Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 16 004
Apply for RFA AG 16 004
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lifespan Human Connectome Project Aging (U01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.213 Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.361 Nursing Research 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.866 Aging Research 93.867 Vision Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 6, 2015 and posted on Feb 6, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 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 $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Special district governments Small businesses State governments Independent school districts 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) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Lifespan Human Connectome Project Aging (U01) funding opportunity (RFA-AG-16-004) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative released under the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, a partnership of 15 NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices that coordinate investments in neuroscience to speed discovery and ultimately lessen the burden of nervous system disorders. This particular announcement sits within the broader Lifespan Human Connectome Project (L-HCP), which is designed to extend the original Human Connectome Project (HCP) by mapping brain connectivity not only in healthy young adults, but across the full human lifespan. In plain terms, NIH is looking to expand a proven set of HCP experimental methods and data standards into additional age ranges so the field can compare brain wiring and brain activity patterns across development, adulthood, and aging using consistent tools.
The central goal of this FOA is to solicit cooperative agreement applications that apply and extend HCP-style experimental protocols specifically to middle-aged and older adults, focusing on structural and functional brain changes that occur during typical aging. The emphasis on "typical aging" matters: the intent is to create high-quality, broadly useful reference datasets and protocols that characterize normal age-related change in brain connections, rather than targeting a single neurological disease. This complements a separate, companion FOA aimed at children and adolescents, reflecting the larger strategy of building comparable datasets at different life stages using harmonized measures.
Mechanistically, the award uses a U01 cooperative agreement, which signals substantial NIH scientific and programmatic involvement compared with a standard research project grant. In practice, a U01 often indicates that the funded team will work closely with NIH and with other components of the broader L-HCP effort to ensure that methods, data formats, quality control, and sharing practices are aligned with HCP standards and are maximally useful to the wider research community. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and is associated with broad public mission areas (education, environment, health, income security, and social services), reflecting the cross-cutting relevance of brain aging research.
In terms of scope and scale, the FOA anticipated a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an estimated total funding level of $2,000,000 and an award ceiling of $2,000,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The announcement was posted February 6, 2015, with an application due date of June 15, 2015, and an archive date of July 16, 2015, indicating it was a time-limited solicitation tied to the larger Blueprint L-HCP rollout.
Eligibility is intentionally broad. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and eligible federal agencies). The eligibility section also explicitly includes a wide range of mission- and community-focused institutions and organizations, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities and regional organizations. This wide eligibility reflects the large, infrastructure-like nature of connectome projects and the value NIH places on broad participation and capacity to execute complex, standardized data collection.
The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning neuroscience and related areas (including aging research, mental health, substance use, sensory disorders, nursing research, and technology innovation), which underscores how connectome-style datasets can serve many research domains. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a coordinated NIH Blueprint investment to generate rigorous, standardized, and shareable connectivity data in middle-aged and older adults, enabling researchers to study how the brain's structural pathways and functional networks shift with age using the same core playbook that made the original HCP so influential. For full details, NIH pointed applicants to the official funding notice hosted on the NIH Grants Guide website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Lifespan Human Connectome Project Aging (U01) funding opportunity?
The Lifespan Human Connectome Project Aging (U01) is an NIH funding opportunity (RFA-AG-16-004) that supports work to apply and extend Human Connectome Project (HCP)-style methods to middle-aged and older adults. The aim is to generate high-quality, standardized, and broadly useful brain connectivity data focused on typical aging.
Which NIH effort is sponsoring this opportunity?
This initiative was released under the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, a partnership of 15 NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices that coordinate neuroscience investments to speed discovery and reduce the burden of nervous system disorders.
How does this relate to the original Human Connectome Project (HCP)?
The broader Lifespan Human Connectome Project (L-HCP) is designed to extend the original HCP beyond healthy young adults by mapping brain connectivity across the full lifespan. This specific FOA focuses on middle-aged and older adults, using HCP experimental methods and data standards so results can be compared across life stages using consistent tools.
What is the central goal of this FOA?
The central goal is to solicit cooperative agreement applications that apply and extend HCP-style experimental protocols specifically to middle-aged and older adults, with emphasis on structural and functional brain changes that occur during typical aging.
