Schizophrenia and related disorders during mid- to late-life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 25 039

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 039

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary research grant opportunity titled "Schizophrenia and related disorders during mid- to late-life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-25-039 (CFDA 93.242). This initiative is built around a straightforward problem: most people living with schizophrenia spectrum and related disorders are older than 35, including individuals who are newly diagnosed in midlife as well as those who have lived with the illness for decades, yet the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms that shape how the illness begins, evolves, and affects functioning across mid- to late-life are still not well understood. The program is aimed at closing that gap through translational research, with the longer-term goal of identifying measurable targets that can inform future prevention approaches and improve treatment development for this age range.

At its core, the opportunity is looking for R01-level projects that help explain the emergence and trajectory of schizophrenia and related disorders specifically in midlife and later life. "Translational" here signals that NIH is interested in studies that connect mechanisms to outcomes in a way that can ultimately be used in clinical or public health settings. That can include work that links clinical symptoms, cognition, functioning, comorbid medical conditions, neurobiology, biomarkers, or other mechanistic factors to real-world illness course and heterogeneity in older populations. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means applicants may propose either clinical trial work or non-trial research, depending on what best fits the scientific question, rather than being restricted to one format.

The applicant eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can carry out health research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized as governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying under those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. NIH also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). Faith-based and community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities are also listed as eligible, underscoring an intent to attract a diverse set of applicants and research settings.

Key administrative details provided include an opportunity category of "Discretionary," a funding instrument type of "Grant," and a health-focused funding activity category. The opportunity was created on 2024-11-18, and the original closing date is 2026-09-07. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, which often indicates that budget levels and award counts may depend on the scope and merit of applications, available appropriations, and NIH institute priorities during the funding cycles.

Overall, this funding opportunity is best understood as NIH signaling a need for stronger, mechanism-informed science on schizophrenia spectrum disorders as they present and progress after early adulthood. By focusing on mid- to late-life, it encourages research that accounts for aging-related factors, long-term illness effects, and late-onset or later-diagnosed cases, with an emphasis on producing knowledge that can translate into better prevention targets and more effective interventions for a population that makes up a large share of those living with these disorders.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Schizophrenia and related disorders during mid- to late-life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-07. (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 25 039

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