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Frequently Asked Questions for RFA-AG-24-019 and RFA-AG-24-020

The frequently asked questions below are related to the companion FOAs:

These FAQs will be periodically updated as additional questions arise from applicant inquiries.

On this page you will find:

  • Pre-Application Webinar

    For additional information and the opportunity to have questions addressed by NIA program staff, a Pre-Application Webinar will be hosted on Thursday, March 30, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., ET. 

General Information

Q: What are the main goals and objectives of RFA-AG-24-019 Comparative Research on Determinants of Differences Among Human and Nonhuman Primate Species in Life Spans, Life Histories, and Other Aging-Related Outcomes, and Prospects for Translation?

A: The main goal of the R01 FOA is support projects of comparative studies of human and nonhuman primate species with the purpose of identifying factors that may contribute to differences in species life span and health span. This FOA invites applications that propose studies to elucidate the relationship of such factors to primate species life span differences, and mechanisms that may mediate such relationships. These projects may also include research to identify potential human therapeutic targets and interventions that modulate mechanisms implicated by the comparative studies.

Additional information related to research on determinants of primate species life span differences (including animal, specimen, imaging, and data resources) is available in a report from a recent NIA workshop on this topic.

Q. What are the main goals and objectives of RFA-AG-24-020 Networking/Infrastructure Project for Research on Determinants of Differences Among Human and Nonhuman Primate Species in Life Spans, Life Histories, and Other Aging Related Outcomes, and Prospects for Translation

A: The main purpose of this companion FOA is to establish and support key needs for activities and infrastructure to promote the development of a new research field of comparative studies on determinants of differences among human and nonhuman primate life spans, life histories, and other aging-related outcomes, and prospects for translating findings from this research into development of human interventions.

The networking/infrastructure project is intended to foster interactions and collaborations among researchers on topics including human longevity, aging biology, comparative biology, evolutionary genetics and biology, biological anthropology, neuroscience, and primatology.

The proposed networking/infrastructure project has three main objectives:

  1. To enhance the quality and synergy of projects supported through R01 research projects funded in response to RFA-AG-24-019, and to enhance public accessibility of their results.
  2. To identify promising directions for future research on determinants of species differences in human and nonhuman primate life spans and age-related outcomes, through planning activities that engage researchers from pertinent fields (including but not limited to researchers supported by the R01 projects).
  3. To enhance quality, public availability, and interoperability of data sources needed to design and implement research in this field

Q: Are there any special instructions and/or review criteria for applications to these FOAs?

A. Yes. Section IV: Application and Submission Information of both of the above FOAs contains specific instructions regarding application content. Please review Section V: Application Review Information of each FOA for review criteria “Specific to this FOA” which outlines additional evaluation questions to address.

Q: Are foreign institutions eligible to apply to these RFAs?

A: The R01 RFA, AG-24-019, allows foreign applications. Individual researchers from outside of the U.S., and foreign organizations, are eligible to apply to receive funding from the NIH.

The networking/infrastructure R61/R33 RFA, AG-24-020, does not allow foreign applications. However, foreign components are allowed. Foreign investigators can collaborate with an investigator at a U.S. institution. 

Section III of each of the RFAs describes the types of institutions/organizations that are eligible to apply. More information for foreign grants is provided on the NIH website.

Q: Are intramural NIH investigators eligible to apply to these RFAs?

A: No, NIH intramural scientists cannot be principal investigators on these grants. However, they are eligible to serve as an unfunded co-investigator on a grant submitted by an extramural applicant.  

Q: Are multi-PI and/or multi-institutional applications allowed?

A: Yes. Applicants responding to either RFA are encouraged to consider a multi-principal investigator project, when needed for inclusion of investigators with expertise spanning multiple research disciplines and/or studies on differing species. Interdisciplinary studies and collaborations among researchers working on differing primate species are encouraged.

Q: When are applications due?

A: There is a single receipt date: September 27, 2023. No late applications will be accepted.

Q. Are Letters of Intent required? When are they due?

A. Letters of Intent are not required, but they are recommended. Letters of Intent are due on August 13, 2023.

It is also strongly encouraged that all applicants consult with the NIA program staff early in their planning process and not later than the Letter of Intent due date. This consultation is considered separate from the Letter of Intent. Inquiries should be sent to the NIA Scientific/Research Contact listed below. Inquiries will be directed to the appropriate NIA Division staff who can then advise whether proposed activities would be considered responsive to the objectives and goals of this FOA.

Q: Can a PI apply to both RFA-AG-24-019 and RFA-AG-24-020?

