Aging Research Dissertation Awards to Promote Diversity (R36 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 24 130

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 130

The Aging Research Dissertation Awards to Promote Diversity (R36 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) designed to support dissertation-stage research that aligns with NIA strategic priorities. The core goal is to expand and strengthen diversity within the scientific workforce conducting research on aging and aging-related health conditions. In practical terms, the program is intended to help promising doctoral candidates complete a focused dissertation research project in aging by providing dedicated grant support during a critical training period, while also advancing NIA-relevant science.

This opportunity is published as PAR-24-130 and falls under the discretionary grant category, with the funding instrument listed as a grant and the activity area categorized as health (CFDA 93.866). It is explicitly labeled “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” meaning applicants must propose dissertation research that does not meet NIH’s definition of a clinical trial. Projects can still involve human participants or health-related data depending on the specific aims and methods, but they cannot be structured as an intervention study intended to prospectively assign human participants to receive an intervention and evaluate its effects on health-related outcomes.

Eligibility spans a wide range of applicant organization types, reflecting NIH’s broad institutional reach. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized). The announcement also allows Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (when not an institution of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The NOFO also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Despite listing “Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations)” in a general eligibility-style list, the NOFO text is clear that foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In other words, the applicant organization and any contributing components must be domestic.

In terms of timing, the original closing date provided is 2026-11-16, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of 2024-11-18. The public summary data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which usually means applicants need to consult the full NOFO and NIH budget guidance for the R36 mechanism to understand allowable costs, project period expectations, and typical budget ranges.

Overall, this program is best understood as a dissertation completion-style research award tied to NIA’s aging mission, with an added emphasis on promoting diversity in the aging research pipeline. It supports dissertation projects across the breadth of NIA strategic priorities so long as the work fits the R36 scope and avoids clinical trial designs, and it is open to a wide array of domestic institutions and organizations, including many that serve historically underrepresented communities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Aging Research Dissertation Awards to Promote Diversity (R36 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 2024-11-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 PAR 24 130

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