Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 22 021
This opportunity, titled "Elucidating the Roles of Transposable Elements in AD/ADRD and Aging (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (RFA-AG-22-021), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant aimed at advancing mechanistic, hypothesis-driven science on how transposable elements (TEs) become dysregulated and what that dysregulation does in the context of aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). The central focus is moving the field beyond mainly observational studies (for example, reports that TE expression is higher in diseased tissue) toward studies that can test cause-and-effect relationships and explain the underlying biology. The announcement is specifically oriented toward building a deeper understanding of TE function and regulation in these conditions, including how TE activation might contribute to pathology and how those pathways could potentially be modified.
A key emphasis of the FOA is on research that can demonstrate causal effects of TE activation in disease and aging. In practice, that means the NIH is looking for projects that do more than catalog TE activity; they want studies designed to probe mechanisms, identify drivers and downstream consequences, and determine whether TE activation is a contributing factor to neurodegeneration, cognitive decline, or other aging-related changes rather than simply a byproduct. The FOA also encourages applications that model therapeutic interventions, meaning studies may include experimental approaches that test strategies to prevent, reduce, or counteract TE activation or its consequences in relevant experimental systems. The goal of that encouragement is to help the field progress toward actionable biological insight that could eventually inform therapeutic development, without requiring that the proposed work be a clinical trial.
The funding mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and the activity category is Health. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which signals that applications should not propose clinical trial research as defined by NIH. Applicants can still propose a wide range of preclinical or mechanistic studies, including work using model systems, human biospecimens, or computational approaches, as long as the project does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial. The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity is 93.866, and the sponsoring agency is the NIH. The original closing date listed for the opportunity was 2021-11-02, and the FOA record shows a creation date of 2021-07-14. An explicit award ceiling is not provided in the source information included.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common domestic applicant types, such as state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether they have 501(c)(3) status or not (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories), and for-profit organizations are eligible (other than small businesses), along with small businesses and other applicant types. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants and organizational categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and 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 government agencies; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations may apply as well. Overall, the opportunity is designed to draw in a wide range of institutions capable of rigorous mechanistic work on TE biology in aging and dementia-related neurodegeneration.Apply for RFA AG 22 021
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Elucidating the Roles of Transposable Elements in AD/ADRD and Aging (R01 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 2021-07-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-11-02. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and identifier of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Elucidating the Roles of Transposable Elements in AD/ADRD and Aging (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" with the identifier RFA-AG-22-021.
Which agency is sponsoring this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the purpose of this NIH funding opportunity?
This FOA supports mechanistic, hypothesis-driven research to understand how transposable elements (TEs) become dysregulated and what that dysregulation does in the context of aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). The emphasis is on moving beyond observational findings and toward studies that can test cause-and-effect relationships and explain underlying biology.
What kinds of scientific questions is NIH trying to prioritize here?
NIH is prioritizing research designed to probe mechanisms, identify drivers of TE dysregulation, map downstream consequences, and determine whether TE activation contributes to pathology (for example, neurodegeneration, cognitive decline, or other aging-related changes) rather than being only a byproduct of disease or aging.
Does the FOA support studies that go beyond measuring TE expression?
Yes. A central goal is to move the field beyond mainly observational studies (such as reports of higher TE expression in diseased tissue) and toward experiments that can demonstrate causal effects and explain mechanisms.
Is therapeutic-intervention modeling encouraged under this FOA?
Yes. The FOA encourages applications that model therapeutic interventions, including experimental approaches to test strategies to prevent, reduce, or counteract TE activation or its consequences in relevant experimental systems, as long as the work is not a clinical trial.
What is the funding mechanism and activity type?
The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and the activity category is Health.
Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?
No. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications should not propose clinical trial research as defined by NIH.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what types of studies may still fit?
Based on the information provided, applicants may propose a wide range of preclinical or mechanistic studies, including work using model systems, human biospecimens, or computational approaches, as long as the project does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
What disease and research areas does this opportunity focus on?
The focus is on aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD), specifically through the lens of transposable element regulation, activation, and biological impact.
What is the main biological theme of the FOA?
The main theme is understanding transposable elements (TEs): how and why they become dysregulated in aging and AD/ADRD, what effects TE activation has, and which pathways might be modifiable to reduce harmful consequences.
Is the FOA aimed at generating actionable insight for future therapies?
Yes. While it does not require a clinical trial, it aims to help the field progress toward actionable biological insight that could eventually inform therapeutic development by clarifying mechanisms and causal links.
Is an award ceiling (maximum funding amount) provided in the information available?
No. An explicit award ceiling is not provided in the source information included.
What is the CFDA listing associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 93.866.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed was 2021-11-02.
When was the FOA record created?
The FOA record shows a creation date of 2021-07-14.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments are also included as eligible.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Nonprofits are eligible whether they have 501(c)(3) status or not, as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations are eligible (other than small businesses), and small businesses are also listed among eligible applicant types.
Are minority-serving and special institutional categories eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are included among the eligible categories mentioned.
Can federal agencies apply?
Yes. Eligible federal government agencies are listed among the additional eligible applicant categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included as eligible applicant types.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA notes that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are eligible, meaning foreign organizations may apply.
What type of research approach is most aligned with the FOA's stated goals?
Approaches most aligned with the stated goals are rigorous mechanistic studies that test causality around TE activation and its consequences in aging and AD/ADRD, including experimental designs that identify drivers and downstream effects and that may model intervention strategies without constituting a clinical trial.
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