Funding Amount: $40,000 in total costs
Project Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Research Projects Must:
- Focus on longevity and healthy aging research
- Include a biobehavioral and social sciences research aspect
- Seek to advance the health and well-being of older Americans and their families
Most of our past pilot projects have fallen into one of two buckets:
- Data science projects focused on longevity and healthy aging for older Americans and their families. Prior awardees have successfully used machine learning techniques to improve the health and well-being of adults and older Americans. Research using health information technologies and electronic health records analysis are welcome. We also welcome secondary data analysis of massive national datasets and bioinformatics research that seek to answer pressing questions that will promote the well-being of older Americans and their families.
- Studies must fit into the NIH definition of the Stage 1 behavioral interventions development model. If you are focusing on a biobehavioral or socio-cultural intervention(s), here are some desirable areas for consideration:
- Testing of mobile apps, wearable devices, and smartphone tools to monitor and manage health and wellbeing
- Telehealth studies including video consultations, secure online platforms, etc.
This program is supported by funding from the National Institute on Aging, the Stanford School of Medicine, and the Stanford Department of Medicine.
If you plan to apply, please email Dr. VJ Periyakoil (periyakoil@stanford.edu).
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application directly in the Stanford Funding Opportunities Portal by clicking the button below*:
*Important: Applicants from outside Stanford must create an account before accessing the application portal. Please contact limitedsubmissions@stanford.edu for assistance in setting up your account. Please include the subject line: LEARN Pilot Grant.
Who Should Apply?
We invite early career, independent researchers with appointments at Stanford University (School of Humanities and Sciences Graduate School of Business School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences School of Education School of Engineering Law School, or School of Medicine), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto University, San Jose State University. We are also pleased to consider qualified applicants from any accredited US academic institutions who are early career investigators.
Applicants must:
- Hold a terminal degree (e.g., MD, PhD, MD/PhD).
- Must be a U.S. citizen, or a lawful permanent residents (LPRs), also known as “green card” holders, are non-citizens who are lawfully authorized to live permanently within the United States at the time of application.
- Hold a formal current or pending appointment as an Assistant Professor or equivalent rank at an accredited US institution. Recently appointed associate professors may be eligible to apply and will be considered only on a case-by-case basis.
- Senior investigators are not eligible.
The L.E.A.R.N. Consortium values multidisciplinary approaches to aging and longevity research, welcoming projects from a wide array of fields, including medicine, computer science, AI/ML, engineering, and beyond. Learn more about our past awardees at L.E.A.R.N. Past Awardees.
Why Apply?
Awardees benefit from unique career-building and research opportunities:
- NIH System Recognition: Awardees receive a formal notice of award (NOA) from NIH with your name and project name on it. This is a significant way to establish your NIH research funding track record.
- Mentorship and Research Support: Awardees receive mentoring on both research and career development. Many past awardees have received research awards and recognition and have successfully secured new faculty appointments in prestigious universities.
- Professional Networking: Join a community of past awardees who have successfully secured prestigious grants, with access to exclusive conferences, NIA training, and interaction with National Institute on Aging (NIA) program officers.
- RCMAR Resources: Gain access to the RCMAR National Coordinating Center and participate in the Annual RCMAR Meeting, a venue for direct engagement with NIA staff and awardee-centered sessions.
Funding Details
- Funding Limit: Up to $40,000 in total costs for each project.
- Project Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.
- Eligible Expenses: Budgets may include salaries, research supplies, consulting fees, publication costs, and domestic travel. We encourage applicants to budget funds for travel to the annual RCMAR meeting held during the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) meeting. We also encourage applicants to budget for publication fees, as a primary goal of the award is for the awardees to publish at least one and preferably more peer-reviewed publication in a high-impact journal.
- Ineligible expenses: Equipment, foreign travel, and professional memberships are not allowable expenses.
- Indirect Costs: Capped at 8% per NIH guidelines.
Timeline and Key Deadlines
Phase 1: Initial Submission
- Deadline: February 10, 2025 (5 pm PT)
- Required Documents: Submit a one-page NIH-style Specific Aims document, CV, and completed application form.
Phase 2: Full Proposal Submission (by invitation only)
- Deadline: March 19, 2025 (5 pm PT)
- Requirements: A 3-page Research Strategy, References, Budget, and Justification, along with any updated Phase 1 documents.
- Applicants who have been selected to advance to phase 2 will be notified in the first week of March 2025.
Phase 3: Finalist Notification and NIH Submission
- Date: April 1, 2025
- Action: Finalists prepare their application materials for official submission to the NIA as part of LEARN’s RPPR, including human subjects attachments and pilot project forms.
