Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 15 007
Apply for RFA AG 15 007
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) (R03)" 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 Aug 15, 2014 and posted on Aug 15, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 28, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts State governments Special district governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Private institutions of higher education County governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession 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 not allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) (R03) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-15-007) designed to help early stage physician-scientists who were trained in medical or surgical specialties begin building long-term research careers in aging and geriatrics. The central idea is to give promising clinicians an initial, focused research award that helps them generate the kind of early, credible pilot data needed to compete for larger, subsequent aging- or geriatrics-centered grants. The program emphasizes transdisciplinary work, meaning projects are expected to draw on perspectives, methods, or collaborations that cross traditional specialty boundaries, reflecting how real-world aging problems often span multiple organ systems, conditions, and care settings.
The award uses the NIH R03 mechanism, which is typically geared toward short, targeted projects such as feasibility studies, secondary data analyses, or early-stage exploratory research. In this announcement, the R03 is positioned as a springboard: applicants propose a modest, well-defined aging or geriatrics research study that can be completed efficiently and can directly support a next-step grant application. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary grant funding within the health activity area, and it is tied to the NIH aging research CFDA number 93.866. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, keeping the focus on scientific merit and career development rather than institutional financial contribution.
A defining feature of GEMSSTAR is its explicit focus on people and environment, not only the project. Alongside the expectation for a strong research plan, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) indicates it will pay attention to whether the applicant has a supportive setting to make the transition into aging research. That includes the presence of mentorship, collaborative networks, access to aging/geriatrics research resources, and an institutional culture that can realistically help a busy early career physician-scientist protect time, develop skills, and build a research trajectory. NIA notes that the strength of this supportive environment will be considered when selecting candidates, reinforcing that the program is meant to develop future leaders, not just fund one-off studies.
From a funding standpoint, the announcement projected about 15 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $1.7 million, and it listed an award ceiling of $75,000. The opportunity was posted on August 15, 2014, with an original and current closing date of October 28, 2014, and an archive date of November 28, 2014. These dates indicate the specific round described is historical, but the summary still captures the program goals and structure as stated in the announcement.
Eligibility is broad at the organizational level and includes many common applicant institutions such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and a wide range of government entities (state, county, city/township, special district, and certain tribal governments and organizations). The eligibility language also highlights inclusion of several institution types that often participate in federal research and workforce development efforts, such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, AANAPISI institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others. At the same time, the announcement clearly restricts non-U.S. entities: foreign organizations and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
In practical terms, this FOA is best understood as an entry point for clinician specialists who want to pivot toward aging-focused discovery, clinical research, health services research, or other geriatrics-relevant work, using a small, time-limited award to prove a concept, establish collaborations, and lay the groundwork for a larger and more sustained research program. The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide at the link provided in the source, and NIH Office of Extramural Research web support contacts were listed for access or technical issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the GEMSSTAR (R03) grant opportunity?
Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) (R03) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-15-007) intended to help early stage physician-scientists trained in medical or surgical specialties begin building long-term research careers in aging and geriatrics.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program is designed to provide a focused, initial research award that helps promising clinicians generate credible early pilot data. That pilot data is meant to position applicants to compete for larger, subsequent grants centered on aging and/or geriatrics.
Which NIH institute is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with the National Institute on Aging (NIA), which indicates it will consider both the proposed research and the applicant's ability to transition into aging research within a supportive environment.
What does "transition to aging research" mean in this context?
In this announcement, "transition" refers to early career physician-scientists in medical or surgical specialties pivoting toward aging- and geriatrics-focused research. The award is framed as a springboard toward a longer-term research trajectory in aging.
What funding mechanism does GEMSSTAR use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R03 mechanism, which is typically intended for short, targeted projects such as feasibility studies, secondary data analyses, or early-stage exploratory research.
What kinds of projects are a fit for an R03 under this FOA?
The FOA positions the R03 as a modest, well-defined aging or geriatrics research study that can be completed efficiently and can directly support a next-step grant application. Examples of typical R03-style work mentioned include feasibility studies, secondary data analyses, and early exploratory research.
How does the program define or emphasize transdisciplinary research?
The program emphasizes transdisciplinary work, meaning projects are expected to incorporate perspectives, methods, or collaborations that cross traditional specialty boundaries. This reflects the reality that aging-related problems can span multiple organ systems, conditions, and care settings.
Is this opportunity focused only on the project, or also on the applicant's career development?
It explicitly focuses on both. Along with the research plan, NIA indicates it will pay attention to whether the applicant has a supportive setting to make the transition into aging research, including mentorship and access to collaborative networks and aging/geriatrics research resources.
What elements of the applicant's environment does NIA consider important?
Based on the FOA summary, NIA considers factors such as mentorship, collaborative networks, access to aging/geriatrics research resources, and an institutional culture that can realistically support a busy early career physician-scientist (for example, helping protect time, build skills, and develop a research trajectory).
Is a supportive environment actually part of the selection criteria?
Yes. The summary states that the strength of the supportive environment will be considered when selecting candidates, reinforcing that the program aims to develop future leaders rather than fund one-off studies.
What is the activity area and CFDA number associated with this grant?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary grant funding within the health activity area, and it is tied to the NIH aging research CFDA number 93.866.
How many awards were projected and what was the estimated total funding amount?
The announcement projected about 15 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $1.7 million.
What is the award ceiling listed in the announcement?
The award ceiling listed in the opportunity summary is $75,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The summary states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on August 15, 2014. The original and current closing date listed was October 28, 2014, and the archive date was November 28, 2014.
Is this a current opportunity or a historical posting?
The dates provided (including the 2014 closing and archive dates) indicate that the specific round described is historical. The summary still reflects the program goals and structure as stated in that announcement.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Organizational eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits); small businesses; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and a wide range of government entities (including state, county, city/township, special district, and certain tribal governments and organizations).
Does the eligibility language mention specific institution categories?
Yes. It highlights participation from institution types commonly involved in federal research and workforce development, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, AANAPISI institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.
Are foreign organizations or foreign components eligible?
No. The announcement restricts non-U.S. entities: foreign organizations and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
Who is the intended applicant audience?
It is designed for early stage physician-scientists who were trained in medical or surgical specialties and want to begin building a long-term research career in aging and geriatrics.
What is the intended role of the award in an applicant's longer-term funding plan?
The R03 is positioned as a springboard. The project should be structured to yield early, credible pilot data and momentum that can support a larger, subsequent aging- or geriatrics-centered grant application.
What kinds of aging-related research directions does the summary suggest are appropriate?
The summary frames the FOA as an entry point for clinician specialists pivoting toward aging-focused discovery, clinical research, health services research, or other geriatrics-relevant work, using a small, time-limited award to prove a concept and establish collaborations.
Where was the full announcement made available?
The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide at the link provided in the source information for the opportunity.
Who was listed for support with access or technical issues?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research web support contacts were listed for access or technical issues, according to the summary provided.
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