Renal Function and Chronic Kidney Disease in Aging (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Renal Function and Chronic Kidney Disease in Aging (R01)" opportunity?

It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that supports research on how chronic kidney disease (CKD) develops, progresses, and affects health in the context of aging and in older adults. The FOA uses the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism and is identified by Funding Opportunity Number PA-09-165.

Which NIH institutes are involved?

The FOA is led by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in partnership with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

What is the main goal of this FOA?

The core aim is to improve scientific understanding of CKD in later life and translate that knowledge into evidence-based guidance that improves how CKD is identified, prevented, and treated in older people.

What types of research does this announcement support?

It supports basic, clinical, and translational research focused on CKD in aging and older adults, with an emphasis on generating knowledge that can inform real-world clinical decision-making and outcomes in later life.

What are the major scientific areas of interest highlighted in the FOA?

The FOA highlights four broad areas: (1) biology and pathophysiology of CKD using animal models with an aging lens; (2) etiology and pathophysiology of CKD in older adults; (3) epidemiology and risk factor research on CKD development with advancing age; and (4) diagnosis, medical management, and clinical outcomes of CKD in older persons.

Does the FOA include animal model research?

Yes. One of the highlighted areas specifically calls for studies on the biology and pathophysiology of CKD using animal models, focusing on how aging-related changes (such as in structure, cellular processes, inflammation, vascular function, or repair mechanisms) may influence CKD susceptibility, progression, or outcomes.

Does the FOA support research specifically in older adults?

Yes. Multiple areas of interest focus directly on older adults, including work to clarify why CKD emerges or accelerates in the elderly and how aging-related physiology interacts with comorbidities.

Are epidemiology and population studies within scope?

Yes. The FOA supports epidemiology and risk factor research focused on CKD development with advancing age, including identifying predictors, trajectories of renal function decline, and population-level patterns that can inform prevention or early intervention strategies.

Does this opportunity include research on diagnosis and treatment in older people with CKD?

Yes. One of the highlighted areas is diagnosis, medical management, and clinical outcomes of CKD in older persons, including evaluation of diagnostic approaches in aging populations and optimizing treatment decisions in the context of common issues like multiple chronic conditions and polypharmacy.

What kinds of outcomes are mentioned as relevant for studies in older adults with CKD?

The FOA references downstream outcomes such as disability, cardiovascular complications, hospitalization, cognitive changes, and mortality.

What grant mechanism is used for this funding opportunity?

Funding is provided through the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism, which is generally intended for mature, hypothesis-driven projects that can support multi-year research programs.

Is there an exploratory version of this opportunity?

Yes. The announcement notes a parallel R21 version (PA-09-166) with the same scientific scope that is designed for exploratory or early-stage studies. Applicants would choose the mechanism that best matches the maturity and scale of the proposed work.

Are award amounts and project durations fixed?

No. The description indicates that award amounts and project durations are not fixed and are expected to vary based on the needs and scope of individual applications.

What factors affect whether awards are made?

Awards are contingent on the availability of funds and on the submission of a sufficient number of highly meritorious proposals.

What type of funding is this categorized as?

It is categorized as discretionary grant funding.

Which NIH assistance listings (CFDA numbers) are associated with this FOA?

The opportunity is tied to NIH assistance listings (CFDA) 93.847 (Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research) and 93.866 (Aging Research).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The FOA does not require cost sharing or matching.

When was the FOA posted, and what were the closing and archive dates?

The FOA was posted on April 17, 2009. The original and current closing date was May 7, 2012, and the archive date was June 7, 2012.

Is this funding opportunity currently active?

No. Based on the provided dates (closing date May 7, 2012 and archive date June 7, 2012), it was time-limited and is no longer active as a current competition.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, such as public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, special districts, and independent school districts); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and tribal entities.

Are mission-based and underserved-serving institutions included in eligibility?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes 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, and faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as U.S. territories or possessions.

Can foreign organizations apply?

Yes. The eligibility description allows non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations.

Can federal government agencies apply?

Yes. The eligibility description indicates that eligible federal government agencies are allowed.

What kinds of contributions are expected from successful projects under this program?

Projects are expected to contribute meaningful, actionable knowledge, such as revealing mechanisms of disease in aging biology, identifying who is at greatest risk and why, improving diagnostic accuracy in older populations, or strengthening the evidence base for treatment strategies and outcomes that matter most in later life.

How does the FOA frame the role of aging in CKD research?

The FOA emphasizes an "aging lens" across research areas, focusing on how aging changes kidney vulnerability, influences CKD development and progression, interacts with comorbidities, and shapes the consequences of CKD for health and functional outcomes in older adults.