Aging research frequently entails a multidisciplinary effort, drawing on the expertise and resources of multiple individuals, institutions, and communities. Some studies require large-scale approaches requiring coordination of multiple components or across multiple sites in order to leverage a wide range of necessary resources and expertise. However, the scale and complexity of such projects are often unsuitable for traditional NIH mechanisms (e.g., R01), and instead, require more specialized mechanisms to successfully coordinate their multiple interacting components and allow for adequate presentation of the breadth and complexity of the proposed project to peer reviewers.
- One or more coordinating centers
- Clinical or study sites
- Specialized cores, such as for data management and analysis, measurement and phenotyping, animal models, etc.
Examples of the kinds of studies supported under this announcement include, but are not limited to, one or a combination of the following:
- Large-scale longitudinal observational studies of diseases or conditions that are common in aging populations involving integration of multiple clinical outcomes with molecular, genetic, or other mechanistic data.
- Large-scale, multi-site intervention studies in human subjects and/or animal models for aging-related conditions involving multiple endpoints to assess efficacy or effectiveness and to elucidate mechanisms.
- Translation of basic science findings into pre-clinical or clinical studies, or of clinical findings into practice or community settings, for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of aging-related conditions, requiring coordination of broad multidisciplinary expertise across multiple settings.
The structure and approach of proposed projects will vary depending on the hypotheses under study; however, it is expected that all projects will focus on an overarching scientific question that integrates all study components into a unified whole
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIA Scientific/Research staff at least 6 weeks in advance of the anticipated application due date. This will help applicants ensure their prospective projects are aligned with NIA program priorities and consistent with administrative and budgetary policies.
Successful projects are expected to have a sound scientific rationale based on adequate preliminary data; however, investigators may propose preliminary activities where necessary to refine methods or protocols, or to test effectiveness of study component integration prior to full-scale study implementation.
In addition, investigators may choose to establish standing committees among study personnel for specialized cross-project functions such as a steering committee, data access and publications oversight, training of study personnel, etc. Applicants may also propose an external advisory committee to regularly review the progress of the multi-component project and provide non-binding recommendations for its activities.
Studies involving human interventions should comply with NIH’s and NIA’s policies on human intervention studies, including development of a data and safety monitoring plan. Specific individuals who may constitute a data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) should not be named in the application.
Research infrastructure development necessary to achieve the scientific aims of the planned study may be proposed.
Deadlines: standard dates apply
URL: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-16-143.html
Filed Under: Funding Opportunities