Advanced-Stage Development and Utilization of Research Infrastructure for Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (R33 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 644

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 644

The Advanced-Stage Development and Utilization of Research Infrastructure for Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (R33 - Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (PAR 18-644) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to push promising aging-research infrastructure from an earlier, more exploratory stage into a more mature, fully functional, and sustainable platform. The central idea is to strengthen and expand research infrastructure that can meaningfully accelerate interdisciplinary aging science, especially in areas where progress depends on partnerships across fields, institutions, or sectors rather than work contained within a single discipline. While clinical trials are optional under this announcement, the emphasis is on building and using infrastructure that can support rigorous aging research projects, including studies that may involve human participants when appropriate.

This opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grants Phase II mechanism (R33), which generally signals that applicants should already have something substantial in place and are now seeking support to broaden its capabilities, scale its operations, and demonstrate real-world utility. A key expectation is that the proposed infrastructure is not being built from scratch. Applicants are expected to come in with an existing infrastructure that was developed previously through the earlier NIH initiative PA-12-064 or created using other NIH or non-NIH support. In other words, NIH is looking for teams that can show prior development work, readiness to expand, and a credible plan to transition the infrastructure into a durable resource that the wider research community can use to address important aging-related questions.

The “research infrastructure” supported here can take many forms, as long as it is novel, clearly relevant to aging research, and built to enable interdisciplinary work. This could include shared data resources, specialized cohorts or participant registries, harmonized measures and protocols, biorepositories, technology platforms, collaborative networks, analytic or methodological cores, training and dissemination systems tied to the infrastructure, or other organized resources that make complex aging research easier to launch and execute. The program also stresses “utilization,” meaning applicants should not only improve the infrastructure itself but also demonstrate that it can be actively used to support research projects that tackle key interdisciplinary questions in aging. A strong application in this space typically makes a clear case that the infrastructure fills an important gap, serves a community beyond a single lab, and can support multiple studies and collaborations over time.

The award’s intent is to produce a mature and sustainable infrastructure. That sustainability angle usually implies planning for governance, user access policies, data sharing and security (when applicable), quality control, and long-term operational strategy beyond the grant period. Reviewers commonly look for evidence that the infrastructure will remain viable, well-managed, and valuable after NIH support ends, such as through institutional commitment, cost-recovery models, integration into existing research centers, or partnerships that keep the platform active and financially supported.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and a range of tribal entities, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, which opens the door for industry or public-private partnership models when they are aligned with the infrastructure goals. The announcement 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 (AANAPISISs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth reflects NIH’s interest in encouraging wide participation and building infrastructure that can serve diverse populations and research settings.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign applicants. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, “foreign components” are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain internationally based elements of the work when justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot be the applicant organization.

From the funding details provided, the award ceiling is listed as $500,000, and the program is associated with CFDA numbers 93.399 and 93.866, reflecting its placement within NIH’s health and research support frameworks. The original closing date shown is January 7, 2020, and the opportunity was created on February 8, 2018. Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted NIH mechanism for teams that already built a foundation for interdisciplinary aging research infrastructure and are now ready to scale it, prove its value through real use, and establish it as a lasting, community-serving resource that advances aging science.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced-Stage Development and Utilization of Research Infrastructure for Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.399, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-07. (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 $500,000.00 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 18 644

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