Brain Lymphatic System in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (R01) | RFA AG 17 055

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 17 055

The Brain Lymphatic System in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (R01) funding opportunity (RFA-AG-17-055) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant aimed at advancing understanding of how the brain's fluid clearance and immune-related drainage pathways change with age and disease. Specifically, it focuses on the brain glymphatic system along with meningeal and peripheral lymphatic systems, and how these systems function in both normal brains and pathological conditions. The core purpose is to clarify complex biological mechanisms that govern waste clearance, fluid movement, and immune interactions in and around the brain, and to determine whether disruptions in these systems contribute to neurological disorders tied to immune dysfunction, with Alzheimer's disease highlighted as a key example.

This FOA is built around the idea that brain health depends not only on neurons and synapses, but also on the supporting clearance and immune communication systems that regulate the brain environment. By funding R01-scale projects, NIH is seeking studies that can explain what changes occur in the glymphatic and lymphatic networks during normal aging versus disease states, why those changes happen, and what consequences they have for brain function and vulnerability to neurodegeneration. In practical terms, supported research could involve identifying structural or functional impairments in these drainage pathways, mapping how they interact with immune processes, and linking these findings to disease-relevant outcomes such as impaired clearance of toxic proteins or altered neuroinflammatory responses.

The opportunity uses the R01 mechanism, meaning it is designed for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects with clearly defined aims. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is health, listed under CFDA 93.866. The posted award ceiling is $500,000, indicating the maximum award amount indicated in the source summary for this announcement. The opportunity was created on October 21, 2016, and had an original closing date of February 9, 2017.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based organizations as well as certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. It also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This breadth signals an intent to attract interdisciplinary and cross-sector research teams, including those serving diverse populations and operating in varied institutional settings.

Overall, this grant opportunity is focused on building foundational and translationally relevant knowledge about brain clearance and lymphatic-related systems across aging and Alzheimer's disease. The NIH emphasis is on mechanistic insight: understanding how and why these systems change, and whether their dysfunction is a meaningful driver or contributor to neurological disease processes associated with immune system abnormalities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Brain Lymphatic System in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (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 2016-10-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-02-09. (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 $500,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA AG 17 055

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