Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AG 23 027

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 23 027

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued this funding opportunity (RFA-AG-23-027) to support the development and ongoing operation of a Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Coordinating Center under a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism (clinical trial optional). The RCMAR program is focused on strengthening behavioral and social research related to aging, with a strong emphasis on understanding and reducing health disparities that affect older adults, including disparities connected to Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). A core theme of the program is building research infrastructure while also mentoring and advancing early career scientists from diverse backgrounds so the aging and AD/ADRD research workforce better reflects the communities most impacted by inequities.

The Coordinating Center is essentially the hub that keeps the broader RCMAR network functioning smoothly and strategically. Its main job is to coordinate and provide logistical support to the individual RCMAR Centers, making it easier for them to work together rather than operating as isolated sites. This includes facilitating cooperation and collaboration across Centers, helping align activities, and creating shared processes that improve efficiency and consistency across the program. The Coordinating Center is also responsible for building and maintaining an interactive website that serves as a central platform for communication, resources, and visibility for the entire RCMAR community.

A major deliverable of the Coordinating Center is identifying, organizing, and distributing research and training resources and materials that can be used by RCMAR investigators and trainees. In practice, that means curating tools, curricula, best practices, methods resources, and other materials that support high-quality behavioral and social science in aging and AD/ADRD. The Coordinating Center is also expected to directly support early career investigators by offering technical assistance, resources, and other forms of structured support that help them develop as independent researchers. Alongside these practical support functions, the Center is tasked with program analysis and evaluation, which typically involves tracking outputs and outcomes across the RCMAR network, assessing whether program goals are being met, and using data to guide continuous improvement.

Another central expectation is that the Coordinating Center will improve the visibility and reach of the RCMAR program and, more broadly, elevate the role and value of behavioral and social research in aging and AD/ADRD. This includes communication strategies that highlight the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) across the aging research enterprise. In other words, the Center is not only coordinating operations but also helping shape how the field understands and prioritizes DEIA as a scientific and workforce imperative.

This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the cooperative agreement model, which generally implies substantial involvement from NIH program staff compared with a typical research grant. The activity category is health, and the listing is under CFDA 93.866. The posted award ceiling is $800,000. The original closing date listed for applications was 2022-10-21, and the opportunity was created on 2022-08-05.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, such as state, county, and local governments; special districts; 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 authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible applicants. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories that align with the program's equity and workforce goals, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear limits regarding foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning certain project elements may involve foreign collaboration or resources if they meet NIH policy definitions and requirements, even though the applicant organization itself must be eligible and domestic.

Overall, this FOA funds a central coordinating function meant to strengthen the RCMAR network's infrastructure, accelerate collaboration, support the professional development of diverse early career researchers, provide shared tools and training resources, evaluate program performance, and increase the visibility and impact of behavioral and social science approaches to aging disparities and AD/ADRD, while clearly centering DEIA as a guiding principle across these activities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2022-08-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-10-21. (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 $800,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA AG 23 027

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