Research Infrastructure Development for Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (R21/R33) | PAR 16 367

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 367

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Research Infrastructure Development for Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (R21/R33)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-16-367) supports the creation of new, sustainable research infrastructure that can push aging science forward in areas where progress depends on interdisciplinary collaboration. The focus is not on funding a single, stand-alone research project, but on building the shared tools, systems, partnerships, and organizational capacity that make multiple future studies possible, especially where aging-related questions span more than one discipline or sector. The intended outcome is infrastructure that strengthens the field by enabling teams to tackle key interdisciplinary aging research questions more effectively than they could without that coordinated support.

This opportunity uses the NIH Phased Innovation Award mechanism (R21/R33), which is designed to fund work in two linked stages. The first phase provides up to two years of R21 support aimed at early developmental activities, such as planning, prototyping, piloting, and demonstrating feasibility. The second phase provides up to three additional years of R33 support to expand and scale the infrastructure once the initial phase has successfully established a strong foundation. In practical terms, applicants are expected to show how the early-phase work will lead to an operational, broader, and more mature infrastructure in the later phase, with clear progression from development to expansion.

A central theme of the FOA is sustainability. Applicants are expected to develop research infrastructure that can continue to function and provide value beyond the award period, rather than something that only exists for the duration of the grant. The infrastructure should be designed to support projects and investigators working on interdisciplinary aging topics, which often require coordinated access to resources, shared methods, harmonized data or measures, cross-training, community or clinical partnerships, or multi-site collaboration frameworks. While the FOA description does not list specific required infrastructure types in the provided text, the language indicates NIH is looking for novel, field-advancing capacity that removes bottlenecks and enables new lines of interdisciplinary aging research.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants 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 eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and also Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. Housing-related public entities (public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities) are eligible, along with nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American 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, regional organizations, eligible federal government agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is limited in a way that often matters for interdisciplinary and multi-site work. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant, 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 can include certain international elements when justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot serve as the applicant organization.

The program sits within NIH and is associated with CFDA numbers 93.399 and 93.866, aligning it with NIH aging and health-related funding streams. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument type, with activity categories tied to education and health. The original posting indicates a creation date of 2016-07-13 and an original closing date of 2018-02-09, which signals that applicants should verify whether the announcement is still active, reissued, or superseded by an updated FOA before investing in an application.

Overall, the FOA is best understood as NIH support for building the connective tissue of interdisciplinary aging research: the platforms, networks, shared resources, and collaborative structures that enable stronger, more integrated science. The phased R21/R33 structure encourages teams to start with concrete developmental milestones and then move to broader implementation, with sustainability and clear interdisciplinary impact as the organizing priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Infrastructure Development for Interdisciplinary Aging Studies (R21/R33)" 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 2016-07-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-02-09. (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.

Apply for PAR 16 367

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