A: Yes, applicants for the R01 awards may also be included as personnel in applications for the R61/R33 networking/infrastructure project award (RFA-AG-24-020). There is no specific requirement about how the study team will be comprised.  However, there is a special review criterion under “Investigators” that peer reviewers are asked to consider specific to each FOA:

  • R01 RFA: Is the range and depth of expertise of the investigators adequate to conduct the proposed comparative project successfully?
  • R61/R33 RFA: Does the project team have adequate expertise in human longevity research, nonhuman primate research, project coordination, data management, statistics, and informatics, to address its objectives? Do the project’s structure and operational procedures adequately integrate its diverse types of expertise to address its objectives?

Activities supported by the proposed study must be distinct from those supported by the partner study.

Any use of grant funds must conform to grants policy, reflect a bona fide need, and judicious use.

Q: Are no-cost extensions allowed?

A: Yes. The recipient may extend the final budget period of the previously approved project period one time for a period of up to 12 months beyond the original completion date shown in the Notice of Award if: no term of award specifically prohibits the extension, no additional funds are required to be obligated by the NIH awarding IC, and if the project’s originally approved scope will not change. Such an action affirms that additional work remains to be completed on the project and that resources are available to continue to support the project, or that additional time is needed to provide for an orderly closeout. The fact that funds remain at the completion date of the grant is not, in itself, sufficient justification for an extension without additional funds.

Q: Who should I contact if I have further questions?

A: Application Submission Contacts:

  • eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, and post-submission issues)
  • Finding Help Online:;http://grants.nih.gov/support/ (preferred method of contact)
    Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552
  • General Grants Information (Questions regarding application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources)
    Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov (preferred method of contact)
    Telephone: 301-945-7573
  • Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace)
    Telephone: 800-518-4726
    Email: support@grants.gov

Scientific/Research Contact
Carol Nguyen
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 202-450-9636
Email: carol.nguyen@nih.gov

Peer Review Contact
Ramesh Vemuri, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-402-7700
Email: ramesh.vemuri@nih.gov

Financial/Grants Management Contact
Laura Pone
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-451-9956
Email: laura.pone@nih.gov

 

FAQs Specific to RFA-AG-24-019

The following FAQs are specific to R01 RFA-AG-24-019 Comparative Research on Determinants of Differences Among Human and Nonhuman Primate Species in Life Spans, Life Histories, and Other Aging-Related Outcomes, and Prospects for Translation.

Q: Do applicants need to include human comparative studies/aims within their application? Will studies confined to one primate species be considered responsive?

A: Comparisons may be either of a) humans with at least one nonhuman primate species, or b) two or more nonhuman primate species. Multispecies (>2) comparisons are encouraged.

Q: Can projects include non-primate species?

A: While the principal focus of this FOA is on comparisons among humans and nonhuman primate species, additional secondary integrative analyses of primate data with data sets including other taxa are encouraged where appropriate.  

Projects comparing primate species may also include experimental studies in non-primate species to test hypotheses based on primate species differences, e.g., transgenic mouse studies of effects of human vs. nonhuman primate genetic variants.

Q: Are R01 projects including in vivo animal studies required to include aged animals?

A: No. Cross-species comparisons of trait levels in older animals may be proposed but are not required. Cross-species comparisons of trait levels in juvenile and young adult animals, and assessment of their relationships to species life spans, are of particular interest.

Q: Are studies on age-related diseases responsive to the R01 RFA?

A: Studies on mechanisms contributing to species differences in progression of age-related disease risk factors and pathologies are of interest. Studies on diseases, risk factors or pathologies confined to an individual species are not responsive.

Q: Are studies on primate populations outside the U.S. allowable?

A: Yes, while non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, applications from U.S. entities that include foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed.

Q: Are R01 project awardees expected to share information with other R01 awardees regardless of whether they are members of the R61/R33 project?

A: Yes, sharing information and analyses is a requirement, along with participation in an annual awardees meeting.

Q. How many applicants will be awarded under RFA-AG-24-019?

A: NIA intends to commit up to $4.5M in FY 2024 to fund approximately 6 awards, contingent on funding availability.

Q. Are there application budget limits?

A: Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The maximum project period is 5 years.

 

FAQs Specific to RFA-AG-24-020

The following FAQs are specific to RFA-AG-24-020: Networking/Infrastructure Project for Research on Determinants of Differences Among Human and Nonhuman Primate Species in Life Spans, Life Histories, and Other Aging Related Outcomes, and Prospects for Translation.

Q: What areas of expertise are required of applicants for this FOA?

A: This FOA solicits applications that include expertise from multiple research disciplines (such as the topics noted above), in conjunction with expertise in coordinating diverse research projects, database management, statistics, and informatics. Applicants are encouraged to consider a multi-principal investigator project to ensure that investigators with expertise spanning the above topics have significant project involvement.

