T2 Translational Research: Research Leading to New Health Care Practices, Community Programs and Policies Affecting Older Persons (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 178

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 178

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "T2 Translational Research: Research Leading to New Health Care Practices, Community Programs and Policies Affecting Older Persons (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-178; CFDA 93.866) supports early-stage, exploratory, and developmental projects that focus on T2 translational research in aging. In practical terms, the FOA is aimed at helping researchers move findings that have already shown promise in clinical studies into real-world use, so they can meaningfully improve how older adults are cared for in clinics, health systems, and community settings. The emphasis is not on basic discovery, but on the next steps needed to make proven or promising interventions workable, scalable, and effective in everyday practice and decision-making.

This FOA defines T2 translational research on aging as the work needed to develop, adapt, test, or evaluate ways of translating results from clinical research into routine clinical practice and health decision making. A common example would be taking an intervention that worked well under controlled research conditions and then adapting it for a typical clinical environment, followed by evaluating how well it performs across different real-world settings (for instance, different kinds of clinics, patient populations, staffing models, or resource levels). The scope also includes research on monitoring, quality improvement, and the development or assessment of policies and programs that influence older adults health outcomes, whether those approaches are pharmacological (medication-related) or non-pharmacological (such as behavioral, care delivery, rehabilitation, or other supportive interventions).

The FOA is broad in the methodological approaches it encourages, reflecting the variety of ways translational work can be done. Supported methods include intervention studies as well as evidence synthesis and evaluation approaches such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses, outcomes research, and implementation research. In other words, applicants can propose studies that test interventions in practice settings, examine outcomes and comparative performance in real-world conditions, assess how best to implement an intervention across sites, or consolidate and analyze existing evidence to clarify what works and under what circumstances. Clinical trials are optional under this announcement, meaning an application may include a clinical trial if appropriate, but it is not required.

The award mechanism is an NIH R21, which is generally used to fund exploratory or developmental research that can generate feasibility data, preliminary evidence, or early real-world effectiveness signals needed to justify larger follow-on studies or broader rollout. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, indicating a relatively modest budget level consistent with pilot testing, adaptation work, implementation strategy development, or focused evaluations rather than large multi-year definitive trials.

Eligibility is intentionally wide and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental units. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments as well as tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status) other than institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies. At the same time, it clearly restricts foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities may not apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them) are not allowed.

Key administrative details included in the source information are that the opportunity is discretionary, uses the grant funding instrument, and is categorized under health-related funding activities. The NIH is the issuing agency. The original closing date listed is September 7, 2018, and the record creation date is November 17, 2017.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "T2 Translational Research: Research Leading to New Health Care Practices, Community Programs and Policies Affecting Older Persons (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-09-07. (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: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 18 178

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