Key Dates

PAR-20-266 - Promoting Research on Music and Health: Phased Innovation Award for Music Interventions (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Eye Institute (NEI)

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers. The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers.

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)

Purpose: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) including the National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Nursing, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and National Endowment for the Arts intend to promote a new initiative by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for exploratory research to: (1) increase our understanding of how music affects the brain when it is used therapeutically and/or (2) use that knowledge to better develop evidence-based music interventions to enhance health or treat specific diseases and disorders. Proposed R21 projects could investigate the mechanisms by which music affects the brain to improve health either in healthy or diseased states. Proposed R21 projects could also focus on the development or refinement of specific musical interventions relevant to the participating institutes, agencies, and offices. When appropriate, collaborations among basic researchers, technology developers, music intervention experts, or other clinical researchers are highly encouraged.

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

The FOA is expected to be published in Fall 2020 with an expected application due date in Winter 2021.

This FOA will utilize the R21 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Music has the remarkable ability to ameliorate the symptoms of a broad range of disorders that occur throughout the lifespan, deliver palliative care during serious advanced illness, and improve recovery from a variety of neurological disorders. Music can clearly act as an effective medicine, but its mechanistic underpinnings are poorly understood.

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. 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) with the goal of understanding the healing abilities of music and use them more effectively and broadly.

The upcoming Program Announcement with Special Review (PAR) will accept R21 applications and is intended to
support exploratory studies with the potential to catalyze the science of music and health. All proposed projects must be within the mission and interests of the participating institutes, offices and agencies. A companion R01 PAR will be issued which encompasses a similar therapeutic focus but will emphasize more established projects. Additionally, NICCH reissued an RFA (PAR-20-266) utilizing a related phased R61/R33 mechanism to support research that can best be facilitated through milestone-driven awards on music and health geared towards music intervention.

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into this area of neuroscience and music medicine to begin to consider applying for this new FOA. In addition, collaborative investigations between neuroscientists, neurologists, music intervention experts and clinical researchers will be encouraged. Among the areas of research encouraged in this initiative are research examining the mechanisms that underlie the effects of music and music therapy on the brain, as well as research designed to improve the translation of existing knowledge of strategies for the prevention and treatment of diseases and disorders within the mission of the participating institutes, agencies and offices.

Applications are not being solicited at this time.

Please direct all inquiries to:

Coryse St. Hillaire-Clarke, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-827-6944
Email: sthillaireclacn@mail.nih.gov

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

Yolanda F. Vallejo, Ph.D.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Telephone: 301-827-4655
Email: yolanda.vallejo@nih.gov

Lynn Adams, Ph.D.
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Telephone: 301-594-8911
Email: lynn.adams@nih.gov

Mi Hillefors, M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-2738
Email: mi.hillefors@nih.gov

Dana M. Greene-Schloesser, Ph.D.
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
Phone: 301-451-3975
Email: dana.schloesser@nih.gov

Guoying Liu, Ph.D.
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Telephone: 301-594-5220
E-mail: liug@mail.nih.gov

Cheri Wiggs, Ph.D. .
National Eye Institute (NEI) .
Telephone: (301) 451-2020 .
Email: wiggsc@mail.nih.gov