NIA COVID-19 Response

Like the COVID-19 virus and the response to the pandemic, NIA is also evolving in how we combat this crisis. NIA leadership has helped shape NIH's response to the pandemic in several ways, including:

• Supporting flexibilities for researchers and sharing resources to support the NIA community in a March 2020 blog post authored by NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D.
• Working with scientific leaders from NIH, including Dr. Hodes, to set forth a framework to accelerate diagnostic testing for COVID-19 and help reduce inequities for underserved populations that have been disproportionally affected by the disease. NIH established the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) program to respond to this critical need.
• Quickly releasing Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) and Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) to support research on COVID-19. 

Today these efforts — and related funding opportunities — continue to be supported through the NIH-wide COVID-19 Research Initiatives, which include multiple institutes and centers as well as partnerships between the federal government and private industry. The Initiatives aim to accelerate research-based solutions in testing, treatments, and vaccines.

Funding for COVID-19 Research

NIA supports research on COVID-19 in older adults to understand why they may be more susceptible to the virus and how they can be most protected. Research is also focused on addressing the social and economic impact of the pandemic on older adults.

Applicants interested in research related to COVID-19 are encouraged to explore open NOFOs and NOSIs listed on NIH's COVID-19 website. Current NOSIs that NIA sponsors or has signed on to are:

• NOT-AG-21-016: Notice of Special Interest: Neurological and Neurocognitive Sequelae from SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 in Aging and Age-Related Neurodegeneration (expires May 8, 2023)
• NOT-MH-21-330: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Social, Behavioral, and Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Underserved and Vulnerable Populations (expires September 8, 2024)

You can also contact an NIA Program Officer in the relevant NIA research area to discuss your proposed COVID-19 projects. NIA staff can help you identify any additional relevant funding opportunities. For example, consideration might be given to COVID-19-related administrative supplements to the Parent Administrative Supplement Program (PA-20-272).

Note: Please remember to document any COVID related delays in your research in your Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR).