Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 08 038

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Thyroid in Aging (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.866 Aging Research.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Dec 5, 2007.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2011. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Independent school districts For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments Special district governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities City or township governments.
  • Foreign institutions are eligible to apply.
Apply for PA 08 038

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Opportunity Summary:

Thyroid in Aging (R21) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement designed to spark investigator-initiated research focused on how the thyroid gland and thyroid hormone biology change with age, and how those changes affect health in older adults. The central aim is to expand scientific understanding of the aging thyroid across the full pipeline of research, including basic laboratory studies, translational work that connects mechanistic findings to human biology, and clinical studies that improve how thyroid disease is identified and managed in later life. In practical terms, the program is looking for projects that can clarify the physiology of thyroid function in aging, refine diagnostic approaches in older populations (where symptoms can be atypical and lab interpretations may be complicated by comorbidities), and ultimately support better clinical decision-making for thyroid disorders in older adults.

The opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant mechanism (R21), which is typically intended for early-stage, high-impact, or innovative studies that may involve pilot data generation, proof-of-concept testing, or exploratory aims that could lead to larger follow-on projects. This FOA runs alongside two companion announcements with the same scientific scope but different grant mechanisms: an R01 version (PA 08 037) for more mature, full-scale research projects, and an R03 version (PA 08 039) for smaller, more limited-scope studies. Applicants who have a question that fits the thyroid-and-aging theme can therefore choose a mechanism that matches the maturity, scale, and resource needs of the proposed work, with the R21 positioned as the exploratory middle ground.

In terms of funding expectations, the FOA notes that award size and duration may vary because proposed projects can differ widely in scope and cost. The award ceiling listed is $200,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. NIH does not commit to a fixed number of awards under this announcement; instead, the total number and amount of awards depends on the number of submissions received, their scientific quality, the requested budgets, the project durations, and how they fit within the available funding and program priorities at the time of award decisions.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organization types. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, independent school districts, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district). Tribal governments and tribal organizations are also eligible, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included as well. Importantly, foreign institutions are explicitly eligible to apply, which can be relevant for international aging cohorts, cross-national thyroid epidemiology, or specialized expertise located outside the United States.

Key administrative details from the listing include the funding opportunity number PA 08 038 and the posting date of December 5, 2007. The original and current closing date shown is January 7, 2011, with an archive date of February 7, 2011, indicating the opportunity is no longer active as written in that cycle. The activity areas align with health and aging research, with CFDA numbers including 93.866 (Aging Research) and 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research), reflecting NIH program alignment and the reality that thyroid physiology and disease can intersect with broader health outcomes relevant to aging populations.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as an NIH pathway for testing fresh ideas and generating foundational evidence about thyroid function and thyroid disease in older adults, with the expectation that successful R21 projects could set the stage for larger trials, more definitive mechanistic work, or expanded clinical studies under future funding mechanisms. For full procedural requirements and application instructions, the archived program announcement was hosted through the NIH Grants Guide (link provided in the source data).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Thyroid in Aging (R21) - NIH (PA 08 038)

What is the "Thyroid in Aging (R21)" funding opportunity?

"Thyroid in Aging (R21)" is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement intended to stimulate investigator-initiated research on how the thyroid gland and thyroid hormone biology change with age, and how those changes influence health outcomes in older adults.

What is the main goal of this FOA?

The central aim is to expand scientific understanding of the aging thyroid across the research pipeline, spanning basic, translational, and clinical studies. The FOA emphasizes building evidence that can improve how thyroid disease is identified and managed in later life.

What kinds of research does the announcement encourage?

The opportunity is designed to support research that clarifies the physiology of thyroid function in aging, improves diagnostic approaches for older populations (where symptoms may be atypical and lab interpretation can be complicated by comorbidities), and supports better clinical decision-making for thyroid disorders in older adults. It explicitly spans basic laboratory studies, translational work, and clinical studies.

What grant mechanism does this announcement use?

This FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant mechanism (R21), which is generally intended for early-stage, innovative, or high-impact projects that may include pilot data generation, proof-of-concept testing, or exploratory aims that could lead to larger follow-on studies.

How does the R21 version relate to other opportunities on the same topic?

