Exploratory Analyses of CALERIE Data and Biospecimens to Elucidate Mechanisms of Caloric Restriction (CR)-Induced Effects in Humans (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PA 18 824

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 824

This funding opportunity (PA-18-824) is a National Institutes of Health grant sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) that supports exploratory, early-stage research using existing resources from the CALERIE trial, which stands for Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy. The goal is to encourage researchers to dig into already-collected CALERIE data and stored biospecimens to better understand the biological mechanisms behind how caloric restriction (CR) affects human health. Because it is based on secondary analyses of an existing clinical study and its specimen repository, it is explicitly designated as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants are not proposing a new interventional trial in humans as part of this award.

The mechanism is an NIH R21, which is typically used for exploratory, hypothesis-generating work, pilot analyses, and method development that can open up new directions and lay groundwork for later, larger studies. In this case, NIA is looking for projects that take advantage of the depth and breadth of CALERIE, which is highlighted as a major strength of the resource: it is a relatively large and well-characterized caloric restriction trial with extensive outcome measures across multiple domains. The announcement points to a wide range of assessment types that can be leveraged, including physiologic measures as well as psychological, quality-of-life, and cognitive assessments, giving applicants room to explore how CR-related changes may show up across body systems and functional outcomes rather than in a single biomarker category.

A central feature of the opportunity is access to stored biological samples collected during CALERIE. The notice specifically lists serum, plasma, urine, and tissue biopsies, including skeletal muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue biopsies. These biospecimens create opportunities for mechanistic work spanning metabolism, inflammation, endocrine signaling, mitochondrial biology, muscle and adipose remodeling, aging-related pathways, and other molecular or cellular signatures that might help explain observed clinical and functional changes associated with caloric restriction. The emphasis on both data and biospecimens signals that proposals can focus on advanced statistical or computational re-analyses of existing datasets, laboratory assays of banked samples, or integrated approaches that connect molecular findings with clinical and behavioral outcomes already captured in the trial.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant in the health funding activity area, listed under CFDA number 93.866, with an award ceiling of $200,000. The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many organizational types: 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also calls out 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, AANAPISIs, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, indicating that NIA is open to a wide range of institutions and organizational structures, including foreign organizations, provided they can carry out the proposed secondary analyses and meet NIH requirements.

The opportunity was created on 2018-06-08, and the source record lists an original closing date of 2021-09-07. Overall, the program is best understood as an invitation to use a uniquely rich, already-existing human caloric restriction dataset and specimen collection to answer new questions about mechanisms, pathways, and correlates of CR-induced effects in humans, with the R21 structure supporting innovative, exploratory work that can later be expanded into more definitive research programs.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Analyses of CALERIE Data and Biospecimens to Elucidate Mechanisms of Caloric Restriction (CR)-Induced Effects 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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