-trial mechanistic, observational, or methodological work fits as well, as long as it meaningfully addresses the scientific aims around puberty and adolescent reproductive development.

Administratively, this is a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) within the Health, Income Security and Social Services activity area, listed under CFDA 93.865 and administered by the National Institutes of Health. The source information lists an award ceiling of $200,000, reflecting the typical smaller, exploratory scope of R21 projects. The original closing date provided is 2019-09-07, and the FOA creation date is 2017-11-03. While the record does not specify the number of expected awards, the emphasis is clearly on funding standout projects that can push the science forward through methodological innovation and strong developmental framing.

Eligibility is broad and inclusive, spanning many types of domestic and non-domestic institutions and organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other applicant types. In addition, the FOA explicitly highlights several categories of "other eligible applicants" to encourage participation by diverse institutions and communities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), 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-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), as well as Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized. Taken together, that list signals an intent to broaden the research base and support work that may involve varied populations, settings, and collaborative structures, provided the science directly advances understanding of the adolescent reproductive transition.

In practical terms, a competitive application under this FOA would be expected to articulate a clear, impactful research question tied to the normative biology and developmental course of puberty, justify why current knowledge is insufficient, and explain how the proposed approach improves on existing tools or frameworks. The announcement strongly implies that applications using cutting-edge measurement (for example, improved hormonal profiling, wearable or remote monitoring strategies, new analytic techniques for developmental trajectories, or refined phenotyping of pubertal milestones) are particularly relevant, as long as they are used to deepen understanding of how reproductive maturation is established across adolescence in both sexes. The intended payoff is not just descriptive detail for its own sake, but a stronger scientific foundation for understanding typical development, which can later support better identification of atypical patterns, risk states, and targets for future interventions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Characterization of the Adolescent Reproductive Transition (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): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-07. (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.

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