High-Priority Behavioral and Social Research Networks (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AG 19 015

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 19 015

The High-Priority Behavioral and Social Research Networks (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) opportunity (RFA-AG-19-015) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant designed to strengthen the infrastructure of research networks focused on behavioral and social science questions that matter for aging. Rather than primarily funding large, stand-alone research projects, the goal here is to build and organize communities of researchers and shared resources so that specific, high-priority topics in aging-related behavioral and social science can grow faster, become more coordinated, and produce stronger, more usable evidence for the field.

The FOA supports network-building activities that help a scientific area mature and expand. Examples of the kinds of infrastructure work the grant is meant to support include convening meetings and conferences, running small-scale pilot efforts that help groups test ideas or methods, offering short-term educational and training opportunities (such as intensive workshops, summer institutes, or visiting scholar programs), and creating dissemination activities that spread tools, findings, standards, and other resources broadly. In practice, an R24 network under this announcement would be expected to act as a hub that connects investigators, aligns methods and measures, identifies gaps and priorities, and produces shared products like harmonized protocols, best-practice guidance, training materials, and community resources that benefit aging-related research beyond a single institution.

Applications must fit within one of seven specified high-priority network themes, and proposals outside these areas are not responsive. The eligible network areas are: (1) Midlife Reversibility of Biobehavioral Risk associated with Early Life Adversity, which centers on whether and how the biological and behavioral consequences of early adversity can be altered during midlife to improve later-life outcomes; (2) Stress Measurement, focused on improving how stress is defined, captured, and compared across studies, populations, and time, potentially including new measures, harmonization approaches, or methodological standards; (3) Reproducibility in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, aimed at strengthening research reliability through better practices, transparency, replication approaches, and shared standards; (4) Life Course Health Disparities at Older Ages, which emphasizes understanding how inequities accumulate across the lifespan and shape health and functioning in later life; (5) Genomics of Behavioral and Social Science, supporting infrastructure that helps integrate genomic data and tools with behavioral and social research questions relevant to aging; (6) Integrating Animal Models to Inform Behavioral and Social Research on Aging, encouraging cross-talk and translation between animal model insights and human behavioral/social aging research; and (7) Rural Aging, which targets the distinct challenges, contexts, and service environments affecting aging in rural communities and how research networks can advance understanding and solutions.

The award uses the NIH grant mechanism and is categorized as discretionary funding in the health area, with CFDA number 93.866. The funding instrument is an R24, and the announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the supported activities cannot include clinical trials as defined by NIH. While the network can include pilots and other preparatory work, the intent is infrastructure and capacity-building rather than running clinical intervention trials under this award.

A wide range of applicant organizations can apply. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside of universities), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the eligibility rules draw a clear line on non-U.S. applicants: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined under NIH policy, are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or elements if they meet NIH requirements and are justified within the project.

The source information provided lists an original closing date of February 1, 2019, and an award ceiling of $250,000. The overall emphasis throughout the announcement is on building durable, high-impact research networks that can advance methods, training, collaboration, and shared resources in one of the seven priority areas, ultimately strengthening the broader aging research ecosystem in behavioral and social science.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "High-Priority Behavioral and Social Research Networks (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-06-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA AG 19 015

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