Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 17 051
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "Exosomes: From Biogenesis and Secretion to the Early Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (R01)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-17-051 (CFDA 93.866). It uses the R01 research project grant mechanism and is aimed at supporting innovative, hypothesis-driven studies that clarify how exosomes are made and released, what they carry, and how these processes may influence the earliest stages of sporadic and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). The emphasis is on early pathogenesis, meaning work that helps explain initial disease initiation and early spread rather than only late-stage neurodegeneration.
Scientifically, the FOA is centered on exosome biogenesis and secretion, and on the idea that exosomes may modulate and propagate disease processes in AD. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that shuttle proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells. In the AD context, the announcement is essentially asking researchers to dig into the "molecular machines" that govern exosome formation and cargo loading, and to determine how those machines are regulated in ways that could affect AD-related pathways. The NIH signals strong interest in studies that identify, map, and characterize the cellular and molecular regulators of exosome production, release, and cargo selection, particularly when these mechanisms might help explain how pathological signals move across cells and brain regions during the earliest phases of disease.
A key feature of the opportunity is its encouragement of collaborative approaches. While the announcement does not prescribe a single experimental strategy, it clearly points toward multi-disciplinary projects where teams can combine expertise in cell biology (vesicle trafficking and membrane dynamics), neuroscience (AD-relevant models and early synaptic dysfunction), omics and cargo profiling (proteomics, transcriptomics, lipidomics), and disease mechanism work focused on sporadic and late-onset AD rather than purely familial forms. In practical terms, competitive applications would likely connect mechanistic work on exosome machinery (for example, pathways controlling vesicle formation, sorting, and release) to measurable consequences for AD-relevant phenotypes, such as early synaptic changes, neuroinflammatory signaling, or the movement of disease-associated molecules via extracellular vesicles.
From an eligibility standpoint, NIH cast a wide net. Standard 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories, including 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), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations, regional organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This broad eligibility language is meant to encourage participation from diverse institution types and to support collaborations that may extend beyond traditional U.S. academic centers.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted by NIH with an original closing date of 2017-02-03 and a creation date of 2016-10-25. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided source data, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text or NIH guidance for budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute-specific funding considerations. Overall, the grant call is best understood as a targeted push to move beyond descriptive extracellular vesicle observations and toward mechanistic, regulation-focused studies that explain how exosome biology could shape the earliest steps of sporadic and late-onset Alzheimer's disease, potentially revealing new biomarkers, intervention points, or ways to slow early disease propagation.Apply for RFA AG 17 051
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exosomes: From Biogenesis and Secretion to the Early Pathogenesis of 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 2016-10-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-02-03. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Exosomes: From Biogenesis and Secretion to the Early Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (R01)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-AG-17-051.
What CFDA number is associated with this grant opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.866.
Which grant mechanism is being used?
This funding opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism.
What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA supports innovative, hypothesis-driven research to clarify how exosomes are made (biogenesis) and released (secretion), what they carry (cargo), and how these processes may influence the earliest stages of sporadic and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD).
What does NIH mean by "early pathogenesis" in this announcement?
The emphasis is on understanding disease initiation and early spread, rather than focusing only on late-stage neurodegeneration.
What are exosomes in the context of this FOA?
Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that shuttle proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells. In AD, the FOA highlights the possibility that exosomes may modulate and propagate disease processes, especially in early phases.
What kinds of research questions does NIH appear to be encouraging?
The FOA is centered on the "molecular machines" that govern exosome formation and cargo loading, and how these systems are regulated in ways that could affect AD-related pathways. It encourages work that identifies, maps, and characterizes cellular and molecular regulators of exosome production, release, and cargo selection, particularly where those mechanisms could help explain how pathological signals move across cells and brain regions early in disease.
Is the FOA looking for descriptive studies or mechanistic studies?
Based on the language provided, the FOA is positioned as a push beyond descriptive extracellular vesicle observations and toward mechanistic, regulation-focused studies connecting exosome biology to early AD-relevant processes.
What Alzheimer's disease types are emphasized?
The FOA emphasizes sporadic and late-onset Alzheimer's disease, rather than focusing purely on familial forms.
Does the FOA require a specific experimental strategy?
No single experimental strategy is prescribed in the provided information. Instead, the FOA points toward projects that connect mechanistic work on exosome machinery to measurable consequences for AD-relevant phenotypes.
What types of approaches or expertise does NIH seem to value for competitive applications?
The FOA encourages collaborative, multi-disciplinary projects that may combine expertise in cell biology (vesicle trafficking and membrane dynamics), neuroscience (AD-relevant models and early synaptic dysfunction), omics and cargo profiling (proteomics, transcriptomics, lipidomics), and disease mechanism work focused on sporadic and late-onset AD.
What AD-relevant phenotypes are mentioned as examples of measurable consequences?
Examples mentioned include early synaptic changes, neuroinflammatory signaling, and the movement of disease-associated molecules via extracellular vesicles.
Does this opportunity encourage collaboration?
Yes. A key feature described is encouragement of collaborative approaches, including multi-disciplinary teams that can link exosome machinery to AD-relevant biological outcomes.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes (as standard eligible applicants) state, county, and local 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations.
Are there additional eligible applicant categories explicitly highlighted?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights 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); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations; regional organizations; Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations.
Are small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. Small businesses are included among the eligible applicants listed.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible applicants, and small businesses are also eligible.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are listed as eligible.
When was this funding opportunity created and when did it close?
The creation date is 2016-10-25, and the original closing date is 2017-02-03.
Does the provided listing specify an award ceiling or number of awards?
No. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What should applicants do if they need budget expectations or project period norms?
Because the listing does not provide an award ceiling or number of awards, applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text or NIH guidance for budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute-specific funding considerations.
What is the overall purpose of this FOA in plain terms?
The FOA is a targeted effort to understand how exosome biology (how exosomes form, what they carry, and how they are released and regulated) could shape the earliest steps of sporadic and late-onset Alzheimer's disease, with the potential to reveal biomarkers, intervention points, or ways to slow early disease propagation.
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