September 13, 2022
PA-20-200 - NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) invites applications for small research grants that align with the goals of the National Academy of Medicine's Healthy Longevity Grand Challenge, as well as the National Institute on Aging's (NIA) interests in supporting research to promote a long healthspan and functional independence in both aging and Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD).
Background
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of three academies that make up the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), launched the Healthy Longevity Global Grand Challenge as a “worldwide movement to improve physical, mental, and social well-being for people as they age.” The initiative includes the Healthy Longevity Global Competition, which brings together an international community of funding agencies to foster innovations around the world in support of improving health and function in older age. The competition comprises three phases: the Catalyst Phase (small awards to stimulate innovation), the Accelerator Phase (awards made to meritorious Catalyst Phase awardees to advance their work), and the Grand Prize Phase (prizes awarded to projects that have made significant breakthroughs in extending human healthspan).
NIA participated in the Catalyst Phase in 2020 through RFA-AG-20-027, “Innovations to Foster Healthy Longevity in Low-Income Settings (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).” NASEM has extended the Catalyst Phase through 2025 and NIA is continuing its involvement in the initiative through issuance of this NOSI.
Research Objectives
NIA is interested in projects that reflect its mission to support research on aging, the aging process, and diseases and conditions associated with growing older, including AD/ADRD. Applications that reflect NIA’s programmatic interests in genetic, biological, clinical, epidemiological, neuroscience, behavioral, social, and economic research on aging as they relate to healthy longevity are encouraged. Projects should inform the overall mission of the Healthy Longevity Global Grand Challenge and include bold, new, and innovative ideas to extend health and function as people age.
Examples of topic areas responsive to this NOSI include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Studies to develop or identify measures predictive of successful aging (including biological, functional, cognitive and/or emotional aging) and healthy longevity
- Validation studies of new or existing measures of healthy longevity in different species or populations that could lead to innovations to extend health and function in humans
- Secondary data analysis to identify predictive markers or modifiable risk or protective factors associated with successful aging, healthy longevity, and/or AD/ADRD
- Pilot and feasibility studies of interventions that hold the promise of increasing healthy lifespan
- Development of technological innovations to increase healthy longevity
- Development or validation of digital technology for early detection and monitoring of AD/ADRD
- Development or validation of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools for improved assessment in epidemiological and clinical research
When developing research plans, applicants are encouraged to consider the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework, which highlights priority populations of interest to NIA, the integration of exposures and mechanisms in biological, behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental domains, and a life course perspective. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to factor sex as a biological variable into research designs, analyses, and reporting in vertebrate animal and human studies.
Research programs that include populations considered vulnerable or under-researched (e.g., women, indigenous populations, populations in adverse environmental settings, etc.) in low- and middle-income countries are also encouraged.
Application and Submission Information
This notice applies to due dates on or after February 16, 2023 and subsequent receipt dates through May 8, 2023.
Submit applications for this initiative using the following funding opportunity announcement (FOA) or any reissues of the announcement through the expiration date of this notice.
- 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-22-030” (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.
NIA Scientific/Research Contact(s)
Francesca Macchiarini, Ph.D., MS
Division of Aging Biology (DAB)
Telephone: 301-827-4013
Email: francesca.macchiarini@nih.gov
Laura Major, DrPH, MPH
Division of Behavioral and Social Research (DBSR)
Telephone: 301-496-3136
Email: laura.major@nih.gov
Damali Martin, Ph.D., MPH
Division of Neuroscience (DN)
Telephone: 301-402-8310
Email: martinda@mail.nih.gov
Nalini Raghavachari, Ph.D.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology (DGCG)
Telephone: 301-496-6942
Email: nraghavachari@mail.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
