T1 Translational Research: Novel Interventions for Prevention and Treatment of Age-related Conditions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 177

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 177

The NIH funding opportunity PAR-18-177, titled "T1 Translational Research: Novel Interventions for Prevention and Treatment of Age-related Conditions (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)," supports early-stage, exploratory translational projects aimed at moving promising aging-related discoveries closer to practical interventions. The focus is on T1 translational research, meaning work that takes insights from basic biology and clinical biomedical findings and applies them toward developing new prevention or treatment strategies for age-related diseases and conditions. In practical terms, the program is designed to help researchers bridge the gap between a strong scientific premise and a plausible therapeutic approach that is ready for more advanced development, with the overall goal of improving health outcomes for older adults.

Projects under this FOA are expected to accelerate development of novel therapeutics and intervention strategies across a wide range of modalities. The announcement explicitly welcomes biologics, pharmacological approaches, and non-pharmacological interventions. That breadth can include, for example, biologic therapeutics, drug candidates, devices or technology-enabled approaches, behavioral or lifestyle-based interventions, and other non-drug strategies, as long as they are grounded in solid biomedical rationale and are aimed at preventing or treating important health problems that disproportionately affect aging populations. Because the mechanism is an NIH R21, the emphasis is generally on high-impact, innovative, proof-of-concept or early development work rather than large, definitive programs of research. The "clinical trial optional" designation indicates that applicants may propose projects that include a clinical trial when justified, but a clinical trial is not required for all applications.

The award parameters reflect the exploratory nature of the R21 mechanism. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, signaling that projects should be scoped to generate key feasibility, early efficacy, target engagement, biomarker, prototype, or similar translational data within a limited budget. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.866. The original closing date shown is 2018-09-07, and the creation date is 2017-11-17, which is important context for anyone checking whether the announcement is still active, has been reissued, or has updated due dates under a newer NIH notice.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township 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 and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, since universities are listed separately); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, there are clear geographic restrictions: non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply; non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; and foreign components, as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. In effect, the work and the applying organization must be U.S.-based, without foreign components included in the project.

Overall, this FOA is geared toward teams that have a credible scientific foundation for an intervention relevant to aging and need targeted support to perform the translational steps that de-risk the idea and position it for the next stage of development. It is best suited for projects that can clearly articulate the age-related condition being addressed, the intervention strategy (drug, biologic, or non-pharmacologic), the translational rationale linking prior findings to the proposed development plan, and the specific near-term milestones that would justify subsequent, larger-scale funding.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "T1 Translational Research: Novel Interventions for Prevention and Treatment of Age-related Conditions (R21 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 2017-11-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-09-07. (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 $200,000.00 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 PAR 18 177

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