Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 826
This National Institute on Aging (NIA) funding opportunity (PA 18-826) supports exploratory, early-stage research using an R21 grant mechanism to conduct secondary analyses of existing data from the CALERIE trial. The focus is not on running a new intervention, but on reanalyzing the rich data already collected in CALERIE, particularly data housed in the Computerized Tracking System (CTS) database. The opportunity is explicitly limited to projects that do not involve clinical trials, meaning applicants are expected to work with existing datasets rather than enrolling participants or testing new treatment protocols.
The scientific goal is to better understand the behavioral and psychosocial dimensions of sustaining caloric restriction (CR) in humans over the long term. CALERIE (Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy) was the first major human trial designed specifically to test sustained caloric restriction, and it showed that maintaining CR for at least two years was feasible. It also produced favorable effects on measures associated with longevity and improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors. A particularly notable aspect of CALERIE is that the sustained weight loss achieved in this study had not previously been seen in clinical research involving non-obese individuals. This creates a rare chance to study not only physiological outcomes, but also how people successfully adhered to a demanding lifestyle change over an extended period.
A central emphasis of the announcement is adherence: what strategies helped participants stick with caloric restriction, what behavioral patterns predicted better adherence, and what psychosocial factors (such as motivation, stress, mood, social support, self-regulation, or perceived barriers) influenced sustained behavior change. The NIA is also interested in translation, meaning applicants are encouraged to explore how the adherence approaches used in CALERIE could be adapted into practical strategies that promote healthy behaviors in broader settings. In particular, the announcement highlights the prevention of weight gain with age as a key public health application, suggesting that findings could inform scalable behavioral tools or guidance aimed at maintaining healthy weight trajectories across adulthood and into older age.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant in the health category (CFDA 93.866). The award ceiling listed is $200,000, reflecting the smaller, exploratory nature of R21 projects, which are typically designed to support innovative ideas and preliminary analyses that can lead to larger follow-on studies. The original closing date provided is September 7, 2021, and the opportunity was created on June 8, 2018.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common U.S. applicant types, such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also includes federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses. The announcement additionally calls out a wide range of institutions and organizations as eligible or of special interest, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and regional organizations. Overall, the opportunity is designed to spur creative secondary-data projects that explain how sustained caloric restriction was achieved in CALERIE and how those lessons can be turned into realistic, behavior-focused approaches to support healthy aging.Apply for PA 18 826
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Analyses of Adherence Strategies and Data Sets from CALERIE to Investigate Behavioral and Psychosocial Aspects of Sustained Caloric Restriction in Humans (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2018-06-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-07. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institute on Aging (NIA) funding opportunity (PA 18-826) that supports exploratory, early-stage research using the NIH R21 grant mechanism to conduct secondary analyses of existing data from the CALERIE trial.
What type of grant mechanism is being used?
The opportunity uses the R21 mechanism, which is intended for exploratory and early-stage projects, including innovative ideas and preliminary analyses that can lead to larger follow-on studies.
What is the CALERIE trial?
CALERIE (Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy) was the first major human trial designed specifically to test sustained caloric restriction (CR). It demonstrated that maintaining CR for at least two years was feasible and produced favorable effects on measures associated with longevity and improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors.
Is this opportunity for running a new intervention or trial?
No. The focus is not on running a new intervention. Projects are expected to reanalyze the rich data already collected in CALERIE, particularly data housed in the Computerized Tracking System (CTS) database.
Are clinical trials allowed under this announcement?
No. The opportunity is explicitly limited to projects that do not involve clinical trials. Applicants are expected to work with existing datasets rather than enrolling participants or testing new treatment protocols.
What kinds of data are applicants expected to use?
Applicants are expected to conduct secondary analyses of existing CALERIE data, with particular emphasis on data housed in the Computerized Tracking System (CTS) database.
What is the main scientific focus of the research?
The scientific goal is to better understand the behavioral and psychosocial dimensions of sustaining caloric restriction in humans over the long term, using CALERIE data to examine adherence and behavior change over an extended period.
Why is adherence emphasized so strongly?
A central emphasis is understanding adherence because CALERIE created a rare opportunity to study how people successfully maintained a demanding lifestyle change (caloric restriction) over at least two years, including what strategies and patterns supported sustained behavior.
What behavioral topics are specifically of interest?
Topics highlighted include adherence strategies, behavioral patterns that predicted better adherence, and behavior change processes related to sustaining caloric restriction over time.
What psychosocial factors are specifically mentioned as relevant?
The announcement points to psychosocial factors such as motivation, stress, mood, social support, self-regulation, and perceived barriers as examples of influences on sustained behavior change and adherence.
What kinds of outcomes did CALERIE show that make it valuable for secondary analyses?
CALERIE showed that sustaining caloric restriction for at least two years was feasible, produced favorable effects on measures associated with longevity, and improved cardiometabolic risk factors. It also achieved sustained weight loss in non-obese individuals, which had not previously been seen in clinical research for that population.
Is the opportunity interested only in physiology and biomarkers?
No. While CALERIE includes physiological outcomes, this opportunity is centered on behavioral and psychosocial dimensions of sustaining caloric restriction, especially factors related to adherence.
What does "translation" mean in the context of this announcement?
Translation refers to exploring how the adherence approaches used in CALERIE could be adapted into practical strategies that promote healthy behaviors in broader real-world settings.
What public health application is specifically highlighted?
The announcement highlights prevention of weight gain with age as a key public health application, suggesting that findings could inform scalable behavioral tools or guidance aimed at maintaining healthy weight trajectories across adulthood and into older age.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $200,000, consistent with the smaller, exploratory nature of R21 projects.
Which agency and institute are sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
What is the CFDA number and category?
The opportunity is listed in the health category with CFDA number 93.866.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 8, 2018.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is September 7, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included as eligible applicant types.
Are nonprofits eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed among eligible applicant types.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also included as eligible.
Are universities and minority-serving institutions specifically encouraged or included?
Yes. The announcement calls out a wide range of institutions and organizations as eligible or of special interest, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and AANAPISI institutions.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly included among the eligible or highlighted organization types.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the groups called out as eligible or of special interest.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and regional organizations are mentioned as eligible or of special interest.
What is the overall purpose of the opportunity?
Overall, the opportunity is designed to spur creative secondary-data projects that explain how sustained caloric restriction was achieved in CALERIE and how those lessons can be turned into realistic, behavior-focused approaches to support healthy aging.
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