Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 570
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced this discretionary grant opportunity, titled "Underactive Bladder and Detrusor Activity in Aging (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PA-18-570), to support research that improves understanding and care of underactive bladder (UAB) and detrusor underactivity (DU) specifically as they relate to aging and older adults. Using the R01 mechanism, the program is designed for substantial, hypothesis-driven projects and allows (but does not require) clinical trials, meaning applicants can propose anything from foundational lab work to patient-focused studies or real-world clinical and implementation research.
The core goal of the FOA is to build stronger evidence about why DU/UAB develops or worsens with age, what its biological and functional consequences are for older people, and how clinicians can better diagnose, evaluate, prevent, and treat it. NIH is signaling interest in research that moves beyond general descriptions of urinary symptoms and instead clarifies mechanisms and actionable clinical pathways. A central theme is producing knowledge that can translate into evidence-based guidance for clinical decision-making in older populations, where comorbidities, frailty, medications, and age-related physiological changes often complicate typical urologic evaluation and management.
The FOA highlights four broad, encouraged research directions. First, it invites studies on the biology, etiology, and pathophysiology of DU/UAB, using animal models and/or human studies in older adults. This can include investigations into age-related changes in detrusor muscle contractility, neuromuscular signaling, sensory pathways, urothelial function, fibrosis and remodeling, inflammation, ischemia, metabolic factors, or the impacts of polypharmacy and neurologic disease that are common with advancing age. Second, it emphasizes translation of basic and clinical findings into clinical practice and health decision-making, which can include developing clinically usable biomarkers, decision tools, or care pathways, as well as implementation approaches that help move discoveries into routine settings.
Third, NIH is explicitly looking for research focused on diagnosis, prevention, management strategies, and clinical outcomes for UAB in older adults. This can span improving diagnostic approaches (including better phenotyping and differentiating DU/UAB from other lower urinary tract disorders), evaluating non-surgical and surgical management approaches, testing rehabilitative or device-based strategies, and assessing patient-centered outcomes such as quality of life, functional status, falls risk, sleep disruption, urinary tract infections, retention-related complications, and impacts on caregivers. Fourth, the FOA encourages epidemiology and risk-factor research that clarifies how DU/UAB develops across aging, which could include cohort studies, population-based analyses, and work identifying modifiable and non-modifiable predictors such as chronic diseases, neurologic conditions, prior pelvic procedures, medication exposures, lifestyle factors, and social determinants of health.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations such as state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also calls out 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); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), reflecting an intention to draw from a wide research and community infrastructure.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA numbers 93.847 and 93.866, with the FOA created on 2018-01-11 and an original closing date shown as 2021-05-07. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided text, which is not unusual for NIH FOAs where budgets are often determined by the scope of the science and standard NIH policies for the R01 mechanism. Overall, the program is aimed at generating stronger mechanistic understanding and more clinically meaningful, practical evidence so that older adults affected by DU/UAB can receive clearer diagnoses and better-tailored, outcomes-driven care.Apply for PA 18 570
- The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Underactive Bladder and Detrusor Activity in Aging (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): 93.847, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-01-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-07. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Underactive Bladder and Detrusor Activity in Aging (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-18-570.
Which agency is offering this grant?
The grant opportunity is announced by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The main purpose is to support research that improves understanding and care of underactive bladder (UAB) and detrusor underactivity (DU) as they relate to aging and older adults. The focus is on building stronger evidence for why DU/UAB develops or worsens with age, what consequences it has for older people, and how clinicians can better diagnose, evaluate, prevent, and treat it.
Who is the primary population of interest for this research?
This FOA is specifically centered on aging and older adults, recognizing that comorbidities, frailty, medication use (polypharmacy), and age-related physiological changes can complicate evaluation and management.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This FOA uses the R01 mechanism, which is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects.
Are clinical trials required?
No. This opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional", meaning applicants may propose a clinical trial, but one is not required. Projects may range from foundational laboratory research to patient-focused studies and real-world clinical or implementation research.
What kinds of projects does NIH want to support under this FOA?
NIH is looking for projects that move beyond general descriptions of urinary symptoms and instead clarify mechanisms and actionable clinical pathways. A central theme is producing knowledge that can translate into evidence-based guidance for clinical decision-making in older populations.
What are the major research directions encouraged by the FOA?
The FOA highlights four broad research directions:
- Biology, etiology, and pathophysiology of DU/UAB in aging (animal models and/or human studies in older adults)
- Translation into clinical practice and decision-making (biomarkers, decision tools, care pathways, and implementation approaches)
- Diagnosis, prevention, management strategies, and clinical outcomes for UAB in older adults
- Epidemiology and risk-factor research across aging (cohort studies, population-based analyses, modifiable and non-modifiable predictors)
What types of basic or mechanistic topics are specifically mentioned as relevant?
Examples include age-related changes in:
- detrusor muscle contractility
- neuromuscular signaling
- sensory pathways
- urothelial function
- fibrosis and remodeling
- inflammation
- ischemia
- metabolic factors
- impacts of polypharmacy and neurologic disease common with advancing age
Does the FOA support studies using animal models, human participants, or both?
Both are contemplated. The FOA explicitly invites research using animal models and/or human studies in older adults.
What does the FOA mean by translating findings into clinical practice?
Translation can include developing clinically usable biomarkers, decision tools, or care pathways, as well as implementation approaches designed to help move discoveries into routine clinical or real-world settings.
What kinds of diagnostic research are encouraged?
The FOA encourages research to improve diagnostic approaches for UAB in older adults, including better phenotyping and work that helps differentiate DU/UAB from other lower urinary tract disorders.
What kinds of management or treatment research are within scope?
The FOA includes interest in evaluating non-surgical and surgical management approaches, as well as rehabilitative or device-based strategies, specifically in the context of older adults with UAB/DU.
What outcomes are considered important in this FOA?
The FOA highlights patient-centered and clinically meaningful outcomes such as:
- quality of life
- functional status
- falls risk
- sleep disruption
- urinary tract infections
- retention-related complications
- impacts on caregivers
What kinds of epidemiology and risk-factor studies fit this opportunity?
Examples include cohort studies, population-based analyses, and research identifying predictors of DU/UAB across aging. Predictors may be modifiable or non-modifiable, including chronic diseases, neurologic conditions, prior pelvic procedures, medication exposures, lifestyle factors, and social determinants of health.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations, such as:
- state, county, city/township, and special district governments
- public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education
- independent school districts
- federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status
- for-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- small businesses
Are any specific institution types explicitly called out as eligible?
Yes. The announcement calls out additional eligible 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)
- faith-based or community-based organizations
- eligible federal agencies
- U.S. territories or possessions
- regional organizations
- non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations)
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA numbers 93.847 and 93.866.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on 2018-01-11.
What is the original closing date shown for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown is 2021-05-07.
Does the listing provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided text does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards. The description notes this is not unusual for NIH FOAs, where budgets are often tied to the scope of the proposed science and standard NIH policies for the R01 mechanism.
What is the overall emphasis of the program?
The program emphasizes generating stronger mechanistic understanding and more clinically meaningful, practical evidence so that older adults affected by DU/UAB can receive clearer diagnoses and better-tailored, outcomes-driven care.
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