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Since 1991, Administration for Community Living (ACL)/Administration on Aging (AoA) has supported the National Aging Information & Referral Support Center (the Support Center). The Support Center was established to assist the aging network of State Agencies on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, Tribal organizations, and local aging information and referral (I&R) providers enhance the quality and professionalism of their information and assistance systems. Since 2003, the Support Center has provided technical assistance and training to Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). The Support Center provides comprehensive information and technical assistance on a variety of issues relating to information and assistance on aging and more recently programs for people with disabilities. Aging and disability I&R programs and ADRCs continue to evolve and expand their ability to provide person-centered access to information and assistance. I&Rs and ADRCs are working to improve collaboration and coordination to better serve aging and disability populations, families, and caregivers. In addition, new media, mobile innovations, and other technologies have completely changed the way individuals expect to access and receive information. To assist the aging and disability networks, including ADRCs, to respond to these and other emerging issues ACL will fund a new Cooperative Agreement to provide technical assistance and training.

The Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar program is designed to support established investigators working at institutions in the U.S. to conduct research in the basic biological and basic biomedical sciences relevant to understanding lifespan development processes and age-related diseases and disabilities. The award is intended to provide significant support to allow the development of new, creative research programs by investigators who may not currently be conducting aging research or who wish to develop new research programs in aging. The Foundation particularly seeks to stimulate new research that has rigorous scientific foundations but is currently inadequately funded, either because of its perceived novelty, high risk, or because it is from an area where other "traditional" research interests absorb most funding. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to Structural biology Molecular genetics Studies with model systems ranging from lower eukaryotes to humans Inquiries testing the relevance of simpler models to human aging Genetic epidemiology of aging; candidate longevity genes Aging in the immune system Host defense molecules in aging systems Mechanisms of free radical induced cell aging Mechanisms of aging in various differentiated cell populations Gene/environment and gene/gene interactions Integrative physiology New approaches to age-modulated disease mechanisms

With a rapidly growing aged U.S. population, maintenance of cognitive function has become increasingly critical for the health, welfare, and well-being of the country's citizens. According to a recent survey conducted by the AARP, virtually all adults age 40+ believe maintaining or improving brain health is important; three-quarters of adults age 40+ are concerned about their brain health declining in the future.  Although chronological age itself remains the strongest predictor of age-related cognitive decline and many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD), it has become clear that there are protective factors against these outcomes that are poorly understood. These factors have often been described as imparting resilience or resistance to age-related changes in brain structure or neuropathology, building cognitive and/or brain reserve that would oppose such age-related changes or frank pathology, or augmenting other types of cognitive and brain function that would be beneficial. Some of these protective factors might suggest important intervention strategies.

Age is the number one risk factor for diagnosis of many age-related lung diseases, including COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. Despite this, little is known regarding the interactions that likely occur between the molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease and the changes in molecules and cells that can be attributed to normal aging. In fact, very little is known about the normal aging process in the lung at the cellular and molecular level. In 2015, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) co-sponsored a workshop that identified a major knowledge gap in the understanding of normal lung aging in humans, as well as the need to develop a map of molecular changes that occur during normal aging in the lung that can serve as a reference for studies of age-related lung diseases.

The purpose of this FOA is to support the development of a Clinician-Scientists Transdisciplinary Aging Research (Clin-STAR) Coordinating Center that will organize activities and provide research resources for clinician-investigators across the United States who are focusing their careers on aging research. This FOA is intended to build upon the substantial investments made by NIA through the GEMSSTAR program and related career development efforts by supporting expanded activities to reach a broader community of clinician-investigators. The specific goals of this initiative are to convey scientific and research knowledge on aging research; foster networking and collaboration between clinician-scientist leaders in aging research and clinician-investigators across specialties who wish to focus on aging research; provide mentoring and career development support for emerging clinician-scientists committed to pursuing aging research in their clinical specialty or discipline; and advance transdisciplinary research projects in aging.

Purpose The purpose of this FOA is to support a network to enhance collaborations across NIA's 6 centers programs. These collaborations are intended to leverage NIA's substantial investments by fostering and sustaining the development of novel interdisciplinary efforts in aging research. This opportunity will provide resources to build additional infrastructure and establish specific collaborative activities that could include, but are not limited to, information and data exchange, meetings and conferences, pilot studies, research opportunities for early investigators, visiting scholar programs, dissemination, and other collaborative efforts. The successful awardee will involve all 6 centers programs. Background The National Institute on Aging supports 6 research centers programs: Alzheimer's Disease Centers Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs) Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMARs) Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translation Research in the Behavioral and Social Sciences of Aging Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging These programs, comprised of over 80 individual centers across the US, are highly productive hubs of research activity that are advancing the science of aging in their individual areas of focus. As advances in one area have the potential to address obstacles to progress in another area, numerous opportunities exist for collaborations across different centers programs. However, these opportunities have been realized to only a limited degree to date.

