Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 26 025
The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs) opportunity (RFA-AG-26-025) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program that supports the creation or strengthening of specialized research centers focused on geriatrics and aging. These awards are meant to build "centers of excellence" that combine high-quality research with research education, all aimed at generating scientific knowledge that leads to better ways to help older adults maintain or regain independence. In practical terms, the program is looking for institutions that can organize a strong, sustainable, and collaborative environment where investigators can develop and test ideas that ultimately reduce disability, improve function, and support independent living for aging populations.
A key expectation of the OAIC program is that each funded center will have a clear thematic focus in an important area of aging research that aligns with the OAIC mission. Rather than being a loosely connected collection of projects, an OAIC is designed to concentrate effort and resources around a coherent set of scientific priorities, building momentum over time. The emphasis is on developing or strengthening a program that can continue to make progress in that focus area, including supporting investigators, training and mentoring, and providing the kind of shared infrastructure that enables better, faster, and more rigorous geriatrics research. The NOFO notes that clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose clinical trial-related activities if they fit the center's goals, but they are not required to do so.
Eligibility is broad across the U.S. research and public-service landscape. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and a variety of government entities such as state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, as are Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The NOFO also calls out additional eligible applicant types, including eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Foreign participation is restricted in the way NIH commonly applies for center-type funding. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This typically means a U.S.-based applicant can include certain justified collaborations or performance sites outside the U.S. when they meaningfully contribute to the project, but the applicant institution itself must be domestic and the overall structure must comply with NIH policy.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant mechanism in the health domain under CFDA number 93.866. The opportunity was created on 2025-09-10, with an original closing date of 2025-10-20. The listed award ceiling is $925,000 (commonly interpreted as the maximum amount per award per year, though applicants should confirm budgeting rules and project period details in the full NOFO). The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity is categorized under health. The program name signals its long-standing NIH focus on independence and function in later life, and the center-based structure indicates NIH is investing not just in individual studies but in sustained institutional capacity, shared resources, and a pipeline of trained geriatrics researchers.
Overall, this NOFO is best understood as support for an integrated geriatrics research center that can demonstrate scientific leadership, a durable organizational plan, and a targeted research theme connected to maintaining or restoring independence in older adults. The strongest applications typically align research, mentoring/training, and core resources around that theme, showing how the center will accelerate discoveries and translate them into better strategies, interventions, or care approaches that help older people live more independently.Apply for RFA AG 26 025
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (P30 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 2025-09-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-10-20. (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 $925,000.00 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.
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FAQs: Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs) - RFA-AG-26-025
What is the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs) opportunity (RFA-AG-26-025)?
RFA-AG-26-025 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity that supports the creation or strengthening of specialized research centers focused on geriatrics and aging. The goal is to build "centers of excellence" that combine high-quality research with research education to generate scientific knowledge that helps older adults maintain or regain independence.
What is the main purpose of an OAIC award?
The main purpose is to support an integrated geriatrics and aging research center that can organize a strong, sustainable, collaborative environment where investigators develop and test ideas aimed at reducing disability, improving function, and supporting independent living among aging populations.
What kinds of outcomes is the OAIC program trying to improve for older adults?
The program emphasizes work that leads to better ways to help older adults maintain or regain independence, with a practical focus on reducing disability, improving function, and supporting independent living.
Does an OAIC have to be organized around a specific research theme?
Yes. A key expectation is that each funded center has a clear thematic focus in an important area of aging research that aligns with the OAIC mission. The center is expected to concentrate effort and resources around a coherent set of scientific priorities rather than operating as a loosely connected set of projects.
Is this funding meant for a collection of separate projects or a unified center?
This opportunity is designed to fund a unified, center-based structure. The emphasis is on sustained institutional capacity, shared infrastructure, and a collaborative environment that builds momentum over time around a coherent theme.
What role do education, training, and mentoring play in an OAIC?
Research education is a core element of the OAIC concept. The opportunity describes centers of excellence that combine research with research education, including supporting investigators, training and mentoring, and providing shared infrastructure to enable better, faster, and more rigorous geriatrics research.
Are clinical trials required under this NOFO?
No. The NOFO states that clinical trials are optional. Applicants may propose clinical trial-related activities if they fit the center's goals, but they are not required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and a wide range of government entities (including state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, as are Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The NOFO also lists other eligible types such as eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can a for-profit organization apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses and also includes small businesses.
Are nonprofit organizations required to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible. The NOFO also includes Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed as eligible applicant types.
Can foreign (non-U.S.) organizations apply as the applicant organization?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply.
Is any foreign participation allowed at all?
Yes. While foreign organizations cannot be the applicant, the NOFO notes that foreign components (as defined by NIH in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. In practical terms, a U.S.-based applicant may include justified collaborations or performance sites outside the U.S. when they meaningfully contribute to the project, as long as the overall structure complies with NIH policy.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity is categorized under health.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.866.
When was this opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on 2025-09-10, and the original closing date is listed as 2025-10-20.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The listed award ceiling is $925,000. This is commonly interpreted as the maximum amount per award per year, though applicants should confirm budgeting rules and project period details in the full NOFO.
What does NIH mean by building "centers of excellence" through OAICs?
In this context, it means establishing or strengthening a specialized geriatrics and aging research center that demonstrates scientific leadership, integrates research with research education, and provides shared infrastructure and a collaborative environment to accelerate progress in a focused area tied to older adult independence and function.
What characteristics are emphasized for a competitive OAIC center?
The description emphasizes scientific leadership, a durable organizational plan, a targeted research theme aligned with maintaining or restoring independence in older adults, and an approach that aligns research, mentoring/training, and core resources around that theme to accelerate discoveries and improve strategies, interventions, or care approaches that support independent living.
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