This FOA runs alongside two companion announcements with the same scientific scope but different grant mechanisms: an R01 version (PA 08 037) for more mature, full-scale research projects, and an R03 version (PA 08 039) for smaller, limited-scope studies. The R21 is positioned as an exploratory middle ground between the R03 and R01.

What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The funding opportunity number is PA 08 038.

How much funding is available under this R21?

The award ceiling listed is $200,000. The FOA notes that award size and duration may vary depending on the scope and cost of proposed projects.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Does NIH guarantee a certain number of awards?

No. NIH does not commit to a fixed number of awards under this announcement. The number and amount of awards depend on factors such as the volume of submissions, scientific quality, requested budgets, project durations, alignment with program priorities, and available funds at the time of award decisions.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, including: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; independent school districts; and various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district).

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Tribal governments and tribal organizations are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.

Are public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included as eligible applicants.

Are foreign institutions allowed to apply?

Yes. Foreign institutions are explicitly eligible to apply under this opportunity, which may be relevant for international cohorts, cross-national epidemiology, or specialized expertise outside the United States.

What research areas does this FOA align with?

The activity areas align with health and aging research. The listing references CFDA numbers 93.866 (Aging Research) and 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research), reflecting NIH program alignment and the overlap of thyroid physiology and disease with broader health outcomes relevant to aging populations.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting date shown is December 5, 2007.

What were the closing date and archive date?

The original and current closing date shown is January 7, 2011, and the archive date is February 7, 2011.

Is this funding opportunity still active?

Based on the provided dates (closing date January 7, 2011 and archive date February 7, 2011), the opportunity is no longer active as written for that cycle.

What is the overall intent or "best fit" for projects under this FOA?

This FOA is best understood as a pathway for testing fresh ideas and generating foundational evidence about thyroid function and thyroid disease in older adults, with the expectation that successful R21 projects could provide the basis for larger trials, more definitive mechanistic work, or expanded clinical studies under future mechanisms.

Where were the full application instructions hosted?

The full procedural requirements and application instructions were provided through the NIH Grants Guide, and the source data indicates the program announcement was archived there.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institutes of Health

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Next opportunity: Thyroid in Aging (R03)

Previous opportunity: Thyroid in Aging (R01)

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Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 08 038) also looked into and applied for these:

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Thyroid in Aging (R03) Apply for PA 08 039

Funding Number: PA 08 039
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Funding Number: PAR 08 045
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Funding Number: PAS 08 049
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Funding Number: PAS 08 061
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Alzheimer s Disease Pilot Clinical Trials (R01) Apply for PAR 08 062

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Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Decision Making in Cancer Single Event Decisions (R01) Apply for PA 08 063

Funding Number: PA 08 063
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Decision Making in Cancer Single Event Decisions (R21) Apply for PA 08 064

Funding Number: PA 08 064
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Research on the Economics of Diet, Activity and Energy Balance (R21) Apply for PA 08 077

Funding Number: PA 08 077
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
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NLM Express Research Grants in Biomedical Informatics (R01) Apply for PAR 08 080

Funding Number: PAR 08 080
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery (R21) Apply for PA 08 084

Funding Number: PA 08 084
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: $200,000
The Effect of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination/Bias on Health Care Delivery (R03) Apply for PA 08 085

Funding Number: PA 08 085
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Functional Links between the Immune System, Brain Function and Behavior (R01) Apply for PA 08 097

Funding Number: PA 08 097
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Functional Links between the Immune System, Brain Function and Behavior (R21) Apply for PA 08 098

Funding Number: PA 08 098
Agency: National Institutes of Health
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Cancer Education Grants Program (R25) Apply for PAR 08 120

Funding Number: PAR 08 120
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Symptom Interactions in Cancer and Immune Disorders (R01) Apply for PA 08 121

Funding Number: PA 08 121
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Symptom Interactions in Cancer and Immune Disorders (R21) Apply for PA 08 122

Funding Number: PA 08 122
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: $200,000
Epidemiology Of Drug Abuse (R01) Apply for PA 08 124

Funding Number: PA 08 124
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Epidemiology Of Drug Abuse (R21) Apply for PA 08 125

Funding Number: PA 08 125
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: $200,000
Epidemiology Of Drug Abuse (R03) Apply for PA 08 126

Funding Number: PA 08 126
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Category: Education Health
Funding Amount: Case Dependent

 

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