Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project: Arthritis, Disability, and Other Chronic Diseases | RFA DP 16 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DP 16 003

The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project: Arthritis, Disability, and Other Chronic Diseases is a CDC funding opportunity (RFA DP 16 003) intended to strengthen the public health evidence base on osteoarthritis (OA), especially the hip and knee forms that drive a large share of arthritis-related disability. The opportunity is rooted in the recognition that arthritis affects roughly 52.5 million U.S. adults and represents the most common cause of disability nationally, yet it has not been studied at a level that matches its scale and impact. The announcement also highlights a particular gap in understanding OA among African American populations, where the burden is substantial and where differences in outcomes and contributing factors may not be fully captured by existing research.

The main goal of the cooperative agreement is to support a population-based, longitudinal study in Johnston County that follows people over time to produce more precise and useful estimates of how often hip and knee OA occurs (incidence), how widespread it is (prevalence), and how it changes or worsens over time (progression). In addition to tracking OA itself, the project is expected to refine estimates for related outcomes tied to OA, such as functional limitations and disability, which are central to why OA is such an important public health issue.

A second major focus is identifying and evaluating factors that influence OA outcomes. That includes both risk factors and protective factors, and it explicitly calls for looking at the role of other chronic conditions that commonly occur alongside OA. In practical terms, this means the study is positioned to examine how comorbidities may accelerate OA progression, worsen pain or mobility, complicate disability trajectories, or potentially interact with modifiable exposures and behaviors. By building that broader chronic disease context into the research, the project aligns OA research with real-world patient experiences, where OA rarely occurs in isolation.

A third core objective is to determine racial or ethnic differences in OA outcomes and to assess whether the impact of risk factors and comorbid conditions differs across groups. This emphasis reflects the concern that population averages can mask meaningful disparities and that prevention strategies, clinical management, and community interventions may need to be tailored when the underlying drivers or consequences of OA differ by race or ethnicity. The announcement frames this as a key public health knowledge gap rather than a purely clinical question, tying the work to broader efforts around disability prevention and health equity.

The opportunity is offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under CFDA 93.283, categorized as a health-related discretionary grant, and it uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally implies substantial involvement from the CDC in shaping or supporting the work compared to a standard grant. The funding details list an award ceiling of $1,500,000 with one expected award, reflecting a single-site, focused investment rather than a multi-award competition. The funding need and rationale are explicitly linked to national planning documents, including the 1999 National Arthritis Action Plan and the 2010 National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis, and it is described as a priority area for the CDC Arthritis Program.

Eligibility is highly restricted: the only organization eligible to apply is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The opportunity was created on 2015-12-11 with an original closing date of 2016-02-10, indicating it was designed as a targeted continuation or support mechanism for an established, population-based OA cohort effort centered in Johnston County rather than an open call for proposals from multiple institutions.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project: Arthritis, Disability, and Other Chronic Diseases" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.283.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-12-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-02-10. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for RFA DP 16 003

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