NIA Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 297

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 297

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is soliciting investigator-initiated Program Project Grant (P01) applications under the funding opportunity titled "NIA Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-18-297; CFDA: 93.866). This opportunity supports large, coordinated research programs that align with the NIA mission, meaning applicants should propose work that advances scientific understanding relevant to aging and age-related conditions. The "clinical trial optional" designation indicates that the overall program may include clinical trials, but they are not required; applicants can propose projects that are entirely non-clinical, contain clinical components, or include one or more clinical trials if scientifically justified.

A defining requirement of this FOA is that each P01 application must be built around a cohesive and well-integrated structure rather than a collection of unrelated studies. Specifically, the application must include at least three distinct, yet closely related, research projects that share a single central theme, common focus, and overall objective. The expectation is that the projects meaningfully complement one another and benefit from being conducted as a coordinated program, with clear scientific synergy (for example, shared hypotheses, shared resources, linked methodologies, or complementary aims that collectively answer a broader question). In addition, every application must include an Administrative Core. This core is responsible for providing overall leadership, coordination, governance, communication, and program management across the projects, and it is typically where applicants describe decision-making processes, oversight plans, internal review mechanisms, and how the program will maintain integration across all components.

The eligibility landscape is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; 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 (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, which are covered separately); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI). Faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions are also noted as eligible, emphasizing NIA's openness to a wide range of institutions capable of conducting substantial, multi-project research programs.

At the same time, there are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization. Similarly, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, the FOA allows "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In practice, that means a U.S.-based applicant may include certain well-justified international elements (such as specific collaborations, data collection, or specialized analyses) if they meet NIH's definition and policy requirements, but the main applicant organization must be domestic and meet all eligibility criteria described in the FOA.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant mechanism under NIH, using the P01 activity code, which is designed for programmatic, multi-project awards. The FOA record indicates an original closing date of July 12, 2019, and the source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the excerpt provided, so prospective applicants would need to consult the full FOA and any associated NIH Guide notices for current submission dates, budget expectations, and policy updates. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at supporting ambitious, collaborative research programs in aging that are stronger and more impactful when pursued through an integrated set of at least three projects under centralized leadership and management.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIA Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2017-11-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-07-12. (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 18 297

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