Department of Health and Human Services

Part 1. Overview Information
Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Funding Opportunity Title

Molecular Mechanisms of Circadian Clocks in Aging Tissues (R01)

Activity Code

R01 Research Project Grant

Announcement Type

New

Related Notices

None

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number

RFA-AG-13-007

Companion Funding Opportunity

None

Number of Applications

See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)

93.866

Funding Opportunity Purpose

This FOA issued by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), solicits grant applications from institutions/organizations that propose research to enhance the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control circadian clocks in aging tissues. This FOA encourages studies on the roles of peripheral and extra suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) circadian clocks during aging. These studies include understanding the impact of alterations in the clock system on chromatin remodeling, gene expression, translation, signaling, and function of individual cells. In addition, studies are solicited on the pathophysiology of alterations to circadian clock regulation in aged tissues, with particular attention to the response of the clock system to metabolic/nutritional, environmental and pharmacological challenges.

Key Dates
Posted Date

August 17, 2012

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

October 5, 2012

Letter of Intent Due Date

October 5, 2012

Application Due Date(s)

November 7, 2012, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Not Applicable

Scientific Merit Review

February 2013

Advisory Council Review

May 2013

Earliest Start Date(s)

July 2013

Expiration Date

November 8, 2012

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Research Objectives

The primary aim of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit the submission of research applications that would advance biomedical research on the roles of peripheral and extra-SCN brain circadian clocks during aging, facilitating the identification of molecular and cellular markers of normal aging; and to advance the understanding of the impact of aging on the peripheral circadian clocks, and how these clocks impact the aging process across a broad range of cell types.

It has been recognized by both aging and circadian clock researchers that many aspects of circadian rhythms are impacted by age and that biochemical pathways implicated in the aging process have a role in circadian rhythms. The intersection of circadian and aging studies constitutes a largely unexplored research area ready for further investigation, and interactions between circadian and aging researchers need to be stronger.

Background

Over the past decade there has been considerable progress in research on circadian clocks and their role in many aspects of physiology. Circadian systems organize critical physiological and behavioral functions by coordinating gene expression and metabolic processes throughout the organism. The circadian systems are controlled by a master pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the central nervous system, but endogenous oscillators are found essentially in every cell in the body, and mounting evidence suggests that these local oscillators regulate critical functions in most organs.

While circadian clocks are generally linked with daily rhythms of locomotor activity and sleep, it is increasingly evident that in peripheral tissues, clocks have their hands in a myriad of metabolic and cellular functions such as pathways regulating nutrient and energy balance, cell cycle, DNA-damage repair or xenobiotic detoxification. Very little is known about the peripheral and extra SCN clock systems and aging, but it is likely that deregulation of the clocks exerts a wide range of effects on metabolism and physiological functions of various organ systems.

Circadian Clocks and Aging

There is evidence to suggest that a decline in circadian function contributes to deficits associated with aging. However, little is known about the nature and mechanisms of the changes that occur in the circadian systems with age. For example, it is not known how central and peripheral oscillators each contribute to age-related processes such as lifespan or health span. To address these questions, a useful strategy might be to study the impact on aging of genetic or pharmacological manipulations of clock function in specific tissues, including brain versus periphery.

On the other hand, we do not know if there are explicit or causal relationships between the aging process and altered clock functions. For example, there is only limited information on how molecular elements of the central and peripheral clocks change with age, whether age-related changes in clocks are uniform throughout the body or differ between various organs or if changes are reversible. It has been recently demonstrated that serum factors in older individuals change cellular clock properties, e.g., shorten period and advance the phase of circadian rhythms. This suggests that age-related changes in circadian rhythms might be pharmacologically remediable; i.e., clocks might be rejuvenated. A possible strategy to test this concept would be to perform in vitro tests for anti-aging effects of compounds that modulate the circadian rhythms, as well as determining if compounds that modulate aging affect the clock systems.

There is a strong bidirectional communication between metabolism and clock functions. Many metabolic enzymes, often rate limiting, are regulated by the circadian clocks, and it has been demonstrated that mutations in the core clock genes cause metabolic disorders. For example, a mutation of the clock gene caused mice to be hyperphagic and obese; these mice exhibited metabolic syndromes, including hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, hyperglycemia, and hypoinsulinemia.

The redox state of cells also plays an important role in the function of the circadian rhythms. Among rhythmic metabolic substrates in the liver, the ratio of NADP+ to NADPH influences binding of clock transcription factor complexes to DNA. Metabolic activities leading to changes in NAD+/NADH ratios affect the circadian rhythms as well. SIRT1, a NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase, has been shown to be involved in the integration of circadian and metabolic transcription networks. Since cellular NAD+ levels are coupled to metabolic activity, it has been suggested that SIRT1 may serve as a key player in the connection between circadian rhythms, metabolism, and aging. The suggested involvement of sirtuins in longevity, and their control of the clock and by the clock, underscore the need for addressing the role of clock genes in aging. A possible strategy to address some of these questions would be to test the effectiveness of genetic or pharmacological manipulations that modulate lifespan or health span in organisms with mutated clock genes.

Research Aims

The NIA is issuing this FOA to encourage studies on the roles of peripheral and extra -SCN circadian clocks during aging. Studies that will explore new directions in aging research and make use of state-of-the-art -omic technologies, imaging, single cell studies, and systems biology approaches are encouraged.

This FOA is aimed at studies in cellular and molecular mechanisms of changes in clock function in relation to aging. Research would be directed toward peripheral tissues and/or extra-suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) brain tissues during aging. In considering aging studies, researchers should look beyond the young versus old comparisons, and consider intermediate age effects.

