Family and Interpersonal Relationships in an Aging Context (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the “Family and Interpersonal Relationships in an Aging Context (R01)” opportunity?

It is a National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supported investigator-initiated research on how family ties and close interpersonal relationships shape health and wellbeing in later life, using the NIH R01 (research project grant) mechanism.

What was the central aim of this funding opportunity?

The central aim was to broaden and deepen scientific understanding of how families, partners, kin networks, and other meaningful relationships influence older adults’ outcomes, including behavioral, psychological, and social processes that matter for aging.

What kinds of relationships were within scope?

The announcement emphasized family ties and close interpersonal relationships, including families, partners, kin networks, and other meaningful relationships that may influence older adults’ health and wellbeing.

What outcomes and processes did the program focus on?

The program focused on outcomes relevant to health and wellbeing in later life, including behavioral, psychological, and social processes. It also highlighted pathways linked to morbidity, disability, and quality of life.

What does it mean to study how relationships “get under the skin”?

In this announcement, it referred to research that clarifies the mechanisms through which interpersonal relationships affect aging-related outcomes, such as through health behaviors, stress and coping, social support and strain, decision-making, and care arrangements.

Did the opportunity focus only on older age, or also earlier life stages?

It emphasized not only identifying relationship effects in older age, but also understanding how those effects evolve across the life course, including changes as people move from midlife into older age.

Why did the opportunity emphasize life course change and birth cohorts?

Because social norms, family structures, and caregiving expectations change over time. The announcement encouraged research that recognizes cohort differences and how demographic and cultural conditions reshape what families look like and how they function.

What types of research designs and methods were encouraged?

A broad range of scientific methods and approaches was explicitly welcomed, including observational and longitudinal studies, cohort comparisons, mixed-methods work, interventions or natural experiments where appropriate, and studies using large social or health datasets, as long as they advanced knowledge about family and interpersonal processes relevant to aging.

Was the opportunity limited to a single discipline or methodology?

No. The announcement signaled openness to diverse designs and analytic strategies. The main emphasis was on producing rigorous evidence about relationship contexts and their impact on older adults’ health and wellbeing.

What funding mechanism did this opportunity use?

It used the NIH R01 mechanism, which is a standard research project grant.

What funding activity category was associated with this opportunity?

It fell under the health funding activity category.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 93.866 (Aging Research).

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. Cost sharing or matching was not required.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included many types of applicants across the public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit landscape, as described in the announcement.

Which government entities were eligible applicants?

Eligible applicants included state governments; county governments; city or township governments; and special district governments.

Were educational institutions eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants included independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.

Were nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants included nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).

Were for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants included small businesses and other for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses in that specific category, as described in the eligibility list provided).

Were public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities were included as eligible applicants.

Were minority-serving institutions and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The announcement listed a wide range of additional eligible organizations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations.

Were faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations were included in the eligible organization types listed.

Were U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions were included among eligible applicants.

Were foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) were eligible, and foreign components of U.S. organizations were allowed.

Is this funding opportunity still active?

No. The original and current closing date was May 7, 2014, and the archive date was June 7, 2014, so the announcement is no longer active.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted (and created) on February 25, 2011.

What was the closing date for applications?

The original and current closing date listed was May 7, 2014.

Where can the full announcement be found?

The full announcement was made available through the NIH Grants Guide at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-128.html.

Who was listed as the contact for technical access or linking issues?

The NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contact was listed for technical access or linking issues: FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.