Q: Is the networking/infrastructure project funded by R61/R33 RFA-AG-24-020 intended to support solely the awardee projects of the companion R01 (RFA-AG-24-019)?

A: No, this RFA is not intended to solely support the R01 awardees projects and must also engage other researchers from pertinent fields.
The networking/infrastructure project is intended to provide support for researchers from relevant fields (including, but not limited to awardee projects of the companion R01 RFA) to develop concepts for additional research on determinants of species differences in human and nonhuman primate life spans and age-related outcomes through research planning, including data analyses and pilot studies needed for designing new projects. In addition, the networking/infrastructure project will enhance the quality and availability of data sources needed to design and implement research in this field through activities such as harmonizing data, creating new databases, increasing interoperability of existing data sources, and establishing public websites and other information architecture.

Q: How does the R61/R33 mechanism work?

A: The R61/R33 FOA is a 5-year phased award. The project selected for funding will receive up to two years of support for the R61 phase, followed by up to three years of support for the R33 phase, contingent on reaching project milestones for the R61 phase.

Q: What types of milestones will be considered responsive to the RFA criteria? How and when will these milestones be reviewed?

A: Selection of milestones and appropriate general foci for the R61 and R33 phases are discussed in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description of RFA-AG-24-20. To be considered responsive to the FOA, applications must meet all criteria listed under “Responsiveness Criteria”. Proposed milestones for both the R61 and R33 phases will be evaluated in peer review and by NIA program staff prior to award. In response to peer and program review, milestones may be modified or added and will be included in the terms of the award. Milestones may also be modified at the time of transition to the R33 award. Milestones should be defined as “deliverables” (e.g., plans, resources, research activities). Applications that do not meet the “Responsiveness Criteria” will be administratively withdrawn and not reviewed.

Q: What does the transition from the R61 to the R33 phase consist of?

A: Prior to the end of the R61 phase, grantees will be expected to submit a package requesting transition to the R33 phase. This transition package will be reviewed by NIA program staff and must include: a progress report describing the achievements of the R61 phase, including success in reaching R61 milestones, and plans for the R33 phase, including updated milestones if appropriate. If the transition package is approved, the R33 will be awarded for the remainder of the project period without the need to submit a new grant application.

Q: How are applicants to define R33 activities in the original application?

A: While selection of specific activities and milestones for each of the R61 and R33 phases will depend on the project team’s resources, priorities, and specific aims, appropriate general foci for both phases are listed within Section I. Funding Opportunity Description of RFA-AG-24-20.

Appropriate selection of specific activities in the R33 phase (e.g., of pilot studies, database, or database construction) will depend in part on results in the R61 phase and on findings from the R01 projects and other studies during the time period of the R61 phase. In such cases, applicants for the R61/R33 award are not required to identify specific topic areas for projects in their competing applications. However, the R61/R33 application must describe proposed processes in the R33 for identifying potential activities, assessing their quality and priority by internal and/or external review, selecting them, and assessing and reporting their progress. Greater detail on proposed R33 activities will be required in the package submitted for NIA approval to transition from the R61 phase.

Q: Can milestones and timelines be modified or extended?

A: In response to peer and program review, milestones may be modified or added and will be included in the terms of the award. Milestones may also be modified at the time of transition to the R33 award. NIA will appoint an independent Monitoring Board to assist in assessing study progress in reaching milestones during the R61 and R33 phases and assessing proposed new activities in the R33 phase.

Q: Who will the independent Monitoring Board be comprised of?

A: The monitoring board selected by NIA program staff will consist of external experts pertinent to the fields of research represented by the awardees of the R01 (RFA-AG-24-019) and R61/R33 (RFA-AG-24-020) FOAs.

Q: How many applications will be awarded under RFA-AG-24-020?

A: NIA intends to issue one R61/R33 award.

Q: Are there application budget limits?

A: Applications may not request more than $600,000 direct costs per year for the first two years of the project, and may not request more than $900,000 direct costs for any following year. Indirect costs paid to third-party contractors will not be included in calculations of total direct costs with respect to this limit.

Q: What are the budgets for the R61 and R33 phases?

A: NIA intends to commit up to $900,000 per year in FYs 2024 and 2025 to fund the first two years of the award, and up to $1.5M per year in FYs 2026-2028 for years 3-5 of the award, contingent on funding availability and satisfactory study progress. The maximum period of the combined R61/R33 is five years, with up to two years for the R61 Phase and three years for the R33 Phase. Funding of the R33 award will be determined by successful completion of the R61 scientific goals, as determined by NIH.

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