Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 21 010
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Glial Plasticity in the Aging Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-21-010; CFDA 93.866) supports basic and mechanistic research focused on how glial cells change during aging and how those changes shape brain health over time. The central idea behind the announcement is that glia are not uniform cell populations; instead, they show major spatial and temporal diversity, meaning that glial cells of the same broad type can differ depending on where they are in the brain, when they are observed, and what conditions the brain is experiencing. The opportunity emphasizes that this within-cell-type heterogeneity appears to evolve as organisms age, potentially giving rise to distinct glial subpopulations with different physiological roles. NIH is seeking projects that fill key knowledge gaps about whether, how, and why these emerging glial subtypes contribute either to vulnerability (increased risk of decline, dysfunction, or pathology) or resilience (maintenance of function and protection against age-related stressors) in the aging brain.
This is an R01 research project grant mechanism, which generally indicates support for well-developed, hypothesis-driven studies that can deliver clear, publishable advances in understanding. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation signals that applications should not propose clinical trials; the intent is to fund preclinical, foundational, or other non-trial human research that advances biological understanding rather than testing an intervention in a clinical trial framework. In practice, competitive projects for a topic like this commonly center on identifying and characterizing glial subpopulations, mapping their distribution across brain regions and across the lifespan, determining how aging reshapes their gene expression and functional properties, and clarifying how these changes influence neuronal circuits and overall brain function. The announcement is framed around "glial plasticity," so studies that illuminate how glia adapt, transition between states, or shift roles during aging are especially aligned, particularly when those state changes can be tied to mechanisms that might explain resilience versus susceptibility to age-related cognitive or neurological decline.
The eligibility criteria are broad and include many organization types across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional categories captured under "others." The announcement also highlights a wide range of "other eligible applicants," underscoring an inclusive posture toward institutions and organizations that serve specific communities or operate in unique jurisdictions. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible agencies of the federal government; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply.
Key administrative details provided in the source data include an original closing date of 2020-06-17 and a creation date of 2019-12-17. The award ceiling listed is $250,000, indicating the upper limit specified in the opportunity materials for budget considerations as presented in the dataset. The opportunity category is discretionary, the funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is health, consistent with NIH biomedical research support. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at accelerating a more precise, subtype-level understanding of glial biology in aging, with the expectation that clarifying which glial subpopulations drive harmful versus protective aging trajectories will sharpen the field's ability to explain brain aging and identify future therapeutic directions, even though this particular announcement does not support clinical trials.Apply for RFA AG 21 010
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Glial Plasticity in the Aging Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2019-12-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-06-17. (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 $250,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Glial Plasticity in the Aging Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AG-21-010.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.866.
What is the main scientific focus of this opportunity?
This opportunity supports basic and mechanistic research on how glial cells change during aging and how those changes shape brain health over time. A major emphasis is understanding glial plasticity and the emergence of distinct glial subpopulations as organisms age.
What does NIH mean here by "glial plasticity"?
Within the context provided, "glial plasticity" refers to how glial cells adapt during aging, including how they transition between states or shift roles over time. The opportunity is especially aligned with studies that connect these state changes to mechanisms that help explain resilience versus vulnerability in the aging brain.
Why does the announcement emphasize glial heterogeneity?
The announcement is built around the idea that glia are not uniform cell populations. Instead, glial cells show strong spatial and temporal diversity, meaning cells of the same broad glial type can differ based on brain region, timing across the lifespan, and the brain's conditions. This heterogeneity may change with age and may create distinct glial subpopulations with different physiological roles.
What kinds of knowledge gaps is NIH trying to fill with this RFA?
NIH is seeking projects that clarify whether, how, and why age-emerging glial subtypes contribute to vulnerability (greater risk of decline, dysfunction, or pathology) or resilience (maintenance of function and protection against age-related stressors) in the aging brain.
What grant mechanism is being used?
This opportunity uses the R01 research project grant mechanism, which generally supports well-developed, hypothesis-driven studies designed to produce clear advances in understanding.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications should not propose clinical trials.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what types of studies does NIH appear to be seeking?
Based on the description, NIH is seeking foundational, basic, and mechanistic studies that advance biological understanding rather than testing an intervention in a clinical trial framework. Examples mentioned include identifying and characterizing glial subpopulations, mapping their distribution across brain regions and across the lifespan, determining how aging reshapes gene expression and functional properties, and clarifying how these changes influence neuronal circuits and overall brain function.
What is the central idea behind this funding opportunity?
The central idea is that glial diversity within a cell type can change as organisms age, potentially producing distinct glial subpopulations. Understanding how those subpopulations arise and what they do may explain why some aging trajectories are harmful while others are protective.
What outcomes or impacts is NIH ultimately trying to enable through this research?
The opportunity aims to accelerate a more precise, subtype-level understanding of glial biology in aging. By clarifying which glial subpopulations drive harmful versus protective trajectories, the field may be better positioned to explain brain aging and identify future therapeutic directions, even though this specific announcement does not support clinical trials.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors, as well as other categories listed in the announcement.
Which government entities are listed as eligible applicants?
Eligible government applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and additional categories such as U.S. territories or possessions and eligible agencies of the federal government.
Are higher education institutions eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. The opportunity also highlights eligibility for several institution types that serve specific communities, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISISs.
Can nonprofits apply?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, as long as they are not institutions of higher education (per the wording provided).
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses.
Are tribal organizations that are not federally recognized eligible?
Yes. Tribal organizations that are not federally recognized are listed among eligible applicants, and the "other eligible applicants" section also reiterates Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among "other eligible applicants."
Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are listed as eligible, meaning foreign organizations can apply.
What is the opportunity category and funding instrument type?
The opportunity category is discretionary, and the funding instrument type is a grant.
What activity category is associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is health, consistent with NIH biomedical research support.
What is the listed award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the provided data is $250,000.
What are the key dates included in the provided information?
The creation date is 2019-12-17, and the original closing date listed is 2020-06-17.
What does the original closing date indicate?
Based on the provided information only, the original closing date is the date listed in the source data as 2020-06-17 for this opportunity.
What research themes appear especially aligned with this announcement?
Projects that study how glia adapt with age, identify and characterize distinct glial subpopulations, map where those subpopulations occur across brain regions and time, and connect age-related glial state changes to mechanisms that influence neuronal circuits, brain function, vulnerability, or resilience are described as aligned with the announcement's goals.
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