Chronic Illness Self-Management in Children and Adolescents (R21)

-Purpose. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) is to solicit research to improve self-management and quality of life in children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. Biobehavioral studies of children in the context of family and family-community dynamics are encouraged. Children diagnosed with a chronic illness and their families have a long-term responsibility for self-management. The child with the chronic illness will have a life-long responsibility to maintain and promote health and prevent complications. Research related to biological/ technological factors, as well as, sociocultural, environmental, and behavioral mechanisms that contribute to successful and ongoing self-management of chronic illnesses in children is also encouraged. This FOA is restricted to studies of chronic illnesses in children and adolescents ages 8 to 21 grouped by developmental stages according to the discretion of the investigator. Studies of chronic mental illness or serious cognitive disability are beyond the scope of this FOA. -Mechanism of Support. This FOA will use the NIH Exploratory/Developmental (R21) grant mechanism and runs in parallel with FOAs of identical scientific scope, PA-07-097, that solicits applications under the R01 mechanism, and PA-07-098, that solicits applications under the R03 mechanism. -Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. Awards issued under this FOA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.