Areas of interest and appropriate topics in aging research include, but are not limited to:

Responsiveness to the FOA

The goal of the program supported by this FOA is to identify mechanistic answers regarding causality and not phenomenological correlations with aging. An integrated systems level approach to the analysis of multiple parameters in live native tissues (rather than dispersed cells) is highly encouraged.

It is expected that the projects submitted in response to the FOA will be collaborative efforts between and among investigators with different perspectives and backgrounds and with significant interests and expertise in circadian clocks and aging. A multi-PD(s)/PI(s) application may be useful but is not required (see Eligible Individuals (Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(S)) in Section III.1). Research applications to study the role of the master circadian clocks in the SCN, or studies on the role of circadian clocks on locomotor activity or sleep, will be considered nonresponsive to this FOA. SCN-related studies may be proposed if well-coupled to the primary goal of elucidating the role of peripheral and extra-SCN circadian clock biology. Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss their scientific interests with the scientific staff mentioned in Section VII when planning their applications.

Section II. Award Information
Funding Instrument

Grant

Application Types Allowed

New

The OER Glossary and the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations, and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

NIA intends to commit $1.5 million in FY 2013 to fund 5-6 applications in response to this FOA.

Award Budget

Application budgets need to reflect actual needs of the proposed project and should be modular with a maximum of $200,000 direct cost per year in any given year.

Award Project Period

Scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum period is 5 years.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Higher Education Institutions

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

For-Profit Organizations

Governments

Other

Foreign Institutions

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following registrations.

All Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons account of the applicant organization.

All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at least 4-6 weeks prior to the application due date.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s))

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PD(s)/PI(s), visit the Multiple Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

2. Cost Sharing

This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. .

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

Letter of Intent

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Dr. Jos M. Vel zquez
Director, Cell Biology Program
Division of Aging Biology
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 2C231
Bethesda, MD 20892
Tel: 301-496-6428
Fax: 301-402-0010
Email:  jvelazqu@mail.nih.gov

Required and Optional Components

The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, mandatory and optional.  Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.

Page Limitations

All page limitations described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

PHS 398 Research Plan Component

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Resource Sharing Plan

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modifications:

Appendix

Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Foreign Institutions

Foreign (non-US) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions described throughout the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

3. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit in advance of the deadline to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications via Grants.gov, the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

4. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

5. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

To facilitate the interaction among NIA staff and investigators, and to better coordinate this program, it is anticipated that one meeting per year will be held within the commuting area of Bethesda, MD. The PD/PI is expected to attend these meetings and travel funds should be included in the budget. For multi-PI grants, all PDs/PIs should attend these meetings. By acceptance of an award, the applicant organization and key personnel agree to abide by this condition.

6. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.  Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.

Important reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF 424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review and responsiveness by program staff at NIA, NIH. Applications proposing to study central circadian clocks and/or locomotor activity or sleep will be considered nonresponsive to this FOA. Studies that do not investigate aging dynamics, health span, or the state of aging as a primary focus of their study will be nonresponsive to this FOA and will not be reviewed. Applications must be mechanistic in nature; wholly correlative and/or descriptive studies will not be reviewed.

In order to expedite review, applicants are requested to notify the NIA Referral Office by email at Vemuri@mail.nih.gov when the application has been submitted. Please include the FOA number and title, PD/PI name, and title of the application.

Post Submission Materials

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115.

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Overall Impact

Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

Scored Review Criteria

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Significance

Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

Investigator(s)

Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD(s)/PI(S), do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project? Does the research team have expertise on circadian clocks, aging and the biology of the tissue under study?

Innovation

Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

Approach

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed? 

If the project involves clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?

Environment

Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?

Additional Review Criteria

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children 

When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Vertebrate Animals

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

Biohazards

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Resubmissions

Not Applicable

Renewals

Not Applicable

Revisions

Not Applicable

Additional Review Considerations

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.

Applications from Foreign Organizations

Reviewers will assess whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions that exist in other countries and either are not readily available in the United States or augment existing U.S. resources.

Select Agent Research

Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

Resource Sharing Plans

Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).

Budget and Period of Support

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), convened by the NIA,, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Review assignments will be shown in the eRA Commons.


As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

Appeals of initial peer review will not be accepted for applications submitted in response to this FOA.

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this FOA. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Council on Aging. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD(s)/PI(s) will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.      

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, CCR Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General  and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

Not Applicable.

3. Reporting

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Application Submission Contacts

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading or navigating forms)
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov

eRA Commons Help Desk (Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, tracking application status, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: commons@od.nih.gov

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

For general questions concerning this FOA and for questions related to peripheral circadian clocks please contact:

Dr. Jos M. Vel zquez
Director, Cell Biology Program
Division of Aging Biology
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 2C231
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Tel: 301- 496-6428
Fax: 301- 402-0010
Email:  jvelazqu@mail.nih.gov

For questions related to extra-SCN circadian clocks in the brain please contact:

Dr. Miroslaw Mackiewicz
Program Director, Integrative Neurobiology, Sleep & Biorhythms
Division of Neuroscience
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 350
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9205
Tel: 301- 496-9350
Fax: 301- 496-1494
Email: mackiewiczm2@mail.nih.gov

Peer Review Contact(s)

Ramesh Vemuri, Ph.D.
National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Aging
Office of Scientific Review
Gateway Building  (Room 2C212)
7201 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
(for courier use 20814)
Tel: 301-402-7701
Fax: 301-402-0066
Email: Vermuri@nia.nih.gov

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Ms. Linda Whipp
Grants Management officer
National Institute on Aging
Tel: 301-402-7731
Email: whippl@nia.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Authority and Regulations

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.


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