Key Dates
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National Institute on Aging (NIA)
This Notice informs that NIA intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) inviting applications from mid-career investigators for mentored career enhancement awards focused on cross-disciplinary training to broaden and strengthen the investigator's capability to lead future comparative studies of the factors contributing to differences in life spans between human and nonhuman primate species.
The NOFO is intended to provide support for experienced investigators with expertise in human and/or nonhuman primate (NHP) studies to do the following:
1) Augment or redirect their research program by acquiring expertise in other fields related to comparative primate research and aging
2) Develop collaborations with research fields with which they do not commonly interact
This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to identify potential mentors and prepare well-developed career enhancement plans. The NOFO is expected to be published in June 2024 with an anticipated application due date in November 2024. These are estimated time frames, and they may change.
The NOFO is expected to utilize the K18 Career Enhancement Award activity code. It is expected that the NOFO will not allow clinical trials.
Additional details of the planned NOFO are provided below.
The NOFO intends to provide investigators with protected time to enhance their careers by doing the following:
1) Enrich and expand their expertise and research programs through retooling in new techniques, emerging technologies, and scientific areas
2) Redirect their research programs in new trajectories
3) Catalyze research collaborations to lead future comparative studies of human and nonhuman life span
These interdisciplinary collaborations are intended to be mutually beneficial for both the mentor and applicant. Examples of cross-training collaborations for investigators with expertise in human and/or nonhuman primate (NHP) studies that may be well-suited for this opportunity include collaborations on factors related to differences on primate species’ longevity engaging cross-disciplinary combinations such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Nonhuman primate and human longevity research
- Evolutionary biology and genetics
- Biological anthropology and other biomedical research
- Neuroscience and cognition
- Primate field studies and comparative biology of aging
- Biodemography and primate field studies
- Developmental biology and evolutionary biology
- Biological anthropology and social/behavioral sciences
The NOFO is expected to require the following elements in the proposed career enhancement plan:
- A didactic component (e.g., directed study/tutorials, online courses, semester-long courses, short courses, seminar series, journal clubs, methodology/technical skills-based training/instruction, etc.) directly relevant to the proposed cross-training area(s)
- A collaborative research project between the awardee and mentor to provide experience, knowledge, and skill acquisition in the new research area
- Detailed plans for expanding the candidate's professional network (and access to relevant resources) within the proposed scientific area(s)
Anticipated Level of Effort:
At the time of award, the candidate must have a “full-time” appointment at an eligible institution. Candidates will be required to commit a minimum of 3 person-months of effort (i.e., 25% of full-time professional effort) per year to their program of career development. This effort can be expended consistently throughout the academic or calendar year or be focused during summer or off-term months. Candidates may engage in other duties as part of the professional effort not covered by this award, as long as such duties do not interfere with or detract from the proposed career development program.
Funding Information
NIA intends to commit up to $1.5 million in fiscal year 2025 in total costs.
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It is anticipated that award budgets will be composed of salary and other program-related expenses.
NIA intends to contribute salary funds for a minimum of 3 person-months, and up to 12 person-months of full-time professional effort per year toward the salary of the career award recipient. NIA intends to contribute salary funds up to the maximum legislated salary rate.
NIA intends to contribute up to $100,000 in direct costs per year toward the research development costs of the award recipient, which must be justified and consistent with the stage of development of the candidate and the proportion of time to be spent in research or career development activities.
Estimated Award Project Period
It is anticipated that the total project period will require at least 2 years and may not exceed 3 years.
93.866
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Regional Organization
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
Applications are not being solicited at this time.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Carol Nguyen
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Email: [email protected]
and Human Services (HHS)
