Key Dates

Related Announcements

PA-20-185 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-183 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PA-20-184 - Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PA-20-195 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-194 - Parent R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant, Clinical Trial Required

PA-20-196 - Parent R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant, Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required

PA-20-200 - NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Issued by

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to inform applicants to the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of NIA’s interest in basic and clinical mechanistic research on neurological and neurocognitive sequelae originating from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in aging and age-related neurodegeneration.

Background

Although SARS-CoV-2 infection poses a risk at all ages, adults aged 65 years and older are at greatest risk of severe disease, hospitalization, intensive care use, and death. Older adults are more likely to have one or more underlying diseases and conditions associated with worse outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection, including diabetes, coronary artery disease, pulmonary disease and other organ dysfunction, neurodegenerative disease, and sensory impairment. Clinical findings indicate the involvement of the brain in COVID-19, and a diagnosis of dementia represents an important risk factor for mortality in COVID-19 patients. Mechanistic research is needed on SARS-CoV-2 infection and its effects on the nervous system in aging, including individual susceptibility to severe complications from infection, and acute and long-term neurological, neurocognitive, and neurodegenerative sequelae of COVID-19.

Research Objectives

The specific research objectives of this NOSI are to rapidly expand the knowledge base on acute and long-term neurological and neurocognitive sequelae of COVID-19. NIA encourages investigator-initiated new and resubmission applications for research activity codes (i.e., R21, R01, R03) to address significant questions about the neurological and neurocognitive impacts of COVID-19 infection in aging and the interaction in older adults of COVID-19 with comorbid conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD). Animal and human studies are appropriate for this NOSI. This NOSI aims to promote collaborative and integrative efforts between investigators with different perspectives and backgrounds.

Potential Research Areas

Research applications responsive to this NOSI will include projects investigating questions of importance to neurological and neurocognitive sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in aging such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Research on neurological and neurocognitive symptoms and sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults across the full range of illness severity (e.g., early alterations in sensory function, delirium, neuropsychiatric symptoms).
• Studies in the context of aging and age-related neurodegeneration of the role of brain barriers in preventing SARS-CoV-2 from gaining access to neural tissues, and mechanisms through which SARS-CoV-2 compromises such barriers and propagates in the central nervous system (CNS);
• Studies to elucidate mechanisms of susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in aging and age-related neurodegeneration.
• Research on basic mechanisms underlying the neurobiology of COVID-19 pathophysiology, such as vascular changes, neuroinflammation, or acute hypoxic damage.
• Research on genetic risk or protective factors that may alter cognitive function in older adults who have been afflicted with COVID-19.
• Studies of COVID-19 susceptibility in people with AD/ADRD.
• Neuropathological studies of COVID-19 and the contribution of brain tissue damage by SARS-CoV-2 to the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 in older adults.
• Drug discovery research and development of novel drugs, as well as repurposing and repositioning existing drugs, for preventing and treating COVID-19 in older adults, particularly drugs that are specific for COVID-19 related CNS targets and CNS mechanisms related to or driving the viral-mediated pathophysiology, and research on blood-brain-barrier penetrant drug candidates to treat potential SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs in the CNS.
• Research to develop computational and informatics methods (e.g., machine learning or artificial intelligence) integrating emerging multi-modal data for COVID-19 diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in older adults.
• Research to develop devices or wearables for real-time detection and monitoring of cognitive and/or other neurological sequela in post-COVID-19 older adults.
• Studies of long-term outcomes after recovery from COVID-19 in older adults across the range of illness severity, including neurocognitive, neuropsychiatric, and focal neurological deficits.
• Research to develop novel models for investigating concurrent aging and neurodegenerative processes in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The scope of scientific questions must be relevant to the mission of NIA and aligned with the NIA Strategic Directions and/or the HHS National Plans to Address Alzheimer’s Disease. Collaborations among multiple principle investigators and key personnel in complementary disciplines are encouraged.

For clinical and epidemiological research studies, NIA encourages the inclusion of diverse participant populations, particularly those health disparate populations that have been disproportionately affected (e.g., low socioeconomic status (SES), racial/ethnic minorities, etc.).

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after June 5, 2021 and subsequent receipt dates through May 7, 2023. 

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), or any reissues of these announcements, through the expiration date of this NOSI:

• PA-20-185 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-183 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)
• PA-20-184 - Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
• PA-20-195 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-194 - Parent R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant, Clinical Trial Required
• PA-20-196 - Parent R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant, Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required
• PA-20-200 - NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-AG-21-016” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Miroslaw Mackiewicz, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Phone: 301-496-9350
Email: [email protected]

Luci Roberts, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Phone: 301-496-9350
Email: [email protected]

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Mitchell Whitfield
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Phone: 301-827-6373
Email: [email protected]