Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan: R01 Clinical Trials Optional
Deadline: November 15, 2024
5 pm
Amount: Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
Purpose
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications proposing innovative, collaborative research projects on global neuro-health including brain and other nervous system function and disorders throughout the lifespan, relevant to Low and middle income countries (LMICs). This includes, but is not limited to, neurological, neuromuscular, mental, cognitive, sensory, developmental and behavioral disorders and spans the full range of science approaches from basic to clinical, translation and implementation research. These research programs are expected to contribute to the long-term goals of building sustainable neuro-health research capacity and research in LMICs ultimately leading to diagnostics, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and implementation strategies.
The proposed research must be relevant to the interests of one of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), other than FIC, as stated in this FOA and consultation with the appropriate IC contact is strongly recommended. Applications must be submitted as collaborations between LMIC investigators/institutions and the U.S. (or the UMIC category of LMICs) and LMIC investigators/institutions. An R01 application under this FOA must continue to build on already established research, research collaborations and research capacity building activities at the LMIC site(s). Applicants who need time and funding to develop research collaborations in the LMIC(s) and to identify research capacity needs and activities, and to conduct pilot studies, are encouraged to apply first to the companion R21 FOA PAR-22-098.
Research Topics
- Research topics for this FOA are related to brain, other nervous system and neuromuscular function and/or impairment across the lifespan and across generations, and must be relevant to the collaborating LMICs. Applicants are especially encouraged to propose research on co-morbidities and conditions that affect nervous system function across the lifespan. Relevant research for these applications may range from basic science to epidemiological, clinical, health services, translational (e.g. translation of basic research to therapy and of clinical research to applications in the field) and implementation research. Applicants may propose a research and capacity building program on some aspect of neuro-health, brain, other nervous system or neuromuscular function and/or impairment at any stage of life.
- Examples of brain, other nervous system and neuromuscular disorders contributing to the burden of disease in LMICs and relevant to this FOA include, but are not limited to, neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, learning disabilities, hydrocephaly, microcephaly), neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophies and inherited or acquired peripheral neuropathies), neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases), addictive disorders, seizure disorders (such as epilepsy), neuropsychiatric disorders (such as unipolar depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia), post-traumatic stress disorder, dementias, encephalopathy, peripheral neuropathies, sensory and motor neuron diseases.
- Examples of influences on nervous system function across the lifespan include, but are not limited to: genetic predispositions and epigenetic changes in response to pre-, peri- and post-natal trauma and environmental factors (such as maternal depression, in-utero drug and alcohol exposure, neurotoxic insults, perinatal hypoxia, child abuse and neglect, inadequate environmental stimulation, and nutritional deficiencies), physical and psychological trauma (exposure to violence, sexual and physical abuse, traumatic nervous system injury due to violence and accidents), infection of the nervous system by bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases (such as Zika, COVID, HIV/AIDS, malaria, neurocysticercosis, neonatal sepsis) and stroke. Other factors affecting healthy brain development include access to appropriate health care, environmental and socioeconomic factors.
- Examples of some cross-cutting areas for research are:
- Ethnographic studies and other areas of social science, particularly to address health systems, availability of resources, preventive or screening practices, and appropriate interventions within a given society or group;
- Gender and socio-cultural and economic factors in the etiology, prevention and treatment of the disorders to be addressed;
- Sex differences at all levels of brain and nervous system function and disorders;
- The influence of socio-cultural or other environmental variables on the natural history of common neurological diseases/disorders and how this knowledge can be used for treatment and intervention;
- Factors associated with aging affecting cognitive, emotional/mental and physical health and survival in older persons along with interventions and treatments;
- Co-occurring risk factors or conditions, especially common in the LMIC or region (e.g. neuro-toxic or traumatic insult plus infectious disease and/or malnutrition);
- Mechanisms (e.g. neurotoxic, epigenetic) underlying genetic, physiological, environmental, social and economic factors and interactions that affect brain function or development and result in behavioral outcomes (e.g., expression of cognitive impairment, coping, adaptation, response to intervention);
- Genetic and environmental contributions to various psychiatric outcomes across diverse global populations
- Epidemiology: 1) Descriptive epidemiology to describe and define the problem in the countries in question by assessing the needs and determining the magnitude of factors involved in the problem to be addressed (e.g., research on trends in incidence, prevalence or mortality; distribution of disease; determination of population at risk; determination of case definition/disease classification). 2) Analytical epidemiology to identify potential etiological factors in the populations of interest, including factors responsible for predispositions to the neurological consequences of various infection and/or neurotoxins (e.g., identification of risk factors for neurological consequences of disease onset or progression; classification and measurement of exposure; magnitude and distribution of known risk factors).
Types of research relevant to this announcement include basic research and epidemiology, as well as translational research, research on diagnostics, early interventions, clinical treatment, prevention, and health services that are culturally appropriate, feasible, and acceptable for implementation within the LMIC. This FOA encourages the development of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and the capacity in the LMIC to conduct such research, relevant to the research question. Expertise may involve, but is not limited to, fields such as genetics/epigenetics, epidemiology, neurology, cognitive neuroscience, developmental neurobiology, neuro-toxicology, neuro-endocrinology, pharmacology, psychiatry, neuro-immunology, neuro-virology, neurosurgery, neuro-rehabilitation and biotechnology (e.g., for development of diagnostic tools and treatments), as well as the behavioral and social sciences including health economics, health services and implementation science.
More Info: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-22-097.html