by zarslan in Faculty/Professional Development

Announcements from NIA’s Division of Behavioral and Social Research: January 2022

BSR has many funding opportunities with upcoming submission deadlines this spring. Visit our Funding Opportunities and Applicant Resources page for more information including the list of funding opportunities, applicant resources, and submission deadlines.

New BSR Funding Opportunities for Behavioral and Social Scientists

  • RFA-AG-23-004: Understanding Place-Based Health Inequalities in Mid-Life. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support research that uncovers potential modifiable explanations about how “places” (e.g., countries, US Census regions, states, counties, neighborhoods, and locations across the urban-rural continuum) are related to morbidity and mortality among middle-aged adults in order to inform policy responses to address poor mid-life health and health disparities. NIA intends to commit $3,300,000 in FY 2023 to fund up to 5 awards. Letter of Intent due February 3, 2022. Applications due March 3, 2022. Contact Dr. Amelia Karraker with questions. 
  • RFA-AG-23-001: Understanding the Role of Bilingualism in Cognitive Reserve/Resilience in Aging and AD/ADRD. This FOA aims to address the need for more prospective, hypothesis-driven research to build a theoretical framework and to clearly identify the extent to which acquiring a second language impacts human brain function. Multimodal and multidisciplinary studies are highly encouraged to improve our understanding of the complex interactions between neural, environmental, and sociocultural factors and the role of bilingualism in healthy aging and in AD/ADRD. NIA intends to commit $6,000,000 in FY 2023 to fund 6-10 awards. Letters of intent due February 1, 2022. Applications due March 3, 2022. Contact Dr. Jonathan King with questions. 
  • RFA-AG-23-003: Resources to Promote Coordination and Collaboration across Deeply Phenotyped Longitudinal Behavioral and Social Studies of Aging. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to establish a Resource Development Network focused on the infrastructure needed to promote and support coordination, collaboration, and innovation across deeply phenotyped longitudinal behavioral and social studies of aging that are rich in psychological, behavioral, and biobehavioral content. NIA intends to commit $1,600,000 in FY 2023 to fund 1 award. Letter of Intent due February 1, 2022. Applications due March 3, 2022. Contact Dr. Janine Simmons with questions. 
  • RFA-AG-22-026: Transition to Aging Research for Predoctoral Students. NIA invites outstanding graduate students from a wide range of broad research areas who are interested in receiving aging-related postdoctoral training to apply for this award. This two-phase award will allow awardees to complete doctoral dissertation projects and provides a variety of training supports to facilitate the smooth transition of doctoral graduates into competitive, aging-focused postdoctoral positions. Applications due February 3, 2022. Contact Dr. Maria Carranza with questions. 
  • RFA-MH-22-135 and RFA-MH-22-136: Social Disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life. The purpose of this FOA is to encourage research that addresses the link between social disconnection in late-life and late-life suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Of specific interest is research that identifies mechanisms by which social disconnection confers risk for, and social integration protects against, suicidal thoughts and behaviors in late life. Mechanisms to be considered exist at multiple levels of analysis, including but not limited to neurobiological, behavioral, and environmental. NIA intends to commit a total of $2,000,000 in FY 2023 to fund 4-6 awards for these two RFAs. Letter of Intent due 30 days prior to the due date and applications due March 15, 2022. Contact Dr. Liz Necka with questions. 
  • PAR-21-349, PAR-21-350, and PAR-21-352: Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites research projects that seek to explain the underlying mechanisms, processes, and trajectories of social relationships and how these factors affect outcomes in human health, illness, recovery, and overall wellbeing. Applications proposing Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH) should be submitted under PAR-21-349. Applications proposing studies that include model animal research or observational studies involving humans should submit under PAR-21-350. Applications proposing mechanistic studies that are classified as clinical trials should be submitted under PAR-21-352. Applications due June 21, 2022. Contact Dr. Liz Necka with questions. 
  • NOT-OD-22-032: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements for Research on Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Populations. This NOSI calls for research that will enrich scientific understanding of how sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or being born with differences/disorders in sex development (DSDs) or intersex characteristics relate to health outcomes, health risks, health behaviors, perceptions and expectations about health, and access to health-related services or associated barriers. Contact Dr. Melissa Gerald with questions. 

New Opportunities in Pain and Aging Research

NIA has published two Notices of Special Interest to advance pain science at NIA. Through these NOSIs, NIA seeks to expand the scientific knowledge base of mechanisms, assessment, treatment, and outcomes of pain and pain-related conditions in aging humans and animal models. BSR welcomes basic and translational research and research training applications that fall within our mission to support social, behavioral, psychological, and economic research and training on the processes of aging at the individual and societal levels.  

  • NOT-AG-22-004: Notice of Special Interest: Research on Pain, Pain Management, and Opioids in Aging 
  • NOT-AG-22-005: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Availability of Administrative Supplements for Research on Pain, Pain Management, and Opioids in Aging 

Please also note a related NIH-wide Notice of Information that indicates broad areas of interest in pain research across multiple institutes, including NIA. 

