Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 17 056
Understanding the Effects of ApoE2 on the Interaction between Aging and Alzheimers Disease (R01) is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity from the Department of Health and Human Services (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-17-056) that supports research aimed at explaining how the APOE2 genetic variant influences aging and Alzheimers disease (AD). ApoE2 is widely viewed as a relatively protective APOE variant compared with other common forms, and this funding call is centered on turning that observation into clear biological mechanisms. The emphasis is not only on what ApoE2 does in the brain, but also on how it may shape aging across the body and how signals between organs could affect brain health and AD risk.
The scientific scope is broad and includes descriptive, basic, and translational studies. In practice, that means projects can range from careful characterization work (for example, mapping ApoE2-associated changes in cell types, pathways, or biomarkers over the lifespan) to mechanistic laboratory studies (such as experiments that test how ApoE2 alters inflammation, lipid transport, synaptic function, vascular integrity, proteostasis, or amyloid/tau-related processes) and on toward translational efforts that begin connecting those mechanisms to clinically useful tools. A key theme is the APOE2-aging-AD relationship: applicants are expected to tackle how ApoE2 affects normal or "healthy" brain aging and how those effects intersect with the biological processes that lead to AD and age-related cognitive decline.
Another central concept in the announcement is tissue interaction and cross talk. The FOA explicitly invites work that considers the brain alongside other organs and systems involved in aging, recognizing that AD-related biology can be influenced by peripheral factors such as metabolism, immune function, vascular health, and systemic inflammation. Studies might therefore examine how ApoE2 affects communication between the central nervous system and peripheral tissues, and whether those interactions help explain resilience to neurodegeneration or slower cognitive decline in some individuals. The expectation is that the strongest projects will generate mechanistic insights that are not limited to a single narrow pathway, but instead clarify how protective biology emerges across cells, circuits, and potentially multiple organs during aging.
From an outcomes perspective, the NIH is looking for research that can point to practical next steps for the field. Specifically, the FOA highlights the identification of prognostic and diagnostic markers as well as therapeutic targets for AD and other age-related cognitive disorders. In other words, beyond advancing basic understanding, proposed studies should be positioned to reveal measurable indicators of risk or protection (biomarkers that could help predict outcomes or track disease-related changes) and to uncover actionable intervention points that could be pursued in later-stage translational or clinical research. The long-term vision described is that ApoE2-focused discoveries could ultimately support strategies to prevent or delay AD onset and potentially confer protection against multiple age-related conditions, not just dementia.
Administratively, this is an R01 grant mechanism in the health research area (CFDA 93.866). The opportunity was created on Oct 25, 2016, with an original closing date of Feb 10, 2017. The award ceiling is listed as $300,000, and the program anticipated making about 7 awards. Eligibility is expansive, including many types of domestic organizations such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses, with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement.
Overall, this funding opportunity is designed to push the ApoE2 story beyond association and into causation: explaining how and where ApoE2 exerts protective effects during aging, how those effects reshape vulnerability to Alzheimers pathology, and which measurable markers or druggable targets emerge from that biology. The program is explicitly forward-looking, aiming to build a mechanistic foundation that can later be leveraged for diagnostics, risk stratification, and interventions that improve brain aging and reduce the burden of AD and related disorders.Apply for RFA AG 17 056
- The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding the Effects of ApoE2 on the Interaction between Aging and Alzheimers Disease (R01)" 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 Oct 25, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 10, 2017. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Understanding the Effects of ApoE2 on the Interaction between Aging and Alzheimers Disease (R01).
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AG-17-056.
What grant mechanism is being used?
This opportunity uses the R01 research project grant mechanism.
What is the main scientific goal of this FOA?
The main goal is to explain how the APOE2 genetic variant influences aging and Alzheimers disease (AD), moving beyond observed associations to identify clear biological mechanisms behind ApoE2-related protection.
Why is ApoE2 important in Alzheimers and aging research?
ApoE2 is widely viewed as a relatively protective APOE variant compared with other common forms. This FOA focuses on turning that protective observation into a mechanistic understanding of how ApoE2 shapes brain aging and AD risk.
Is the focus only on the brain?
No. The FOA emphasizes not only what ApoE2 does in the brain, but also how it may shape aging across the body and how signals between organs could influence brain health and Alzheimers risk.
What types of research does this FOA support?
The scope includes descriptive, basic, and translational studies. Projects can range from characterization work to mechanistic laboratory studies and efforts that begin connecting mechanisms to clinically useful tools.
What are examples of descriptive or characterization studies that fit this FOA?
Examples include careful characterization of ApoE2-associated changes in cell types, pathways, or biomarkers over the lifespan, such as mapping how ApoE2-related biology evolves during aging.
What are examples of mechanistic topics specifically mentioned?
The FOA cites experiments exploring how ApoE2 may alter processes such as inflammation, lipid transport, synaptic function, vascular integrity, proteostasis, and amyloid/tau-related processes.
What does the FOA mean by the "APOE2-aging-AD relationship"?
Applicants are expected to address how ApoE2 affects normal (healthy) brain aging and how those effects intersect with biological processes that contribute to AD and age-related cognitive decline.
What is meant by tissue interaction and cross talk in this announcement?
The FOA encourages studies that examine the brain alongside other organs and systems involved in aging, including how communication between the central nervous system and peripheral tissues might influence resilience to neurodegeneration or slower cognitive decline.
Which peripheral factors or systems are highlighted as relevant to AD biology?
The announcement points to peripheral influences such as metabolism, immune function, vascular health, and systemic inflammation as potentially shaping AD-related biology.
Does the FOA require that projects look beyond a single pathway?
The FOA signals that stronger projects are expected to generate mechanistic insights that are not limited to a single narrow pathway, but instead clarify how protective biology emerges across cells, circuits, and potentially multiple organs during aging.
What outcomes is NIH looking for from funded projects?
Beyond advancing basic understanding, the FOA highlights the identification of prognostic and diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for AD and other age-related cognitive disorders.
Does this FOA emphasize biomarkers?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights identifying measurable indicators of risk or protection, including biomarkers that could help predict outcomes or track disease-related changes.
Does the FOA emphasize therapeutic development?
It emphasizes uncovering actionable intervention points (therapeutic targets) that could be pursued in later-stage translational or clinical research, with the long-term vision of helping prevent or delay AD onset.
Is the long-term vision limited to Alzheimers disease?
No. The FOA describes a longer-term vision in which ApoE2-focused discoveries could potentially support protection against multiple age-related conditions, not only dementia.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.866.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on Oct 25, 2016.
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is Feb 10, 2017.
What is the award ceiling for this FOA?
The award ceiling is listed as $300,000.
How many awards did NIH anticipate making?
The program anticipated making about 7 awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is expansive and includes many types of domestic organizations such as:
- State, county, and local governments
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement.
What kinds of organizations are explicitly included under government eligibility?
The FOA includes state, county, and local governments, as well as federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations.
Are both nonprofit and for-profit entities included?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status) and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), as well as small businesses.
How does this FOA describe the overall purpose of the program?
The FOA is designed to push the ApoE2 story beyond association and into causation by explaining how and where ApoE2 exerts protective effects during aging, how those effects reshape vulnerability to Alzheimers pathology, and what measurable markers or druggable targets emerge from that biology.
What makes a project a good fit for this opportunity based on the description?
Based on the description, a strong fit is a project that addresses the mechanistic links among ApoE2, aging biology, and AD-related processes, potentially includes brain-periphery cross talk, and is positioned to inform biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for AD and related cognitive disorders.
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