Schizophrenia and related disorders during mid- to late-life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 24 023

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 023

This funding opportunity, titled "Schizophrenia and related disorders during mid- to late-life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-24-023), is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant that uses the R01 research project grant mechanism and allows (but does not require) clinical trials. It sits within the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.242. The central idea is to push schizophrenia research beyond the traditional emphasis on early illness onset by focusing on people in midlife and later life, since most individuals living with schizophrenia and related disorders are older than 35. That includes people who were diagnosed earlier and are now aging with the condition, as well as those whose first clinically recognized symptoms or diagnosis occur later in adulthood.

The scientific purpose of the initiative is to advance translational research aimed at clarifying how schizophrenia and related disorders emerge, evolve, and progress during mid- to late-life. The notice highlights a key gap: despite the large proportion of affected individuals being in these age ranges, the mechanisms that shape the generation of illness and its trajectory over time are still not well understood. Projects responsive to this opportunity would therefore be expected to connect biological, clinical, behavioral, and/or environmental insights in ways that move findings toward real-world relevance, with an emphasis on explaining illness course in these later stages of adulthood. A major outcome NIH is looking for is the identification of actionable targets that could inform the future development of prevention strategies and more effective treatments, particularly those tailored to the needs and realities of midlife and older adults.

Because this is an R01, the grant is designed to support substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs rather than small pilots, and it is flexible enough to accommodate a range of study designs, including observational and mechanistic studies as well as intervention studies when appropriate. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation matters because it broadens what applicants can propose: investigators can submit applications that include a clinical trial if that is the best way to answer the research question, but they are not required to run a trial to be considered responsive. In practice, that opens the door to work such as longitudinal cohort studies of symptom, cognitive, functional, and medical trajectories; studies of aging-related risk and resilience factors; mechanistic research on neurobiology, immune or metabolic contributions, or other translational pathways; and intervention development or testing when a clinical trial approach is justified.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types across government, academia, nonprofits, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; 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 other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal government agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), signaling an intent to encourage participation from a wide range of institutions and communities.

Key administrative details included in the source data are that the opportunity was created on June 29, 2023, and the original closing date is September 7, 2026. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing, which often means applicants need to refer to the full funding announcement and NIH policy guidance for budget structuring norms under the R01 mechanism, including any institute- or program-specific expectations. Overall, the opportunity is geared toward improving understanding of schizophrenia and related disorders specifically in mid- to late-life and translating that understanding into clear, testable prevention and treatment targets that can ultimately improve outcomes for this large and often understudied segment of the affected population.

• 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 2023-06-29.
• 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 24 023

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