The emergent field of geroscience seeks to relate the biology of aging to the development of chronic diseases and the onset of degenerative conditions which are prevalent in the older segment of human populations. It is generally accepted that age is the major risk factor for most chronic diseases and degenerative conditions in adults. Thus, a critical question in geroscience is to identify components in the biology of aging that are the underlying risk for multiple chronic diseases and degenerative conditions. Therefore, this FOA will support planning grants to circumscribe the scope of this question and suggest ways to answer it experimentally. The focus will be on epigenetics underlying aging as a risk factor for age-related diseases and degenerative conditions in humans. Mortality and age-related mortality are outside the scope of this FOA. Studies using model organisms are outside the scope of this FOA.

The purpose of this FOA is to support the development of a Clinician-Scientists Transdisciplinary Aging Research (Clin-STAR) Coordinating Center that will organize activities and provide research resources for clinician-investigators across the United States who are focusing their careers on aging research. This FOA is intended to build upon the substantial investments made by NIA through the GEMSSTAR program and related career development efforts by supporting expanded activities to reach a broader community of clinician-investigators. The specific goals of this initiative are to convey scientific and research knowledge on aging research; foster networking and collaboration between clinician-scientist leaders in aging research and clinician-investigators across specialties who wish to focus on aging research; provide mentoring and career development support for emerging clinician-scientists committed to pursuing aging research in their clinical specialty or discipline; and advance transdisciplinary research projects in aging. Ultimately, the Clin-STAR Coordinating Center is intended to provide a multi-faceted national research platform leading to improved patient-centered care for older adults across specialties and disciplines.

This FOA invites applications on descriptive, basic and translational studies of APOE2 to delineate the functional effects of ApoE2 on healthy aging of the brain and other tissues. The primary focus is on the "ApoE2-Aging-AD" relationship and the mechanistic effects of the protective variant on aging and potential interaction/crosstalk between tissues in the aging process and AD. These studies are expected to generate new mechanistic insights that involve brain and/or other organs and assist in the identification of potential prognostic and diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for AD and other age-related cognitive disorders. Eventually, the findings from these studies could lead to translational research opportunities not only to prevent or delay the onset of AD, but also to protect against multiple age-related conditions.

This FOA invites applications on descriptive, basic and translational studies of APOE2 to delineate the functional effects of ApoE2 on healthy aging of the brain and other tissues. The primary focus is on the "APOE2-Aging-AD" relationship and the mechanistic effects of the protective variant on aging and potential interaction/cross talk between tissues in the aging process and AD. These studies are expected to generate new mechanistic insights that involve brain and/or other organs and assist in the identification of potential prognostic and diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for AD and other age-related cognitive disorders. Eventually, the findings from these studies could lead to translational research opportunities not only to prevent or delay the onset of AD, but also to protect against multiple age-related conditions.  

The emergent field of geroscience seeks to relate the biology of aging to the development of chronic diseases and the onset of degenerative conditions which are prevalent in the older segment of human populations. It is generally accepted that age is the major risk factor for most chronic diseases and degenerative conditions in adults. Thus, a critical question in geroscience is to identify components in the biology of aging that are the underlying risk for multiple chronic diseases and degenerative conditions. Therefore, this FOA will support planning grants to circumscribe the scope of this question and suggest ways to answer it experimentally. The focus will be on epigenetics underlying aging as a risk factor for age-related diseases and degenerative conditions in humans. Mortality and age-related mortality are outside the scope of this FOA. Studies using model organisms are outside the scope of this FOA.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications proposing research on the specific role of aging biology in the development, etiology and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Aging is by far the main risk factor for most chronic diseases, a fact recognized by the field of geroscience. Recent advances in the fields of basic aging biology and geroscience now allow researchers to address mechanistically the role of aging in Alzheimer's disease. Applications that make use of geroscience principles and test the role of different hallmarks of aging biology are specifically appropriate, while those focused solely on aging biology, or solely on Alzheimer's disease will be deemed nonresponsive to the FOA.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications proposing research on the specific role of aging biology in the development, etiology and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Aging is by far the main risk factor for most chronic diseases, a fact recognized by the field of geroscience. Recent advances in the fields of basic aging biology and geroscience now allow researchers to address mechanistically the role of aging in Alzheimer's disease. Applications that make use of geroscience principles and test the role of different hallmarks of aging biology are specifically appropriate, while those focused solely on aging biology, or solely on Alzheimer's disease will be deemed nonresponsive to the FOA.

Projects concerned with understanding the basic mechanisms of aging that have direct relevance to human aging will be considered if they show the potential to lead to clinically-relevant strategies that address human aging and healthspan. Projects investigating age-related diseases are also supported, if approached from the point of view of how basic aging processes may lead to these outcomes. Projects concerning mechanisms underlying common geriatric functional disorders such as frailty will also be considered. Projects that are strictly clinical in nature such as the diagnosis and treatment of disease, health outcomes, or the social context of aging are not eligible.

