Interdisciplinary Research to Understand the Complex Biology of Resilience to Alzheimers Disease Risk (R01) | RFA AG 17 061

FAQs: RFA-AG-17-061 - Interdisciplinary Research to Understand the Complex Biology of Resilience to Alzheimers Disease Risk (R01)

What is the funding opportunity title and number?

The opportunity is NIH RFA-AG-17-061, titled "Interdisciplinary Research to Understand the Complex Biology of Resilience to Alzheimers Disease Risk (R01)."

Which agency is offering this grant?

The grant opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What type of grant mechanism is being used?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism to support comprehensive research projects.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to deepen understanding of why some people who are considered at high risk for Alzheimers disease do not go on to develop dementia, and to translate that understanding into predictive, biology-based models of cognitive resilience.

What does NIH mean by "resilience" in this announcement?

In this context, resilience refers to remaining free of dementia despite elevated risk for Alzheimers disease, with a focus on the protective or compensatory biology that may help preserve cognitive function.

What kind of research is this opportunity looking for?

The announcement prioritizes interdisciplinary studies that build predictive molecular models of cognitive resilience using high-dimensional molecular data from resilient individuals, aiming to connect molecular-scale measurements to clinically meaningful resilience outcomes.

What are "predictive molecular models of cognitive resilience" in practical terms?

Based on the description, these are models that integrate large-scale molecular measurements (often described as high-dimensional or "omics" data) and use them to explain, characterize, and predict resilience-related biology in the context of Alzheimers disease risk.

Does the opportunity emphasize biomarkers, or something broader?

The emphasis is broader than identifying isolated biomarkers. The program highlights assembling molecular evidence into models that can meaningfully predict or characterize resilience, rather than focusing only on single markers.

What kinds of data are expected to be used?

The opportunity points to the use of high-dimensional molecular data, including large-scale molecular measurements often described as "omics" data, drawn from individuals who show resilience.

Why is the opportunity described as interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary?

Applicants are expected to combine expertise across multiple fields in order to handle complex datasets and translate molecular findings into predictive models of resilience.

Which disciplines are specifically mentioned as relevant?

The announcement signals the relevance of fields such as neurobiology, genetics/genomics, bioinformatics, computational modeling, systems biology, epidemiology, neuropathology, and clinical research.

Who is the key population of interest for the research?

The defining population is individuals who remain free of dementia despite being considered at elevated risk for Alzheimers disease.

What counts as "high risk" for Alzheimers disease in this summary?

The provided information suggests high-risk status could plausibly include factors commonly associated with Alzheimers risk such as age, family history, genetic risk factors, or other established indicators. The main scientific target, however, is resilience biology rather than disease progression alone.

Is the focus on preventing disease progression or understanding protective factors?

The emphasis is on understanding the biology of resilience, including protective pathways, compensatory mechanisms, and molecular signatures that may maintain cognitive function even when risk factors are present.

What is the program trying to produce at the end of the research?

The program aims to support research that results in predictive, biology-based models of cognitive resilience grounded in comprehensive molecular data from resilient individuals.

What is the CFDA number for this funding activity?

The funding activity is listed under CFDA 93.866.

What is the award ceiling listed in the source information?

The award ceiling listed is $750,000.

When was the opportunity record created?

The opportunity record shows a creation date of 2016-11-04.

What was the original application closing date?

The original closing date for applications was 2017-02-21.

Does the information provided state how many awards NIH expects to make?

No. The source information does not specify the exact number of expected awards, but it frames the scope as supporting substantial R01-level projects capable of handling large, complex datasets and interdisciplinary coordination.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, city or township governments; 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly highlighted among additional eligible applicant categories.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?

Yes. The announcement notes that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are eligible.

Are tribal entities eligible beyond federally recognized tribal governments?

Yes. The information explicitly includes Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, and it also notes eligibility for Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically called out as eligible?

Yes. The information highlights eligibility for 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 specifically listed among additional eligible applicant categories.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly listed among additional eligible applicant categories.

Is this opportunity limited to academic institutions?

No. While public and private institutions of higher education are eligible, the eligibility list also includes governments, nonprofits, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), tribal entities, housing authorities, regional organizations, and foreign organizations.

What kind of project scale does this opportunity appear to support?

Based on the description, it is positioned to support substantial R01-level projects that can manage large, complex datasets and coordinate interdisciplinary teams.

What is the central theme that should come through in a proposed project?

The central theme is cognitive resilience: using comprehensive, high-dimensional molecular data and cross-disciplinary approaches to develop predictive, biology-based models explaining why some high-risk individuals do not develop dementia.