  • NOT-NS-22-057: Notice of Information: Multi-Institute Interest in Pain Research 

Lastly, we encourage you to review an announcement to the scientific community, jointly authored by NIA and other NIH Institutes, regarding new potential opportunities for advancing pain science. In brief, the Fiscal Year 2022 budget proposals from the President, House, and Senate each propose increased funding for pain research to several NIH Institutes and Centers, including NIA. To receive funds in the current fiscal year, applications may still need to be submitted by the usual application deadlines in January or February 2022 so they can undergo peer review and then be approved by the September 2022 Advisory Council. However, it is important to recognize that until Congress approves a final budget for FY22, uncertainty about the final availability of funds remains. 

Pilot Funding Opportunities from NIA-affiliated Networks & Centers

BSR supported Centers & Networks have many pilot research opportunities available with upcoming deadlines:  

  • The Stanford Aging and Ethnogeriatrics Research Center (SAGE), is seeking applications from researchers that are new to aging research and propose to conduct a mentored research project using emerging methodologies (such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other big data techniques, and precision medicine approaches) to answer key questions in the aging arena. They anticipate funding up to 3 awards (up to $30,000 each), and the funding period is for 1 year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023). Applications due January 14, 2022 at 5pm PT. Visit the SAGE website for more information. 
  • The recently funded Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratories (AITC) for aging and AD/ADRD research program announced its first pilot awards competition. Applications are due on February 18, and awards will be made on May 31, 2022. Visit the AITC Coordinating Center website for more information about the program and join the a2 Pilot Awards Q&A webinar on January 18, 2022 to learn more. 
  • The Mechanisms Underlying Mind-Body Interventions & Measurement of Emotional Well-Being Network (M3EWB) is requesting applications to support researchers around the country to conduct one-year small-scale research studies of up to one year duration on emotional well-being (EWB). They plan to fund up to 3 projects with a budget up to $30,000 in total cost per project and 5 projects with a budget of up to $5,000 total cost per project. The letter of intent is due January 15, 2022 and invitations to submit full proposal will be sent by February 1, 2022. Visit the M3EWB website for more information. 
  • The Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR) has two pilot opportunities available. The first opportunity is a collaboration with the Michigan Retirement Disability Research Center (MRDRC) to seek retirement and disability research proposals focused on well-being of older African Americans and/or disparities among different race/ethnic groups. Awards would be made for up to $25,000 in direct costs and would be supported July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Applications are due January 18, 2022 by 8pm ET. For more information, visit their website. The second pilot opportunity is to support junior investigator-initiated research pilots that can lead to independent NIH-funded projects. Behavioral and social science research proposals that focus on the mental and physical health of older African Americans are encouraged from all academic disciplines that address issues relevant to this topic. The projects may not exceed $25,000 in direct costs would be supported July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Applications are due January 18, 2022. Visit the MCUAAAR website for additional information. 
  • The Family Well-Being Research Network (FAM-NET) has is seeking applications for pilot research on the measurement of family well-being. FAM-NET seeks applications for Pilot Projects and their Research Scholars Corps. The Pilot Projects program will provide seed funding for projects related to measurement of family well-being across the lifespan, from childhood quality of life through and including older adults’ wellbeing, with an emphasis on family-focused metrics and analytic strategies. The pilot projects will support up to $10,000 per project and must be completed in 12 months. The Research Scholars Corps is intended for trainees and junior faculty and will provide multidisciplinary mentoring and training over the course of one year. Scholars will receive a stipend of up to $4,000 for a 12-month period. Applications submitted by January 31 will be reviewed and awarded by mid-February, with additional deadlines afterwards. Learn more on their request for applications page and submit through their applications page.  
  • The University of Florida Center for Advancing Minority Pain and Aging Science (CAMPAS) RCMAR is seeking innovative, interdisciplinary pilot study applications that address biopsychosocial contributions to pain and disability among older adults. Applicants must be investigators from underrepresented backgrounds. Pilot awards of up to $25,000 for one year. Applications are due February 4, 2022. Learn more on the CAMPAS website. 
  • The USC Center for Advancing Sociodemographic and Economic Study of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related dementias (CeASES-ADRD) is accepting applications to fund on-year research pilots on health, social and economic costs of ADRD for individuals, families and generations; physician and individual behaviors impact on dementia risk and outcomes; health systems’ and payment models’ impact on care, health and economic outcomes; factors driving variation in ADRD risk and outcomes across populations; or international and national trends in and projections of ADRD. The award includes up to $35,000 in direct costs for the 2022-2023 academic year. Applications are due January 28, 2022. See the CeASES-ADRD pilot page for more information. 
  • The Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) is seeking to fund projects that involve NIA-sponsored research centers and Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) hubs, in support of implementation activities for the Inclusion of Older Adults In Clinical Trials. The RCCN is seeking to fund up to 3 projects of up to $70,000 each, addressing this topic. Applications are due February 15, 2022 with awards announced by March 31, 2022. Visit the RCCN’s pilot page for more information.