Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 12 018
Apply for PA 12 018
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanisms Mediating Osteoarthritis in Aging (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 22, 2011 and posted on Nov 22, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $275,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Independent school districts 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 City or township governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Special district governments Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 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 Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
Mechanisms Mediating Osteoarthritis in Aging (R21) (Funding Opportunity Number PA-12-018) was a National Institutes of Health discretionary grant opportunity led jointly by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). It used the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism (R21), which is typically meant to support early-stage, high-impact, and hypothesis-generating work rather than large, long-term projects. The central aim of the announcement was to encourage and speed up research that clarifies how osteoarthritis progresses in the context of aging, with a particular emphasis on developing, refining, or more fully characterizing new or underutilized experimental models and using those models to test mechanistic hypotheses. In practical terms, the opportunity was designed to help the field move beyond descriptive observations and toward explanations of the biological processes that drive osteoarthritic change as people get older.
The scientific focus of the announcement was the set of mechanisms that mediate osteoarthritic progression, especially as influenced by aging biology. While the text provided here does not list specific topic areas, the framing makes clear that NIH was looking for studies that would connect aging-related changes (for example, alterations in tissue homeostasis, inflammation, cellular senescence, stress responses, or repair capacity) to the development and worsening of osteoarthritis. A major theme was the use of models: applicants were encouraged to bring forward innovative or less commonly used animal models, tissue or organ culture systems, cellular models, or other experimental platforms that could illuminate cause-and-effect relationships in disease progression. The intent was not only to validate models as useful tools, but also to use them to test focused hypotheses about what drives degeneration, pain, and structural decline in osteoarthritic joints during aging.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a grant (not a contract) in the Health funding activity category, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. The award ceiling listed for the announcement was $275,000. The program was posted on November 22, 2011, and remained open through January 7, 2015, with an archive date of February 7, 2015. The listing included CFDA numbers 93.846 (Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research) and 93.866 (Aging Research), reflecting the joint institute interest in both osteoarthritis and aging-related mechanisms.
Eligibility was broad and included a wide range of domestic and international organizations. Eligible applicants encompassed public and private institutions of higher education, public entities such as state, county, city, township, special district, and independent school district governments, and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status. The opportunity was also open to for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are explicitly named, and small businesses are also listed as eligible), public housing authorities including Indian housing authorities, and multiple categories of tribal organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities. The eligibility language further highlighted inclusion of institutions and organizations that commonly participate in NIH programs, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Notably, non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) were eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations could participate; foreign components were allowed consistent with NIH policy.
Overall, PA-12-018 was positioned as a catalyst for exploratory, mechanism-centered osteoarthritis research that treats aging as a key biological context rather than a simple risk factor. By emphasizing new or underused models and hypothesis testing, NIA and NIAMS aimed to broaden the toolkit available to researchers and accelerate discoveries about why osteoarthritis worsens with age, which could ultimately inform better prevention strategies, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. For full archived details, NIH pointed applicants to the official announcement page (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-018.html) and provided NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled Mechanisms Mediating Osteoarthritis in Aging (R21). The NIH Funding Opportunity Number is PA-12-018.
Which NIH Institutes led this opportunity?
This was a discretionary NIH grant opportunity led jointly by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
What type of award mechanism did this opportunity use?
It used the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism, R21, which is generally intended for early-stage, high-impact, and hypothesis-generating work rather than large, long-term projects.
What was the overall purpose of PA-12-018?
The central aim was to encourage and speed up research clarifying how osteoarthritis progresses in the context of aging, with an emphasis on moving beyond descriptive observations toward mechanistic explanations of biological processes that drive osteoarthritic change as people get older.
What scientific focus did NIH emphasize in this announcement?
The focus was on the mechanisms that mediate osteoarthritic progression, especially mechanisms influenced by aging biology, and on using experimental systems that can support cause-and-effect conclusions about progression.
Did the announcement specify particular topic areas or pathways?
The information provided here does not list specific topic areas. However, the framing indicates interest in studies linking aging-related changes (for example, tissue homeostasis changes, inflammation, cellular senescence, stress responses, or repair capacity) to the development and worsening of osteoarthritis.
Why was there such a strong emphasis on experimental models?
A major theme was the development, refinement, or fuller characterization of new or underutilized experimental models, and then using those models to test mechanistic hypotheses about what drives degeneration, pain, and structural decline in osteoarthritic joints during aging.
What kinds of models were encouraged?
Applicants were encouraged to propose innovative or less commonly used animal models, tissue or organ culture systems, cellular models, or other experimental platforms suitable for clarifying mechanisms of osteoarthritis progression in aging.
Was this opportunity intended to support large, long-term projects?
No. As an R21 exploratory/developmental mechanism, it was positioned for early-stage, high-impact, hypothesis-generating studies rather than large, long-duration projects.
Was this a grant or a contract?
This opportunity was a grant (not a contract).
What was the funding activity category?
The funding activity category listed was Health.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement specified no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What was the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for the announcement was $275,000.
When was the opportunity posted, and how long was it open?
It was posted on November 22, 2011 and remained open through January 7, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was February 7, 2015.
Which CFDA numbers were associated with this opportunity?
The listing included CFDA 93.846 (Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research) and CFDA 93.866 (Aging Research), reflecting joint interest in osteoarthritis and aging mechanisms.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many domestic and international organization types, including:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Public entities (such as state, county, city, township, special district, and independent school district governments)
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses, which were also listed as eligible)
- Public housing authorities (including Indian housing authorities)
- Tribal organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities
- U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and other commonly NIH-participating institutions
Were organizations like HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions included?
Yes. The eligibility language highlighted inclusion of organizations commonly participating in NIH programs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), as well as faith-based and community-based organizations.
Could non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) were eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations could participate. Foreign components were allowed consistent with NIH policy.
What kinds of research outcomes was NIH hoping to accelerate?
Based on the description provided, the opportunity aimed to accelerate discoveries that explain why osteoarthritis worsens with age, potentially informing better prevention strategies, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets through mechanism-centered research and improved modeling approaches.
Where can someone find the official archived announcement?
The official announcement page referenced for archived details is: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-018.html.
Who was listed as a contact for access or linking issues?
The information provided indicates NIH directed applicants to NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster contacts for access or linking issues related to the official announcement page.
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