NIA Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AG 21 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 21 001

The NIA Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) funding opportunity (RFA-AG-21-001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant designed to strengthen and formalize collaboration across the National Institute on Aging (NIA) network of six different NIA centers programs. The core idea is not to fund a single aging research project in isolation, but to fund the shared structure, coordination, and cross-center activities that make it easier for investigators in different NIA-supported centers to work together. By doing that, NIA aims to get more impact from its existing investments in aging research, accelerate interdisciplinary work, and create sustained connections that continue producing value beyond any single meeting or short-term initiative.

This opportunity uses a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means the awardee will operate in close partnership with NIH/NIA program staff and follow a more collaborative, milestone-driven style of project management than a standard research grant. The announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," indicating that a clinical trial could be included if it fits the network's goals, but it is not required. In practice, the emphasis is on building a collaborative network and shared infrastructure rather than running a clinical trial as the main deliverable.

The RCCN is expected to support concrete, organized activities that improve coordination and collaboration among the six centers programs. Examples of the kinds of activities NIA highlights include systems for information and data exchange, convenings such as meetings and conferences, support for pilot studies that spark new cross-center projects, and programs that intentionally build the pipeline of talent in aging research (for example, research opportunities for early-career investigators and visiting scholar programs). The network can also support dissemination efforts, meaning structured approaches to sharing findings, tools, methods, or best practices across the centers and to broader communities as appropriate. The critical requirement is that the successful awardee must involve all six NIA centers programs, ensuring that the network is truly institute-wide rather than limited to a subset of sites or disciplines.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local 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; and other Native American tribal organizations. Both nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits) and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) can apply, as can small businesses. The FOA also explicitly points to additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. While foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, which means the lead applicant must be U.S.-based even if certain foreign collaborations are permitted within NIH policy limits.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under the NIH health funding activity area, with CFDA number 93.866. The sponsoring agency is NIH (NIA). The original closing date listed for the solicitation was May 29, 2020, and the FOA record shows a creation date of December 3, 2019. The listing includes an award ceiling of $675,000 (as presented in the source data), and it also lists an "ExpectedAwards" figure of 1,000,000 in the provided record, which appears to be a separate planning figure in the dataset rather than a typical "number of awards" field; applicants normally rely on the published FOA and NIH guidance for the authoritative budget and award expectations.

Overall, the RCCN opportunity is best understood as funding the connective tissue of NIA-funded aging research centers: shared platforms, shared planning, shared pilot efforts, and shared investigator development and dissemination activities. The purpose is to make multi-site, multi-disciplinary aging research easier to initiate and sustain, while ensuring that all six NIA centers programs are meaningfully engaged in the network's governance and activities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIA Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) (U24 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 2019-12-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-29. (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 $675,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1,000,000 candidate(s).
• 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 RFA AG 21 001

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