Prevention Research in Mid-Life Adults (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 134

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 134

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Prevention Research in Mid-Life Adults (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" under Funding Opportunity Number PA 18 134. The focus is on research involving mid-life adults, defined here as people ages 50 to 64, with the goal of generating practical evidence that can help people stay healthier as they move into older age. The central idea is to support prevention-oriented studies that improve health and well-being during mid-life in ways that reduce the likelihood of disease, disability, and loss of function later on. Because this is an R01 mechanism, the expectation is for well-developed, hypothesis-driven projects with clear aims, strong methods, and the potential to make a meaningful contribution to prevention science and healthy aging.

The FOA emphasizes research that can inform real-world efforts to optimize health and wellness before chronic conditions and functional decline become entrenched. In plain terms, NIH is looking for projects that study how to prevent problems earlier rather than treating them after they appear. The scope can include a wide range of prevention research topics as long as the work is centered on the 50 to 64 age group and ties back to preventing later-life illness or disability. The notice also states "Clinical Trial Optional," which generally means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials, but a clinical trial is not required; both trial and non-trial designs can be responsive as long as they fit the prevention focus and meet NIH standards for rigor and ethics.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that commonly participate in NIH funding. Eligible applicants listed in the source data include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal participation is supported through eligibility for federally recognized Native American tribal governments and also Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, reflecting an openness to community-embedded and applied prevention research settings. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as are for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses, which can be important for translating prevention strategies into scalable programs, services, or tools.

Beyond the standard categories, NIH explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types to encourage participation from a diverse range of institutions and communities. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). It also lists faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, these categories signal an intent to support prevention research that is relevant across different populations and settings, including communities that are often underrepresented in research and may face higher burdens of chronic disease or barriers to preventive care.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) and falls under the Education and Health activity categories. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.361 and 93.866, which point to NIH program areas tied to prevention and health research. The original closing date listed is 2018-05-07, and the creation date is 2017-11-03. The source data does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, so applicants typically would look to the full FOA and related NIH institute guidance for budget expectations, project period norms, and paylines or funding outlooks.

Overall, this FOA is designed for applicants who want to study prevention strategies during mid-life in a way that meaningfully shapes healthier aging trajectories. A competitive application would usually connect mid-life prevention targets to downstream outcomes in later years, justify why the 50 to 64 window is pivotal, and propose methods that can produce actionable findings for public health practice, healthcare systems, or community-based prevention programs.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Prevention Research in Mid-Life Adults (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.361, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-05-07. (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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