Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Promoting Research on Music and Health: Phased Innovation Award for Music Interventions (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)

Notice Number: NOT-AT-18-015

Key Dates

Release Date: August 31, 2018
Estimated Publication Date of Funding Opportunity Announcement: November 01, 2018
First Estimated Application Due Date: February 28, 2019
Earliest Estimated Award Date: September 01, 2019
Earliest Estimated Start Date: September 01, 2019

Related Announcements
NOT-NS-18-090
NOT-NS-18-091

Issued by
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Purpose

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications to develop music interventions aimed at understanding their mechanisms(s) of action, and clinical application. Because of the need for a multidisciplinary approach, collaborations among basic researchers, translational science researchers, music intervention experts, other clinical researchers, music health professionals, and technology development researchers are encouraged. The FOA will utilize the phased R61/R33 funding mechanism to support mechanistic research and to evaluate the clinical relevance of music interventions. The R61 phase will provide funding for up to two years to either investigate the biological mechanisms or behavioral processes underlying music interventions or can be used to develop innovative technology or approaches to further optimize an intervention to achieve a specified outcome. The second, R33, phase will provide up to three years of support for further mechanistic investigations, or intervention development, leading to pilot testing. Pilot testing would focus on intervention optimization/refinement, feasibility, adherence, and/or identification of appropriate outcome measures to inform future clinical research. Transition from the R61 to the R33 will depend on successful completion of milestones established for the R61.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.

Research Initiative Details

FOA Background

Music has the remarkable ability to enhance child development, improve adult function and well-being, and optimize the quality of life during aging. Many studies have shown that music can also ameliorate the symptoms of a broad range of diseases and disorders that occur throughout the lifespan. Recent scientific breakthroughs, including the development of new technologies, are providing the community with opportunities to understand the mechanisms through which music acts, and to develop new music interventions for a variety of human conditions. To capitalize on these opportunities, the NIH is issuing three related initiatives intended to: i) promote our understanding of the basic mechanisms through which music is processed by the brain and body; ii) explore how music impacts health and physiology, and iii) facilitate rigorous music intervention studies to treat disease symptoms.

To capitalize on these opportunities, the NIH is issuing initiatives intended to: i) promote our understanding of the basic mechanisms through which music is processed by the brain and body; ii) explore how music impacts normal health and development and iii) facilitate rigorous music intervention studies to treat disease symptoms.

In 2016, the NIH, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (KC), and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) formed a collaborative partnership ( Sound Health ) and organized a workshop to evaluate the state of basic and applied music research ( Music and the Brain ). In this meeting, a diverse panel of experts discussed three overlapping periods of life (childhood, adulthood and aging) and made recommendations for enhancing research in each of these domains ( NIH report ). The group developed a set of recommendations intended to highlight research opportunities and promote the rigor of future research. These recommendations centered around four broad areas: 1) Basic and Mechanistic Research, 2) Translational and Clinical Research, 3) Methods and Outcomes and 4) Capacity Building and Infrastructure.

In 2017, a trans-NIH Music and Health working group was formed to capitalize on these recommendations and promote their implementation. To achieve this, the NIH is issuing three related FOAs which fall into two categories. The first two FOAs will support R01 and R21 awards respectively that are intended to broadly support any research areas related to the fundamentals and application of music in health. The third FOA will utilize a phased R61/R33 mechanism to support research on music and health geared towards music intervention. See t? h? e? ? announcement for further details and contact the scientific contacts listed prior to preparing an application to determine the most suitable FOA for a given proposal.

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into areas of relevant research disciplines, such as basic researchers, translational science researchers, music intervention experts, other clinical researchers, music health professionals, and/or technology development researchers, to begin to consider applying for this new FOA. In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise as described above will be encouraged and these investigators should also begin considering applying for this application.

This initiative encourages applications that examine the biological mechanisms or behavioral processes underlying music interventions in relevant animal models, healthy human subjects, and/or clinical populations; the development of innovative technology or approaches to enhance music intervention research; and the piloting of rigorous, evidence-based therapeutic music interventions in preparation of the next generation of definitive music intervention trials.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding The NIH with its participating institutes, centers, and offices, intend to commit up to $5,000,000 in FY2019 to promote research on music and health via this intended FOA as well as the related FOAs.
Expected Number of Awards 9-12 awards are expected to be made across the three related FOAs.
Estimated Award Ceiling The R61/R33 FOA will be limited to $350,000 in direct costs in any given year in either of the phases.?
Primary CFDA Numbers 93.213

Anticipated Eligible Organizations

Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Nonprofit without 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
City or township governments
Special district governments
Independent school districts
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
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

Applications are not being solicited at this time.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Wen G. Chen, MMSc, Ph.D.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
301-451-3989
chenw@mail.nih.gov