The Gene D. Cohen Award, sponsored by the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA), recognizes and honors the seminal work of Dr. Gene Cohen, whose research in the field of creativity and aging has shifted the conceptual focus from a problem paradigm to one of promise and potential. Dr. Cohen has inspired us to approach longevity asking what wonders can be achieved, not in spite of age, but because of age. The award is presented annually to a professional whose research in the field of creativity and aging demonstrates these positive attributes. Presented annually at the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting at the Arts and Humanities Reception, the award consists of the following: Travel and lodging (limit to $1,000) to attend the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting GSA Annual Scientific Meeting Registration A program profile included in GSA's Annual Meeting Program, which will be distributed to attendees and posted on the GSA website. Recognition on the NCCA website Recognition by peers at an awards presentation Press release Award nomination is open to any individual who has produced research that demonstrates the benefits of creativity in arts including but not limited to visual arts, music, dance, drama, writing and multi media. Nominees should demonstrate leadership and contributions in the field of creativity and aging through research.

This FOA invites Research and Development Center (P30) grant applications in the areas of demography and economics of aging, including relevant interdisciplinary areas rooted in population-based social science research. Areas of focus that are especially encouraged are: a) socioeconomic status (SES) disparities at older ages, including geographic disparities; b) the reasons for poor U.S. performance in health and mortality in international comparisons; c) trends and dynamics in old-age disability; d) cohort trends in obesity and its sequelae; e) family demography including the demography of care and caregiving for chronic disease, disability and Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD); and f) long-term supports and services for the disabled elderly population. Applications that wish to focus exclusively on AD/ADRD should submit to RFA-AG-20-002. Center grant applications must include two mandatory Cores and may choose among three optional Cores. Centers are required to work collaboratively with the Coordinating Center to be funded via RFA-AG-20-003.  

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) solicits research projects that would advance our understanding of how protein homeostasis (proteostasis) in peripheral tissues affects brain aging, leading to the development of Alzheimers Disease (AD). Much research on AD has focused on the accumulation of aberrant protein aggregates in the brain, and in particular amyloid and Tau. Formation of aggregates due to mutations encoded in the APP gene or due to hyperphosphorylation, respectively, have been linked to familial AD. The etiology of the more common, sporadic form of AD, is less certain, although aging is considered a major risk for development of the disease. It is known that proteostasis is less efficiently maintained in all tissues with aging, and this may indicate a link between proteostasis in the periphery and the appearance of aging-related diseases and conditions, including the decline in cognitive function, as well as dementia and AD. Therefore, testing for a role of aging-related loss of peripheral proteostasis in the development of AD is the focus of this FOA.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications to develop valid markers to assess the activity of fundamental aging mechanisms in humans that may influence the risk and progression of multiple aging conditions. Projects are encouraged that focus on selected mechanism(s) that may regulate aging changes, assess multiple possible markers for these mechanisms, test methods to improve their measurement properties, characterize their variability among individuals of differing ages and within the same age cohort, and assess their relationships in humans to in vivo functions influenced by the mechanism(s) under study. It is strongly encouraged that each project includes an interdisciplinary research team with expertise, as needed, in the biology of their selected mechanism(s), biomedical aging research, clinical pathology including laboratory assays, imaging methods, human cohort studies, tissue banking, biorepository resources, and statistics. Though the principal focus of the initiative is on development of markers in humans, studies in laboratory animals may also be conducted when necessary for the development of human markers, and potential development of parallel laboratory animal markers of a given mechanism.

The participating NIH Institutes and Centers invite applications to address both the origins and the effects of low level chronic inflammation in the onset and progression of age-related diseases and conditions. Chronic inflammation, as defined by elevated levels of both local and systemic cytokines and other pro-inflammatory factors, is a hallmark of aging in virtually all higher animals including humans and is recognized as a major risk factor for developing age-associated diseases. The spectra of phenotypes capable of generating low-level chronic inflammation and their defining mediators are not clear. Further, a clear understanding of how chronic inflammation compromises the integrity of cells or tissues leading to disease progression is lacking. The role of dietary supplements and/or nutritional status in chronic inflammation in age-related disease is also poorly studied. Thus, there is a critical need to establish the knowledge base that will allow a better understanding of the complex interplay between inflammation and age-related diseases. Applications submitted to this FOA should aim to clarify the molecular and cellular basis for the increase in circulating inflammatory factors with aging, and/or shed light on the cause-effect relationship between inflammation and disease, using pre-clinical (animal or cellular based) models.

Proposals in areas where support from the National Institutes of Health or other traditional funding sources is unlikely because the research is high risk are particularly encouraged if they have potential to lead to major new advances in the understanding of basic mechanisms of aging. Projects investigating age-related diseases also qualify, but only if approached from the point of view of how basic aging processes may lead to these outcomes. Projects concerning mechanisms underlying common geriatric functional disorders are encouraged, as long as these include connections to fundamental problems in the biology of aging. Projects that deal strictly with clinical problems such as the diagnosis and treatment of disease, health outcomes, or the social context of aging are not eligible.