Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 14 002
Apply for RFA AG 14 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Optogenetic Tools for the Study of Neural Systems in Aging and Alzheimers Disease (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 Apr 18, 2013 and posted on Apr 17, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 1, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education State governments Independent school districts Small businesses City or township governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Special district 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH funding opportunity RFA-AG-14-002, titled "Optogenetic Tools for the Study of Neural Systems in Aging and Alzheimers Disease (R01)," is a discretionary grant program in the health area (CFDA 93.866, Aging Research) designed to accelerate both the use and the continued refinement of optogenetic methods for aging- and Alzheimers-focused neuroscience. The core goal is to support research that applies optogenetics to understand how neural systems function during normal aging and how those same systems break down in pathological aging, including Alzheimers disease. In practical terms, the FOA is aimed at projects that use light-controlled tools to manipulate defined cell types and circuits with high temporal precision, so investigators can test causal links between specific neural pathways and age-related changes in behavior, physiology, or disease processes.
A key emphasis of the announcement is breadth across neural systems and functional domains. NIH highlights aging and AD research areas that include sensory and motor systems, cognition and memory, emotional and affective regulation, autonomic control, sleep and circadian-related circuitry, and neurovascular functions. That scope signals that the program is not limited to one brain region, one symptom cluster, or one experimental paradigm; instead, it encourages investigators to bring optogenetic approaches into diverse questions where aging or AD alters circuit dynamics, network plasticity, or system-level outputs. The FOA also explicitly encourages additional development of optogenetic tools tailored to aging and AD, which suggests interest not only in applying existing actuators and indicators, but also in improving them for older organisms and disease contexts where factors like altered tissue properties, inflammation, vascular changes, or shifts in gene expression can complicate delivery, expression, stimulation, and readout.
The award mechanism is an R01 research project grant, which typically supports hypothesis-driven or technology-enabled research programs of substantial scope. For this opportunity, the estimated total funding listed is $1,000,000, with an award ceiling of $225,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, lowering barriers for applicants who may not have institutional resources to commit as a formal match. The opportunity was posted April 17, 2013 (created April 18, 2013), with an original and current closing date of August 1, 2013, and an archive date of September 1, 2013. While the dates indicate it is an archived FOA rather than an open competition today, the content captures NIH priorities at the time around leveraging optogenetics for mechanistic aging and AD research and tool development.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across academia, government, non-profit, and industry. Eligible applicants listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding those that are institutions of higher education where specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. Governmental entities are also eligible, including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities. The FOA further clarifies additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Importantly, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, indicating NIH was open to internationally linked work when structured through an eligible applicant organization and compliant with NIH policy.
Administration is through the National Institutes of Health. The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide (link provided in the source data), and NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts are listed for technical issues accessing the announcement or linking to it. Overall, this FOA is best understood as an NIH effort to push optogenetics beyond proof-of-concept neuroscience and into the specific biological and translational challenges posed by aging and Alzheimers disease, supporting studies that can map, test, and potentially correct circuit-level dysfunction while also motivating the creation of optogenetic tools that perform reliably in aged and disease-altered nervous systems.
FAQs: NIH RFA-AG-14-002 - Optogenetic Tools for the Study of Neural Systems in Aging and Alzheimers Disease (R01)
What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The opportunity is NIH RFA-AG-14-002, titled "Optogenetic Tools for the Study of Neural Systems in Aging and Alzheimers Disease (R01)."
Which agency administers this grant?
This funding opportunity is administered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What kind of grant mechanism is used?
The award mechanism is an R01 research project grant.
What is the CFDA number and program area?
The CFDA listing provided is 93.866, under Aging Research.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The core goal is to accelerate both the use and continued refinement of optogenetic methods for neuroscience focused on normal aging and pathological aging, including Alzheimers disease.
What types of research questions does the FOA aim to support?
The FOA aims to support research that applies optogenetics to understand how neural systems function during normal aging and how those same systems break down in pathological aging, including Alzheimers disease.
How does the FOA describe the practical role of optogenetics in supported projects?
It emphasizes using light-controlled tools to manipulate defined cell types and circuits with high temporal precision, enabling causal tests linking specific neural pathways to age-related changes in behavior, physiology, or disease processes.
Is the FOA limited to a single brain region or symptom area?
No. The announcement emphasizes breadth across neural systems and functional domains and signals it is not limited to one brain region, one symptom cluster, or one experimental paradigm.
Which functional domains and systems are specifically highlighted?
NIH highlights several areas, including sensory and motor systems, cognition and memory, emotional and affective regulation, autonomic control, sleep and circadian-related circuitry, and neurovascular functions.
Does the FOA support only the application of existing optogenetic tools?
No. The FOA explicitly encourages additional development of optogenetic tools tailored to aging and Alzheimers disease, indicating interest in both applying existing actuators/indicators and improving them for older organisms and disease contexts.
Why might tool development be important for aging and Alzheimers contexts according to the FOA?
The FOA notes that factors such as altered tissue properties, inflammation, vascular changes, or shifts in gene expression in aging or disease contexts can complicate delivery, expression, stimulation, and readout, motivating refinement of tools for reliable performance.
What is the estimated total funding amount listed for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding listed is $1,000,000.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling listed is $225,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on April 17, 2013 (created April 18, 2013).
What were the closing dates?
The original and current closing date provided is August 1, 2013.
What is the archive date?
The archive date listed is September 1, 2013.
Is this an open funding opportunity today based on the dates provided?
The dates indicate it is an archived FOA rather than an open competition today.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) as specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and various governmental entities.
Which governmental entities are listed as eligible?
Eligible governmental entities include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and Indian housing authorities.
Are minority-serving institutions and similar organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA lists additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are listed among eligible applicants.
Are regional organizations eligible?
Yes. Regional organizations are included among eligible applicants.
Are eligible federal agencies allowed to apply?
Yes. The FOA indicates eligible federal agencies are included among eligible applicants.
Are foreign components allowed?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning internationally linked work could be included when structured through an eligible applicant organization and compliant with NIH policy.
Where was the full announcement made available?
The full announcement was made available through the NIH grants guide (as referenced in the source information).
Who is listed for technical help with accessing or linking to the announcement?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts are listed for technical issues accessing the announcement or linking to it.
How can this FOA be summarized in terms of NIH priorities?
It reflects an NIH effort to push optogenetics beyond proof-of-concept neuroscience into the biological and translational challenges posed by aging and Alzheimers disease, supporting studies that map, test, and potentially correct circuit-level dysfunction while also motivating development of optogenetic tools that work reliably in aged and disease-altered nervous systems.
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