Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OH 26 015
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Electronic Research Administration (ERA), is offering an Exploratory/Developmental Grant opportunity under the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program using the NIH-style R21 mechanism. This funding call (RFA-OH-26-015; CFDA 93.262) is designed to support early-stage, high-potential research that can help reduce diagnostic uncertainty or treatment uncertainty for people who receive monitoring and/or treatment under Subtitle C of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (as amended). The emphasis is on projects that can quickly test new ideas, assess feasibility, and open up promising new directions that could improve how WTC-related health conditions are diagnosed or treated.
The program is specifically aimed at exploratory and developmental studies, meaning applicants are expected to propose concepts that are still in the early or even conceptual phase. The NOFO explicitly anticipates that proposals may have minimal or no preliminary data, which makes it a good fit for investigators who want to pilot an innovative approach, generate proof-of-concept evidence, or develop and refine new tools. The intent is to encourage research that breaks new ground rather than simply extending well-established work. If successful, these R21 projects are expected to position the field for larger follow-on studies, new clinical strategies, or more definitive trials and evaluations.
In terms of the kinds of outcomes CDC is trying to catalyze, the opportunity highlights potential breakthroughs and practical advances that could have real clinical impact. That includes developing new interventions, techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or approaches, especially where current clinical practice faces uncertainty about what is happening diagnostically, which patients are at greatest risk, what treatments work best for which subgroups, or how to measure and monitor response in WTC Health Program populations. The overall goal is to strengthen treatment effectiveness and diagnostic practices for this specific community by enabling researchers to test novel hypotheses and emerging ideas that could later translate into better care.
A wide range of U.S.-based organizations can apply. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, which are separately listed); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other unrestricted entities as permitted. At the same time, the eligibility rules are strict about geography: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions cannot apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the HHS Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In practice, that means the work and the organizational footprint supported by the award must remain domestic.
Key logistics are straightforward. The application deadline listed is June 23, 2026. The award ceiling is $365,000, and the agency anticipates making about 36 awards. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant instrument type, with the activity area focused on health. Taken together, this NOFO is essentially a targeted R21 pilot-funding pathway for researchers who want to test fresh, potentially transformative ideas that could reduce uncertainty and improve real-world diagnosis and treatment for individuals served by the WTC Health Program, while keeping the funded activities fully within the United States.Apply for RFA OH 26 015
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory/Developmental Grants Related to the World Trade Center Health Program (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.262.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-23. (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 $365,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 36 candidate(s).
- 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, Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is an Exploratory/Developmental Grant opportunity offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through its Electronic Research Administration (ERA) under the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. It uses an NIH-style R21 mechanism and is identified as RFA-OH-26-015 (CFDA 93.262).
What is the main purpose of this funding call?
The purpose is to support early-stage, high-potential research intended to reduce diagnostic uncertainty and/or treatment uncertainty for people receiving monitoring and/or treatment under Subtitle C of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (as amended). The goal is to catalyze work that could ultimately improve how WTC-related health conditions are diagnosed or treated.
What does "Exploratory/Developmental" (R21) mean in this context?
It means the opportunity is aimed at early or even conceptual-stage projects that can quickly test new ideas, assess feasibility, generate proof-of-concept evidence, or develop/refine new tools. The focus is on breaking new ground rather than extending well-established work, with the expectation that successful projects can lead to larger follow-on studies or more definitive evaluations later.
Is preliminary data required to apply?
No. The notice explicitly anticipates that proposals may have minimal or no preliminary data, which aligns with the exploratory and developmental intent of an R21-style award.
What kinds of research outcomes is CDC trying to catalyze?
The opportunity emphasizes potential breakthroughs and practical advances with real clinical impact for WTC Health Program populations. Examples described include developing new interventions, techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or approaches that help resolve uncertainty in diagnosis or treatment and strengthen treatment effectiveness and diagnostic practices.
What types of clinical or research uncertainties are specifically highlighted?
The opportunity highlights uncertainties such as: what is happening diagnostically, which patients may be at greatest risk, which treatments work best for which subgroups, and how to measure and monitor response in WTC Health Program populations.
Who is the target population that this research should ultimately benefit?
The research is intended to benefit individuals who receive monitoring and/or treatment under Subtitle C of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (as amended) through the WTC Health Program.
What agency is offering the funding and through what system?
The funding is offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through its Electronic Research Administration (ERA).
What is the funding mechanism and grant identifier?
The mechanism is NIH-style R21 (Exploratory/Developmental). The funding call is identified as RFA-OH-26-015, with CFDA 93.262.
What is the application deadline?
The listed application deadline is June 23, 2026.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $365,000.
How many awards does CDC expect to make?
CDC anticipates making about 36 awards.
What type of funding is this (mandatory vs. discretionary)?
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What is the instrument type?
The instrument type is a grant.
What is the primary activity area of this opportunity?
The activity area is health.
Who is eligible to apply?
A wide range of U.S.-based organizations are eligible, including: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, which are listed separately); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other unrestricted entities as permitted.
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible (with the note that institutions of higher education are addressed under separate eligibility categories).
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are listed among eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed separately as eligible.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled colleges and universities and private institutions of higher education are both listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions cannot apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S. organization apply if the work will be performed by its non-U.S. component?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are "foreign components" allowed in the proposed project?
No. Foreign components (as defined by the HHS Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed.
Does this opportunity require the funded activities to remain within the United States?
Yes. Based on the eligibility restrictions, the organizational footprint and supported activities must remain domestic (fully within the United States).
What is the overall intent of funding R21 projects under this program?
The intent is to enable researchers to pilot innovative ideas and open promising new directions that could improve WTC-related diagnosis and treatment. Successful R21 projects are expected to position the field for larger follow-on studies, new clinical strategies, or more definitive trials and evaluations.
Is this opportunity focused on extending established work or testing new concepts?
It is focused on testing new concepts. The notice emphasizes encouraging research that breaks new ground rather than simply extending well-established work.
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