Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 15 008
Apply for RFA AG 15 008
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Aging and Neuromuscular Junctions (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 14, 2014 and posted on Jul 14, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 29, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Independent school districts City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses County governments State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Foreign Institutions Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH funding opportunity RFA-AG-15-008, titled "Aging and Neuromuscular Junctions (R01)," was a discretionary research grant solicitation aimed at advancing understanding of how aging affects the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the specialized synapse where motor neurons connect to skeletal muscle fibers. The central emphasis is on studying the NMJ as a functional unit that depends on coordinated biology from both nerve and muscle, rather than treating neural and muscular aging as separate problems. The FOA specifically encourages cross-disciplinary teams and approaches to uncover mechanisms that drive age-related NMJ decline and to identify strategies that could preserve NMJ integrity during aging or restore NMJ function after age-associated deterioration, primarily using model organisms.
Scientifically, the opportunity targets research that digs into the biological and cellular processes behind NMJ vulnerability with age. That includes mechanistic studies that explain why NMJs become less stable, less efficient, or structurally altered over time, and how those changes translate into functional outcomes like impaired muscle activation, weakness, reduced coordination, and broader mobility limitations. Because the NMJ sits at the interface of the nervous system and muscle tissue, the FOA signals strong interest in projects that integrate perspectives from neuroscience, muscle biology, aging biology, physiology, genetics, and systems-level approaches. The translational angle is present but grounded in basic discovery: applicants are encouraged to explore potential interventions or maintenance strategies that could slow, prevent, or reverse NMJ functional loss in the context of aging, with model organisms serving as the main experimental platform to test causality and mechanisms.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this was an NIH R01 grant mechanism within the health-related activity category and tied to CFDA 93.866 (Aging Research). NIH anticipated making around 6 awards under this announcement, with an estimated total funding level of $2.5 million. The listed award ceiling was $250,000 (as provided in the source data), and there was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on July 14, 2014, with the original and current application due date both listed as January 29, 2015. The FOA was later archived on March 1, 2015, meaning it is no longer open for applications, but it remains useful as a reference point for understanding NIH priorities around NMJ aging research and for shaping future applications to related NIH aging and neuromuscular programs.
Eligibility was broad and included many types of U.S.-based organizations that commonly apply for NIH funding. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, with the typical caveat that the classification affects governance and tax status rather than scientific scope), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and a range of government entities (city/township, county, state, special district). The FOA also explicitly included tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities, and independent school districts. Additional categories highlighted in the eligibility information included historically underrepresented and mission-specific institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and AANAPISIs, as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Foreign institutions and other non-U.S. entities were not eligible to apply directly, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were also not eligible. However, the FOA allowed foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means U.S. applicants could include certain well-justified international collaborations or project elements when they materially strengthen the science.
The sponsoring agency was the National Institutes of Health. The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-15-008.html. For access or technical issues related to the posting, the listed contact was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
FAQs: NIH RFA-AG-15-008 - Aging and Neuromuscular Junctions (R01)
What is RFA-AG-15-008?
RFA-AG-15-008 is an NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Aging and Neuromuscular Junctions (R01)." It was a discretionary research grant solicitation focused on understanding how aging affects the neuromuscular junction (NMJ).
What is the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in the context of this FOA?
The NMJ is the specialized synapse where motor neurons connect to skeletal muscle fibers. This FOA treats the NMJ as a single functional unit that depends on coordinated biology from both nerve and muscle.
What scientific problem was this FOA trying to address?
The FOA aimed to advance research on why NMJs become vulnerable with age, including why they may become less stable, less efficient, or structurally altered, and how those changes relate to functional outcomes such as impaired muscle activation, weakness, reduced coordination, and mobility limitations.
What kinds of research approaches were encouraged?
The FOA encouraged cross-disciplinary teams and approaches that integrate perspectives from neuroscience, muscle biology, aging biology, physiology, genetics, and systems-level methods to uncover mechanisms of age-related NMJ decline.
Why did the FOA emphasize studying the NMJ as a functional unit?
Because the NMJ sits at the interface of the nervous system and muscle tissue, the FOA emphasized studying coordinated nerve-and-muscle biology rather than treating neural aging and muscular aging as separate issues.
What types of outcomes or impacts were the studies expected to connect to NMJ aging?
The FOA highlighted functional outcomes that can result from age-related NMJ decline, including impaired muscle activation, weakness, reduced coordination, and broader mobility limitations.
Was the FOA focused on basic science or translational work?
The FOA had a translational angle but was grounded in basic discovery. Applicants were encouraged to explore potential interventions or maintenance strategies to slow, prevent, or reverse NMJ functional loss in aging, while still focusing on mechanisms and causality.
Were interventions allowed or encouraged under this FOA?
Yes. The FOA encouraged research to identify strategies that could preserve NMJ integrity during aging or restore NMJ function after age-associated deterioration, with model organisms as the primary experimental platform.
What experimental systems were primarily expected for this research?
The FOA stated that model organisms would serve as the main experimental platform to test causality and mechanisms related to NMJ aging and potential interventions.
What grant mechanism did this opportunity use?
This opportunity used the NIH R01 mechanism.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category was health-related research (as reflected by its NIH R01 designation and health-focused scope).
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The FOA was tied to CFDA 93.866 (Aging Research).
How many awards were anticipated?
NIH anticipated making around 6 awards under this announcement.
What was the estimated total funding level for the FOA?
The estimated total funding level was $2.5 million.
What was the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling was $250,000 (as provided in the source data).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA indicated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 14, 2014.
What was the application due date?
The original and current application due date were both listed as January 29, 2015.
Is this FOA still open for applications?
No. The FOA was archived on March 1, 2015, meaning it is no longer open for applications.
If it is archived, why might this FOA still be useful?
Even though it is closed, it can still be useful as a reference for understanding NIH priorities around neuromuscular junction aging research and for shaping future applications to related NIH aging and neuromuscular programs.
Who sponsored this funding opportunity?
The sponsoring agency was the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Where can the full announcement be found?
The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants site at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-15-008.html
What kinds of U.S. organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many types of U.S.-based organizations, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and government entities such as city/township, county, state, and special district governments.
Were tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly included tribal governments and tribal organizations as eligible applicants.
Were public housing authorities and independent school districts eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly listed public housing authorities and independent school districts among eligible applicants.
Did the eligibility list include specific institution types like HBCUs or Hispanic-serving institutions?
Yes. The eligibility information highlighted historically underrepresented and mission-specific institutions, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and AANAPISIs.
Were faith-based, community-based, or regional organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility information included faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations.
Could federal agencies apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies were included in the eligibility categories.
Could foreign institutions apply directly?
No. Foreign institutions and other non-U.S. entities were not eligible to apply directly.
Were non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were not eligible.
Were any international collaborations allowed at all?
Yes. The FOA allowed foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning U.S. applicants could include well-justified international collaborations or project elements when they materially strengthen the science.
Who was listed as the contact for access or technical issues with the FOA posting?
For access or technical issues related to the posting, the listed contact was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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