Emotional Function in Normal Aging and/or MCI and AD/ADRD (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 581

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 581

The NIH grant opportunity titled "Emotional Function in Normal Aging and/or MCI and AD/ADRD (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-581) supports research aimed at understanding how emotional functioning changes across later life, both in typical aging and in the earliest stages of cognitive decline tied to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease, and related dementias (AD/ADRD). It builds on a well-established line of foundational findings suggesting that many aspects of emotional functioning and emotion regulation can remain stable or even improve with age, and it asks applicants to sharpen the field's understanding of when, why, and for whom those positive trends hold, and when they break down in the context of neurodegenerative disease.

The scientific focus is on clarifying the trajectory of change in emotion processing and its underlying neurobiological drivers. The FOA lays out a three-part set of goals: first, to advance knowledge of normative maturational shifts in emotional processes during normal aging; second, to determine how disruptions in integrated neural and behavioral mechanisms that support emotional functioning may appear in MCI or early AD/ADRD; and third, to examine whether emotion-related dysfunction may help explain the neuropsychiatric symptoms often seen in AD/ADRD. In practical terms, the announcement is encouraging studies that connect behavior, emotion regulation, and brain-based mechanisms in a cohesive way, rather than treating emotional symptoms as isolated clinical features.

A major theme is the translational value of this work. NIH is signaling that improved understanding of emotion regulation and emotional resilience could reveal new targets for prevention or intervention, especially if researchers can identify specific mechanisms that either protect emotional functioning during aging or contribute to dysregulation as dementia emerges. The FOA explicitly frames potential payoff in terms of identifying novel intervention targets, generating clues about strategies to normalize emotion dysregulation, or strengthening emotional resilience at different points in the lifespan or different disease stages. Even when the work is primarily mechanistic, the expectation is that it should move the field toward actionable insights about risk, resilience, or symptom development.

On study design, the mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and clinical trials are optional. The announcement specifically welcomes NIH Stage Model early-phase work, including Stage 0 (basic research that can include experimental therapeutics approaches and mechanistic studies) and Stage I (intervention development or modification). That means applications may range from observational and mechanistic studies that map emotional processing and neurobiology, to early intervention-development efforts aimed at refining approaches that could later be tested in larger efficacy trials. The emphasis on Stage 0 and Stage I highlights that NIH is comfortable funding careful early work that clarifies mechanisms and optimizes interventions before large-scale testing.

The opportunity sits within NIH's health research portfolio (CFDA 93.866) and is offered as a discretionary grant program. While the source data does not list an award ceiling or expected number of awards, it identifies the sponsoring agency as the National Institutes of Health and indicates an original closing date of July 8, 2020, with a creation date of January 12, 2018 (important context for applicants checking current availability or reissued versions of the announcement).

Eligibility is broad and includes many standard applicant types such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, special district governments, tribal governments (federally recognized), tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments), public housing/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible organizations and community-linked entities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and regional organizations. This wide eligibility list reflects NIH's interest in encouraging diverse institutional participation and facilitating research that can reach varied populations and settings.

Overall, this FOA is designed for teams studying how emotional processes and regulation evolve with age, how those processes are supported by brain-behavior systems, and how they may be altered by MCI and early AD/ADRD in ways that contribute to clinically meaningful neuropsychiatric symptoms. The strongest-fit projects are likely to be those that link emotional phenomena to measurable mechanisms, track trajectories over time or across disease stages, and produce insights that can inform early intervention development or future prevention strategies aimed at maintaining emotional health and resilience in aging and dementia.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emotional Function in Normal Aging and/or MCI and AD/ADRD (R01 - 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 2018-01-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-08. (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.

Apply for PAR 18 581

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