Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 20 040
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a discretionary research grant opportunity titled "Oscillatory Patterns of Gene Expression in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" under funding opportunity number RFA-AG-20-040 (CFDA 93.866). The central goal of this program is to push beyond standard, static analyses of molecular data by extracting and characterizing rhythmic or oscillatory patterns in gene and protein expression that occur across time in the context of normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In practical terms, the FOA is aimed at projects that can use and extend existing transcriptomic and proteomic datasets to detect biologically meaningful cycles in expression, interpret what those cycles mean at the molecular and systems level, and identify rhythmic signatures that may be associated with increased risk for AD.
A key emphasis is on enhancing existing resources rather than starting from scratch. The FOA explicitly encourages applications that add value to already-generated transcriptome and proteome data, for example by applying analytical approaches that can uncover periodicity, phase shifts, amplitude changes, or disrupted rhythms that might be missed by conventional differential expression methods. The intent is not only to catalogue which genes or proteins fluctuate, but also to clarify the molecular significance of those fluctuations in aging and AD, such as how oscillatory behavior might relate to neuronal function, cellular stress responses, metabolic regulation, immune activity, synaptic biology, or other pathways implicated in neurodegeneration. Another major deliverable NIH is looking for is the identification of rhythmic gene and/or protein profiles that correlate with AD risk, which could ultimately support improved biological understanding and help prioritize future mechanistic or translational work.
The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and the announcement specifies that clinical trials are not allowed, meaning applicants need to propose non-clinical-trial research designs (for instance, computational analyses, studies using existing human biospecimen-derived datasets without an interventional trial component, or experimental work that does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial). The program sits within NIH’s health research mission and is administered under an aging-related research area (as indicated by the AG series in the FOA number).
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of domestic U.S. organizations and certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants listed 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional unspecified eligible entities captured under "Others." The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations. This breadth signals NIH’s openness to multidisciplinary teams across academia, government, nonprofit, and industry settings, including organizations that serve historically underrepresented communities.
From the administrative details provided, the announcement was created on May 30, 2019, with an original application due date of October 23, 2019. The award ceiling listed is $600,000, which indicates an upper bound on the amount available per award under the terms summarized here. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source text. Overall, the opportunity is designed for research teams with the ability to integrate or reanalyze high-dimensional transcriptomic and proteomic data, apply methods suited to detecting biological rhythms, and connect rhythmic molecular signatures to aging biology and Alzheimer’s disease risk in a way that strengthens the value and interpretability of existing datasets.Apply for RFA AG 20 040
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Oscillatory Patterns of Gene Expression in Aging and Alzheimers Disease (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 2019-05-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-10-23. (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 $600,000.00 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 "Oscillatory Patterns of Gene Expression in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The FOA number is RFA-AG-20-040.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.866.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The central goal is to move beyond static analyses of molecular data by extracting and characterizing rhythmic or oscillatory patterns in gene and protein expression across time in normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The program emphasizes detecting biologically meaningful cycles, interpreting their molecular and systems-level significance, and identifying rhythmic signatures that may be associated with increased risk for AD.
What kinds of molecular patterns is NIH interested in for this FOA?
The FOA highlights rhythmic or oscillatory behavior in expression data, including patterns such as periodicity, phase shifts, amplitude changes, and disrupted rhythms that may not be captured by conventional differential expression approaches.
Is the intent only to catalog which genes or proteins fluctuate?
No. In addition to identifying which genes or proteins show oscillatory behavior, the FOA emphasizes clarifying the biological and molecular significance of these fluctuations in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
What types of biological interpretations or pathways are mentioned as relevant?
The FOA notes that oscillatory behavior may relate to neuronal function, cellular stress responses, metabolic regulation, immune activity, synaptic biology, and other pathways implicated in neurodegeneration.
What is a major deliverable NIH is looking for under this announcement?
A major deliverable is the identification of rhythmic gene and/or protein profiles that correlate with Alzheimer’s disease risk. These signatures could support improved biological understanding and help prioritize future mechanistic or translational work.
What grant mechanism is being used?
The mechanism is an NIH R01 research project grant.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The announcement explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants must propose non-clinical-trial research designs.
What kinds of research approaches fit "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" as described here?
Examples consistent with the description include computational analyses, studies using existing human biospecimen-derived datasets without an interventional trial component, and experimental work that does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
Does this FOA emphasize generating new datasets or using existing ones?
The FOA places a key emphasis on enhancing existing resources rather than starting from scratch. It explicitly encourages applications that add value to already-generated transcriptome and proteome datasets.
What types of datasets are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity specifically mentions transcriptomic and proteomic datasets, and encourages extending and reanalyzing existing transcriptome and proteome data.
What does "adding value" to existing datasets mean in the context provided?
Based on the description, "adding value" refers to applying analytical approaches designed to uncover biologically meaningful rhythmic structure in existing data (for example, detecting periodicity, phase shifts, amplitude changes, or disrupted rhythms) and interpreting those findings in the context of aging and AD.
Is the program focused on aging research, Alzheimer’s disease research, or both?
Both. The FOA is framed around normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease, and it sits within an aging-related research area (as indicated by the AG series in the FOA number).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic U.S. organization types and certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants listed 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities captured under "Others."
Are organizations that serve historically underrepresented communities included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The FOA specifically calls out Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicant types.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are included in the additional eligible applicant types called out in the provided information.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included in the additional eligible applicant types.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations.
When was this announcement created?
The announcement was created on May 30, 2019.
What was the original application due date?
The original application due date listed is October 23, 2019.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $600,000, indicating an upper bound on the amount available per award under the terms summarized in the provided information.
How many awards does NIH expect to make under this FOA?
The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source text.
What kind of team or capability does this opportunity seem to target?
Based on the description, the opportunity is designed for research teams that can integrate or reanalyze high-dimensional transcriptomic and proteomic data, apply methods suited to detecting biological rhythms, and connect rhythmic molecular signatures to aging biology and Alzheimer’s disease risk in ways that strengthen the value and interpretability of existing datasets.
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