What does “typical aging†mean in the context of this FOA?
“Typical aging†indicates the intent to create reference datasets and protocols that characterize normal age-related changes in brain connections and brain activity patterns, rather than focusing on a single neurological disease.
Is this opportunity part of a larger set of lifespan-focused efforts?
Yes. This FOA sits within the broader L-HCP strategy, which includes harmonized measures and comparable datasets at different life stages. The description notes a separate, companion FOA aimed at children and adolescents that complements the aging-focused work.
What type of award mechanism is used (and what does it imply)?
The mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement. A U01 typically signals substantial NIH scientific and programmatic involvement compared with a standard research project grant, and it often involves close coordination with NIH and other project components to align methods, data formats, quality control, and data sharing with HCP standards.
How many awards were anticipated under this FOA?
The FOA anticipated a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1).
What was the expected funding amount and maximum award size?
The FOA listed an estimated total funding level of $2,000,000, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the announcement posted and when were applications due?
The announcement was posted on February 6, 2015. The application due date was June 15, 2015.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
The FOA includes an archive date of July 16, 2015, and it is described as a time-limited solicitation tied to the broader Blueprint L-HCP rollout.
What kinds of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and eligible federal agencies).
Were community-focused and mission-driven institutions included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly included organizations and institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Were U.S. territories and non-U.S. organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility section includes U.S. territories or possessions, non-U.S. (foreign) entities, and regional organizations.
What kind of work does NIH appear to be emphasizing for funded teams?
The FOA emphasizes extending proven HCP experimental methods and data standards to additional age ranges, producing rigorous, standardized, and shareable connectivity data for middle-aged and older adults, and aligning protocols, data formats, quality control, and sharing practices with HCP standards so the datasets are broadly useful.
What broader mission areas are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and is associated with broad public mission areas including education, environment, health, income security, and social services, reflecting the cross-cutting relevance of brain aging research.
What does it mean that the FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers?
The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning neuroscience and related areas (including aging research, mental health, substance use, sensory disorders, nursing research, and technology innovation). This underscores that connectome-style datasets can support many research domains.
Where were applicants directed for full official details?
For full details, applicants were directed to the official funding notice hosted on the NIH Grants Guide website.
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| Lifespan Human Connectome Project Development (U01) Apply for RFA MH 16 150 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 150 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R01) Apply for PA 15 126 Funding Number: PA 15 126 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R21) Apply for PA 15 125 Funding Number: PA 15 125 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R03) Apply for PA 15 124 Funding Number: PA 15 124 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Lifespan Human Connectome Project Baby Connectome (U01) Apply for RFA MH 16 160 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 160 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,700,000 |
| Summer Research Education Experience Programs (R25) Apply for PAR 15 184 Funding Number: PAR 15 184 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Neuroimaging Informatics Tools and Resources Clearinghouse (U24) Apply for RFA EB 15 005 Funding Number: RFA EB 15 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Short Term Institutional Research Training Grants (T35) Apply for PA 08 227 Funding Number: PA 08 227 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Community Participation Research Targeting the Medically Underserved (R01) Apply for PAR 08 075 Funding Number: PAR 08 075 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Community Participation Research Targeting the Medically Underserved (R21) Apply for PAR 08 076 Funding Number: PAR 08 076 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03) Apply for PA 06 180 Funding Number: PA 06 180 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21) Apply for PA 06 181 Funding Number: PA 06 181 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (R03) Apply for PA 06 391 Funding Number: PA 06 391 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Research on Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21) Apply for PA 06 392 Funding Number: PA 06 392 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R03) Apply for PAR 07 019 Funding Number: PAR 07 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R01) Apply for PAR 07 020 Funding Number: PAR 07 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Mind Body Interactions and Health (R01) Apply for PA 07 046 Funding Number: PA 07 046 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research On Autism And Autism Spectrum Disorders (R01) Apply for PA 07 085 Funding Number: PA 07 085 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Understanding and Treating Ataxia Telangiectasia (R01) Apply for PA 07 272 Funding Number: PA 07 272 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Understanding and Treating Ataxia Telangiectasia (R21) Apply for PA 07 273 Funding Number: PA 07 273 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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