Roybal Center -- Request for Proposals: Development, Testing, and Implementation of Social or Behavioral Interventions in Aging (clinical trial required)

Funding Agency:
Duke University

The Duke Roybal Center (NIA P30AG064201) solicits proposals from faculty across disciplines to develop, refine, test, implement and adapt innovative social and behavioral interventions to improve healthy longevity. The purpose of our Center and the studies we fund is to advance the science and implementation of that science to improve the health and well-being of people as they are aging. Intervention studies can be at the individual-, provider- or institutional-level and must be grounded in behavioral or social science principles.

Our Center builds capacity for the development, refinement and implementation of interventions grounded in behavioral or social science principles and directed toward equitably promoting independent living of older adults and adults at risk for disability. The research we support could be in any stage of the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development (0, I, II, III, IV). Our Pilot Core funds research intended to generate data that can lead to high-impact externally funded studies. The Center provides pilot awardees with direct, frequent, and intensive guidance and training across all phases and stages of the social and behavioral intervention development process from theory to implementation.

We are seeking proposals for theory-driven intervention research at any point in the intervention development and implementation process that aims to promote functional independence of older adults or adults at increased risk for disability. The intervention should focus on addressing behavior or social systems that influence behavior and can be directed at the individual-, caregiver-, provider-, organizational-, or community-level. The study can be in any “stage” of development or implementation (stages I-V) and must meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial. Funding and staff support are available for one year. Subsequent engagement with the Center is highly encouraged for continued guidance on research progression and translation.

Deadlines:

  • October 1, 2021 – November 15, 2021: Required Study Consult Meeting
  • October 22, 2021: Required Letter of Intent (LOI) Due 
  • December 10, 2021: Full Applications Due
  • January 14, 2022: Funding Decisions
  • March 15, 2022: Human Subjects Documents Due to NIH
  • June 1, 2022: Earliest Start Date

Agency Website

Areas of Interest

We are interested in studies that relate to our focus on “Accelerating Translational Behavioral Intervention Research on Aging and Functional Independence.” We define function using the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). The primary intervention outcome is expected to be in the domain of physical function (e.g., disability, mobility, self-care, physical activity) and can be measured by a person’s capacity (what s/he can do), perceived capacity, or performance (what is actually done) in executing a specific task or being involved in a life situation.

Potential topic areas include but are not limited to interventions that address:

  • Acute stressors or threats to function and independence (e.g., surgery, anesthesia, cardiovascular events, falls and fractures, infections).
  • Functional reserve or physiological resilience in older persons.
  • Causes, prevention, and treatment of episodes of functional decline.
  • Factors that promote recovery of function or health, or the ability to resist functional decline in the face of stressors or challenges
  • The effect of age on physiological resilience and mobility
  • Interactive effects on mobility of multiple diseases, and interventions in older persons, and their relationship to risk of morbidity, progression of disability, and efficacy of prevention or treatment strategies.

Amount

$70,000

Amount Description

Funding is available for one year, June 1 – May 31. The budget request for pilot studies is $20,000 – $70,000 in direct costs for the year. In addition to, and separate from, the direct costs of the research, an experienced behavioral interventionist will be available to support each funded project. Mentoring is provided to support translation and applications for future funding.

Funding Type

Grant

Eligibility

Faculty

Category

Medical
Medical - Clinical Science
Medical - Translational
Social Sciences

External Deadline

October 22, 2021