The Midlife in the United States Study (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 156

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 156

The funding opportunity titled "The Midlife in the United States Study (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-156) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to support the next six-year cycle of the MIDUS Study, a major, long-running longitudinal research program focused on midlife and aging in the United States. The central purpose of this solicitation is to fund continued large-scale data collection so the MIDUS resource remains current, scientifically valuable, and capable of answering evolving questions about health, psychological well-being, social conditions, and aging processes across adulthood. Because it is a cooperative agreement (U19), the award structure typically implies substantial NIH involvement in oversight and coordination, with the grantee and NIH working closely together to accomplish the project goals.

The scientific goals of the next phase are clearly defined around completing specific waves of data collection for two key MIDUS cohorts. First, the award will support completion of the fourth wave of longitudinal data collection for the core MIDUS sample, preserving the long-term follow-up that makes the study especially useful for understanding within-person change over time. Second, it will support completion of the second wave of data collection for the MIDUS refresher sample, which helps maintain the study's relevance by incorporating additional participants beyond the original cohort, improving the ability to examine cohort differences and more contemporary midlife experiences. Importantly, the FOA is designated "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants must propose research and data-collection activities that do not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial; in practical terms, the project is centered on observational and longitudinal measurement rather than prospective intervention testing.

In terms of who can apply, NIH lists a broad set of eligible applicant organizations, reflecting the large infrastructure typically required to manage a national longitudinal study. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and 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; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized.

The opportunity also includes strict restrictions related to foreign involvement. While it mentions "Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations)" in the context of "other eligible applicants," it then clearly states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. In addition, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. Taken together, these rules mean the applicant organization must be U.S.-based, the work must not be carried out through foreign components, and the project cannot include foreign components under NIH policy definitions.

Administratively, the opportunity falls under the NIH funding instrument type "Cooperative Agreement" and the broader funding activity category of health, with CFDA number 93.866. The original closing date listed is February 1, 2022, and the FOA record shows the creation date as February 26, 2021. The posted summary does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the fields provided, but the scope described suggests a large, multi-component effort consistent with sustaining a national longitudinal study platform, including coordinated survey operations, participant follow-up, data management, and ongoing resource stewardship to ensure high-quality longitudinal data collection across the targeted MIDUS waves.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Midlife in the United States Study (U19 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 2021-02-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-02-01. (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 PAR 21 156

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