Best Obesity Prevention Grants in District of Columbia

U.S. 501(c)(3) charities improving diabetes, obesity, nutrition, or oral health programs can apply for Sun Life Financial’s Health Access funding, including work in the District of Columbia. Sun Life Financial provides US $25,000 - US $100,000 for programmatic support such as prevention, education, management, care, and recovery related to diabetes and oral health.

With a mission to improve health care and outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute provides District of Columbia health systems and research teams working on obesity and related conditions with funding to implement PCORI-funded comparative effectiveness findings in practice. Eligible principal investigators can propose multicomponent implementation projects across multiple health systems, supported by strong leadership buy-in and rigorous evaluation plans.

Postdoctoral fellows in the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research conducting obesity or related biomedical research can apply for the NHLBI Career Transition Award to support mentored and independent phases of their careers, including work in the District of Columbia. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help launch independent research programs at extramural institutions over five years.

With a mission to advance biomedical research careers, the National Institutes of Health provides District of Columbia obesity and related disease researchers with support to transition from NHLBI intramural training to independent positions at extramural institutions. Eligible applicants are highly qualified NHLBI intramural postdoctoral fellows or other doctoral-level trainees pursuing obesity, metabolism, or related biomedical research.

Focused on obesity and cancer risk, this National Cancer Institute R01 opportunity invites research institutions and investigators, including those in District of Columbia, to study how bariatric surgery influences cancer development. Grants up to US $2,500,000 support investigator-initiated clinical or mechanistic studies, with multiple standard and renewal deadlines through 2027.

Research institutions in the District of Columbia studying obesity and cancer mechanisms can apply for National Institutes of Health funding; awards up to US $275,000 support proof-of-concept studies on how bariatric surgery affects cancer risk. Projects focused on feasibility and exploratory development in obesity-related cancer prevention may be eligible.

Research institutions studying obesity-related policies and programs that affect health behaviors can seek time-sensitive funding in the District of Columbia and other U.S. jurisdictions. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health supports rapid-start evaluations of new policies or programs influencing diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and weight outcomes when opportunities require expedited review.

Postdoctoral trainees, fellows, clinical fellows, and research associates at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health can apply for University of Wisconsin - Madison grants up to US $20,000 for one-year research, education, or professional development projects. Work must advance health, health care, or health equity, including obesity-related research, and be completed before leaving UW–Madison.

Clinical research institutions focused on pediatric obesity treatment can seek up to US $1,000,000 to test anti-obesity medication strategies for children and adolescents in the District of Columbia and other U.S. locations. National Institutes of Health funding supports clinical centers in a collaborative consortium evaluating medication protocols, adjunct lifestyle therapies, and predictors of treatment response.

Research institutions focused on pediatric obesity treatment can apply to lead a coordinating center that supports anti-obesity medication trials for youth across the U.S., including the District of Columbia. Focused on obesity, the National Institutes of Health invites clinical research teams to manage consortium-wide protocol development, data harmonization, central lab coordination, and statistical analysis.

Research institutions and organizations conducting nutrition and obesity research in the District of Columbia can apply for National Institutes of Health Nutrition Obesity Research Centers funding, with awards up to US $750,000. Support focuses on core research services, pilot and feasibility projects, and enrichment activities that advance understanding of obesity, nutrition, and related metabolic diseases.

Nonprofit organizations across the U.S. working on obesity prevention, nutrition, diabetes, or oral health access may be eligible for Sun Life Financial’s Health Access Heroes Awards; awards US $10,000 to support impactful health access programs. District of Columbia groups addressing obesity and related conditions can also nominate individual community heroes for recognition.

Research institutions and other eligible private or public sector organizations in the District of Columbia can apply for Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Broad Pragmatic Studies funding; awards Up to US $12,000,000 for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. Projects may address obesity, diabetes, pain, or related conditions and must engage patients and stakeholders throughout the research process.

Health research institutions and clinical organizations in the District of Columbia can seek funding for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research on obesity and related conditions through the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Projects must compare at least two treatments or care delivery strategies to generate evidence that helps patients and caregivers make informed healthcare decisions.

Through grant-making, AIH partners with mission-aligned organizations by funding initiatives that align with our strategic objectives.

Granting Goals 

• Advance a future where healthcare and communities support whole person care, and healthy choices are accessible and effective in preventing, treating, and reversing chronic disease.
• Transform the way people are cared for in America by establishing lifestyle medicine and whole person care as integral components of the delivery of care in the US healthcare system

Focus Areas:

• Primary Care - Integration of whole person care
• Comprehensive Obesity Care - Integration of food is medicine
• Underserved Communities - Equitable delivery of whole person care

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on cardiovascular and metabolism health in the District of Columbia can access funding through Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine to improve patient access, advance health equity, and strengthen frontline health workforces. Programs addressing stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, thromboembolic disease, or vascular protection, especially for obese or at-risk populations, may be eligible.

Nursing-led health organizations working on innovative care models to address racism’s impact on health in the District of Columbia can apply for up to US $500,000. Focus areas include maternal and child health, care of older adults, and chronic illness management, which may encompass obesity-related disparities among vulnerable populations.