FAQs for Nathan Shock Centers NOFOs (RFA-AG-25-012 and RFA-AG-25-013)

Funding information

Nathan Shock Center-related Requests for Applications (RFAs):

For general information on funding opportunities available from DAB, please view the Division of Aging Biology Notices of Funding Opportunity .

Answers to common questions

Find answers below to common questions about the Nathan Shock Centers.

Do Nathan Shock Centers (NSC) support neurobiology or Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) or AD-related dementias (ADRD)?

The NSC grants are not intended to directly support research on the neurobiology of aging, including AD/ADRD. However, leveraging collaborations between NSCs, Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs) and Alzheimer Disease Research Centers (ADRC) are encouraged.

Is a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) required?

A PEDP is not required for the NSC. However, individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. Please see “ Reminder: Notice of NIH's Encouragement of Applications Supporting Individuals from Underrepresented Ethnic and Racial Groups as well as Individuals with Disabilities, NOT-OD-22-019 ” for guidance.

Will the NSC & Nathan Shock Centers Coordinating Center (NSC3) be held to the new “ Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications ”?

No, neither the P30 nor U24 activity codes are currently included in the new review framework.

How should I prepare the budget for my NSC application?

NIA dedicated 10 million dollars total per year for five years and plans to fund up to eight centers. The RFA states that applicants may ask for up to 1.1 million a year keeping in mind indirect costs for your institution. The best approach is to reach out to Dr. Christy Carter at christy.carter@nih.gov to discuss your situation.

Is a description of actual proposed pilot projects required?

No. However, applicants should describe the process for soliciting, reviewing and administering pilot projects.

The NSC RFA asks for an “introduction to application” for each individual core? Is this correct?

This language can be confusing. Introductions are only for resubmissions and revisions. For the NSC application, NIA only accepts “new” and “renewal” applications, thus there are no introductions allowed. However, for renewing centers, the “Overall” section could include a broad summary of progress for cores, with individual cores providing more detail. In lieu of an overall summary, “new” applications will be evaluated based on preliminary organizational work, experience with aging biology research, potential for developing new and exciting research, the gap in aging biology services not provided by other centers, and specific plans for implementation of the new program.

Where are the biosketches placed in the application?

The biosketches should be placed right after the component summary information.

Is it a requirement to submit a biosketch and other supporting information for the senior faculty who will participate as mentors in research career development?

You may include a list of potential mentors and their affiliations and areas of expertise. You may also include examples of the types of projects they could support, and request a letter from them (but it is not required). You would not need to include their biosketch and other support until an award is made.

Do individual pilot awards associated with the NSC each require a Data Management Sharing (DMS) Plan?

No. The DMS Policy expects only one DMS Plan to be submitted with each application and does not expect separate Plans to be developed for individual projects under that application. In multicomponent applications, the DMS Plan must be included in the Overall component. Applicants are encouraged to determine whether and how to coordinate responsibilities with respect to Plans with all Program Directors/Principal Investigators and all Key Personnel on the same application. Examples of acceptable DMS Plan language from past NIGMS applications are available here .

Contact Information

Please contact Christy Carter at christy.carter@nih.gov for any further questions.