Socioeconomic Disparities in Health and Mortality at Older Ages (R01) | RFA AG 18 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 18 011

The Socioeconomic Disparities in Health and Mortality at Older Ages (R01) funding opportunity (RFA-AG-18-011) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant designed to support rigorous studies on why health and survival outcomes among older adults in the United States have become more unequal in recent years. The central focus is on identifying the mechanisms and explanations behind widening gaps in morbidity and mortality associated with socioeconomic status, specifically differences tied to income and education, as well as disparities linked to where people live. A key emphasis is on modifiable risk factors, meaning the program is looking for research that can move beyond documenting disparities and instead help pinpoint changeable drivers that could inform practical interventions, policies, clinical strategies, or public health approaches aimed at reducing inequities at older ages.

In practical terms, the FOA seeks projects that dig into the pathways that connect socioeconomic position and geographic context to later-life health outcomes. This can include examining how cumulative disadvantage over the life course influences chronic disease burden, disability, mental health, and mortality, or how access to health care, quality of care, health behaviors, environmental exposures, labor market experiences, retirement security, social isolation, neighborhood conditions, and local policy environments may shape divergent aging trajectories. The opportunity is framed around the recent trend of growing inequality, so strong applications would typically be positioned to explain changes over time, clarify why gaps are widening now, and identify leverage points that are realistically alterable. While the announcement text provided does not list specific required methods, the intent strongly aligns with studies that can isolate mechanisms (for example, through longitudinal analyses, quasi-experimental designs, natural experiments, multilevel modeling, or careful integration of social, clinical, and geographic data) and that can distinguish correlation from plausible causal pathways where possible.

This is an R01 mechanism, meaning it supports substantial, investigator-initiated research projects rather than small pilot work, and it falls under NIH’s health research activity category (CFDA 93.866). The original closing date listed for this opportunity was October 20, 2017, and the posting/creation date was May 31, 2017. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so those details are not available from the excerpt.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status) as long as they are not institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other applicant types as allowed by NIH. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, as well as Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized ones.

There are important limitations related to non-U.S. participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicants. However, foreign components are allowed as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain well-justified foreign elements of the project when they are necessary and add unique value, even though a foreign institution cannot serve as the primary applicant.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at advancing understanding of why socioeconomic and place-based health gaps among older Americans are expanding, with a clear preference for studies that uncover underlying, potentially actionable drivers of those trends. The long-term value NIH is signaling here is research that can help translate descriptive disparity patterns into concrete explanations and modifiable targets for reducing unequal burdens of illness and premature death in later life.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Socioeconomic Disparities in Health and Mortality at Older Ages (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 2017-05-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-10-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 18 011

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