Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 18 019
The NIH funding opportunity "Enhancing Central Neural Control of Mobility in Aging (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (RFA-AG-18-019) is a cooperative agreement mechanism designed to push research beyond traditional musculoskeletal or peripheral explanations for mobility decline and focus directly on how the aging brain controls walking and other forms of movement. The core scientific aim is to generate a clearer, mechanistic understanding of central neural contributions to mobility in older adults who do not have overt neurological diseases (so, not cohorts defined primarily by conditions like stroke, Parkinson's disease, or diagnosed dementia). The announcement emphasizes the use of innovative and emerging tools from neuroscience, geriatrics, and mobility research, reflecting a priority to study mobility through modern neural measurement and intervention approaches rather than relying only on standard clinical assessments.
A major theme is brain plasticity in later life: how adaptable the aging brain remains, how that adaptability might vary across individuals, and how researchers could potentially harness it to maintain or improve mobility. In practical terms, the opportunity is looking for projects that can identify modifiable neural predictors of mobility decline and link those predictors to actionable intervention strategies. The rationale is that mobility impairment is extremely common with aging and is strongly associated with downstream harms including disability, loss of independence, falls and related complications, institutionalization, and mortality. By uncovering neural mechanisms and targets that can be changed (through training, stimulation, pharmacologic approaches, behavior change, or other strategies), the research funded under this announcement is intended to help lay the groundwork for new therapeutics and prevention approaches that keep people mobile as they age.
The FOA strongly encourages multidisciplinary, collaborative teams that bring together basic scientists, clinical researchers, and translational investigators. That signals an expectation that successful applications will not sit in a single silo (for example, only imaging, only biomechanics, or only clinical gait testing), but will integrate methods and perspectives across fields. Because the mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, applicants should also expect substantial NIH program involvement during the life of the award, typically including coordination around milestones, collaboration, and other cooperative features that go beyond what is typical for a standard research project grant.
The "clinical trial optional" designation means applications may include a clinical trial if it is scientifically justified, but a trial is not mandatory. This creates room for a range of study types, from observational and mechanistic studies that map neural control processes, to experimental studies that test interventions aimed at improving neural control of mobility, to hybrid translational designs that connect neural biomarkers to real-world mobility outcomes.
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizational types such as state, local, and tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit entities (other than small businesses); and small businesses, among others. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; however, foreign components are allowed as defined by NIH policy, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain international elements when well justified and compliant with NIH rules.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.866 and was issued by the National Institutes of Health, with a creation date of October 25, 2017 and an original closing date of February 21, 2018. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided text. Overall, the program is aimed at accelerating a more brain-centered understanding of mobility aging, identifying modifiable neural mechanisms that predict decline, and using those insights to inform new interventions that help older adults maintain independence and quality of life.Apply for RFA AG 18 019
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enhancing Central Neural Control of Mobility in Aging (U01 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 2017-10-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-02-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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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FAQs: Enhancing Central Neural Control of Mobility in Aging (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-AG-18-019)
What is this NIH funding opportunity?
This is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity titled "Enhancing Central Neural Control of Mobility in Aging (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (RFA-AG-18-019). It supports research that focuses on how the aging brain (central neural control) regulates walking and other mobility-related movement.
What is the main scientific focus of the FOA?
The main focus is to move beyond traditional musculoskeletal or peripheral explanations for mobility decline and directly study the central neural (brain-based) mechanisms that contribute to mobility changes in older adults.
Why does the FOA emphasize the brain rather than only muscles, joints, or biomechanics?
The opportunity is designed to accelerate a more brain-centered understanding of mobility aging, aiming for mechanistic insights into neural control of movement that standard clinical assessments or solely peripheral models may miss.
What population is this research intended to study?
The FOA targets older adults who do not have overt neurological diseases. In other words, the intended cohorts are not defined primarily by conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, or diagnosed dementia.
Does this program allow studies involving people with neurological diseases like stroke or Parkinson's disease?
Based on the description provided, the emphasis is on older adults without overt neurological disease, and cohorts should not be defined primarily by conditions like stroke, Parkinson's disease, or diagnosed dementia.
What kinds of approaches or tools does the FOA encourage?
The announcement emphasizes innovative and emerging tools from neuroscience, geriatrics, and mobility research, prioritizing modern neural measurement and intervention approaches rather than relying only on standard clinical assessments.
What is the role of brain plasticity in this opportunity?
Brain plasticity in later life is a major theme. The FOA is interested in how adaptable the aging brain remains, how plasticity may differ across individuals, and how that plasticity might be harnessed to maintain or improve mobility.
What are "modifiable neural predictors" and why are they important here?
The FOA is looking for projects that can identify neural predictors of mobility decline that can be changed (modifiable) and that can be linked to actionable intervention strategies. The intent is to support research that points toward targets that could be used to prevent or reduce mobility decline.
What kinds of outcomes or impacts is the research trying to address?
The rationale described is that mobility impairment is common with aging and is associated with disability, loss of independence, falls and related complications, institutionalization, and mortality. The research is meant to help lay groundwork for therapeutics and prevention approaches to help older adults stay mobile.
What types of studies are allowed under "clinical trial optional"?
"Clinical trial optional" means a clinical trial may be included if scientifically justified, but a trial is not required. This allows for observational and mechanistic studies, experimental intervention studies, and hybrid translational designs connecting neural biomarkers to real-world mobility outcomes.
Is a clinical trial required to apply?
No. A clinical trial is optional under this FOA and is not mandatory.
What is a U01 cooperative agreement and how is it different from a standard grant?
A U01 is a cooperative agreement mechanism. The description indicates substantial NIH program involvement during the award, including coordination around milestones, collaboration, and other cooperative features that go beyond what is typical for a standard research project grant.
What does NIH program involvement typically mean for awardees under this U01?
Applicants should expect substantial NIH program involvement over the life of the award, typically including coordination around milestones and collaboration, consistent with the cooperative agreement nature of a U01.
Does the FOA encourage collaboration or multidisciplinary teams?
Yes. The FOA strongly encourages multidisciplinary, collaborative teams that bring together basic scientists, clinical researchers, and translational investigators, with an expectation of integrated methods and perspectives across fields.
What does the FOA imply about applications that focus on only one discipline?
The description signals that competitive applications are expected to avoid operating in a single silo (for example, only imaging, only biomechanics, or only clinical gait testing) and instead integrate methods and perspectives across fields.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organization types, such as state, local, and tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit entities (other than small businesses); and small businesses, among others.
Are minority-serving institutions and specific organization types called out as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls out HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs). It also notes faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.
Can foreign institutions apply as the applicant organization?
No. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. applicant include international elements in the project?
Yes, foreign components are allowed as defined by NIH policy. That means a U.S. applicant can include certain international elements when well justified and compliant with NIH rules.
Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.866.
When was this funding opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The creation date is October 25, 2017, and the original closing date is February 21, 2018.
How many awards will NIH make and what is the award ceiling?
The provided text does not specify the expected number of awards or the award ceiling.
What is the overall goal of the program?
The overall aim is to accelerate a brain-centered understanding of mobility aging by identifying modifiable neural mechanisms that predict decline and using those insights to inform interventions intended to help older adults maintain mobility, independence, and quality of life.
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