Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 293

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 293

The Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research funding opportunity (PAR 23-293) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program that supports Research Project Grant (R01) applications focused on the ethical, legal, and social issues raised by human genetics and genomics. The central aim is to fund rigorous research that helps explain, anticipate, and address how advances in genetic and genomic science affect people, communities, institutions, and society, including how these advances shape rights, responsibilities, access, trust, and real-world decision-making in health care, research, public health, and related settings. Clinical trials are optional under this announcement, meaning applicants can propose studies that do or do not involve clinical trial components, as long as the work fits the ELSI scope.

Projects can use a wide range of research approaches, and the announcement is explicit that both single-method and mixed-method designs are welcome. This includes empirical qualitative methods (for example, interviews, focus groups, ethnography, deliberative forums), empirical quantitative methods (for example, surveys, experiments, observational studies, statistical modeling), and also non-empirical scholarly approaches such as conceptual analysis, legal research and analysis, and normative or ethical argumentation. The intent is to encourage proposals that are appropriately matched to the question being asked, whether the goal is to measure attitudes and outcomes, understand lived experiences and institutional practices, analyze how laws and regulations operate in practice, or clarify ethical principles and tradeoffs where policy and practice are unsettled.

A notable emphasis of the opportunity is on engaging key stakeholders when it makes sense for the research question. Stakeholders could include patients, research participants, clinicians, genetic counselors, laboratory professionals, community leaders, health system administrators, policymakers, payers, educators, advocacy organizations, tribal representatives, or others directly affected by genetics and genomics. The expectation is not token consultation, but meaningful involvement that strengthens the relevance, rigor, and usefulness of the research, such as through co-design, community-engaged methods, advisory structures, or participatory approaches.

This NOFO also includes a firm application requirement that can determine whether an application is reviewed at all: applicants must include a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP). The PEDP is presented as mandatory, and applications that do not include it will not be reviewed. In practical terms, that means applicants need to explain, in a structured way, how the project team, methods, stakeholder engagement, study populations (when applicable), and overall project perspective will incorporate and elevate diverse viewpoints. This requirement signals that NIH is not only interested in the topic area of ELSI, but also in how research processes and teams reflect diverse experiences and expertise, especially in a field where equity, representation, and historical harms can strongly influence trust and outcomes.

Eligibility is broad and spans many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, 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 tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized; non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations); regional organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); and U.S. territories or possessions. Taken together, this eligibility language is meant to invite participation from a wide range of research, community, and governmental organizations, including those closely connected to communities that may be disproportionately affected by genomic research and its downstream uses.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed under NIH, uses the grant funding instrument, and falls under broad activity categories that include education, environment, health, income security, and social services. Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the program (93.113, 93.172, 93.173, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, 93.313, 93.399, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.867), reflecting NIH’s multi-institute footprint and the cross-cutting relevance of ELSI research. The opportunity was created on 2023-10-30, and the listed closing date is 2026-11-18. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source, which usually means applicants should consult the full NOFO text and NIH budget guidance for R01s to understand typical award sizes, project periods, and any institute-specific considerations.

Overall, this NOFO is designed for investigators proposing substantial, stand-alone research projects that produce generalizable knowledge about the societal dimensions of genetics and genomics, using methods that fit the problem, incorporating stakeholder input where appropriate, and meeting a non-negotiable planning requirement to enhance diverse perspectives through the PEDP.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) 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): 93.113, 93.172, 93.173, 93.242, 93.279, 93.307, 93.313, 93.399, 93.853, 93.855, 93.865, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 23 293

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