Innovations to Foster Healthy Longevity in Low-Income Settings (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AG 20 027

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Innovations to Foster Healthy Longevity in Low-Income Settings (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" opportunity?

It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports early-stage research and development projects focused on improving day-to-day functioning and quality of life for older adults who face resource constraints. The funding opportunity number is RFA-AG-20-027 (CFDA 93.866).

What is the main goal of this NIH funding opportunity?

The goal is to stimulate practical, scalable innovations that help older people maintain independence, safety, community participation, and overall well-being in settings where health and social support systems may be limited.

Who is the primary population of interest?

The program is especially focused on disabled older adults living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Are projects in high-income countries eligible under this scope?

Yes. The opportunity also welcomes projects that address the needs of low-income, disabled, and socially isolated older adults living in high-income countries.

What kinds of projects does the FOA encourage?

The FOA encourages applicants to think beyond traditional medical care and propose solutions that can work in real-world environments with constrained infrastructure, staffing, or funding. The emphasis is on practical innovations that can be broadly adopted and sustained in low-resource contexts.

What are examples of direct interventions with older adults that would fit this FOA?

Examples mentioned include developing or adapting low-cost tools, service delivery models, assistive technologies, community-based supports, or strategies that reduce disability-related barriers.

Does the FOA allow projects that do not intervene directly with older adults?

Yes. The FOA explicitly allows indirect approaches that strengthen the ecosystem around the older person, such as interventions that train, support, or reduce burden on family members and other informal caregivers, or that improve the effectiveness of local service providers.

What does "scalable" mean in the context of this opportunity?

The FOA prioritizes the likelihood of large-scale impact, meaning innovations that can be adopted broadly, sustained over time, and delivered at a cost and complexity that fits low-resource contexts.

What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity uses the NIH R03 mechanism, which typically emphasizes small, focused projects that can generate foundational evidence, prototypes, feasibility data, or early implementation insights that position an innovation for later expansion.

What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for applicants?

It signals that applicants should not propose NIH-defined clinical trials. The FOA is oriented toward early-stage work such as formative research, design and development, needs assessments, optimization of delivery strategies, usability testing, and other pilot efforts that do not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.

What types of early-stage activities are a fit for an R03 under this FOA?

The description points to foundational evidence-building and development activities such as prototype development, feasibility data collection, early implementation insights, usability testing, needs assessments, and delivery strategy optimization, as long as the work does not constitute an NIH-defined clinical trial.

What is the maximum award amount listed?

The maximum award amount listed (award ceiling) is $50,000.

When was this FOA created, and what is the closing date shown?

The FOA creation date shown is October 23, 2019. The original closing date shown is February 3, 2020.

Is this funding opportunity current or historical based on the dates provided?

Based on the dates provided (closing date February 3, 2020), this particular posting is historical. The scope and structure still describe what NIH sought to fund under this call.

Who can apply for this grant opportunity?

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, spanning government entities, educational institutions, tribal entities, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, and other categories listed as eligible in the FOA description.

Are government entities eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, and special district governments.

Are public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.

Are educational institutions eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; and private institutions of higher education.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other (non-federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations are listed as eligible.

Are nonprofits eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are included as eligible.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are listed as eligible.

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

Yes. The eligibility list includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are highlighted among additional eligible groups.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are specifically highlighted as eligible.

Does the FOA highlight eligibility for certain institution types (e.g., HBCUs, HSIs)?

Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible groups 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 (AANAPISI).

What is the overall theme of the innovations NIH wanted to fund under this call?

Practical, scalable innovations that help older adults in low-income settings live better and function longer, with a strong emphasis on disability, isolation, and caregiver or service-provider support, using a small, development-oriented R03 approach without conducting clinical trials.