This NOFO invites applications for the Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in Basic Biology of Aging (NSC). These Center grants will provide funding for leadership, training, research, and outreach activities that will increase and disseminate scientific knowledge in areas supported by the NIA's Division of Aging Biology. The NSC were created in 1995 in honor of Nathan Shock, founding head of the NIH Gerontology Research Center. The NSC provide, both within and beyond their institutions, intellectual leadership and innovation; training; pertinent service cores focused on the needs of the field; and opportunities for research career development. They each collaborate substantially with other NSC and other NIA-funded Centers through the Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN). The NSC awards are intended for institutions committed to research on the basic biology of aging, The awards will facilitate further sustained progress on basic research on aging biology, either overall or on a key area within the field.

Research Objectives

To achieve the objectives above, applicants may propose a sustained research program focused on aging biology as a general term, or by identifying a well-defined and focused area within the field. If a focused research area is selected, service core activities (see below) should be consistent with that selection. Reviewers will be instructed to accept either approach (general or focused) as responsive to this NOFO. It is crucial to the design of each NSC that applicants specify the goals to be achieved within the five-year award period, to provide a plan to reach these goals, and to outline a method to evaluate progress toward these goals. The selection of core activities (see below) should follow from these considerations.

Applications in response to this NOFO must include the following:

Provide intellectual leadership in biology of aging research, serving as a resource for experimental design and guidance on the appropriate uses and limitations of aging metrics.
Support multidisciplinary and translational research.
Provide access to technologies through the cores.
Develop technology (in the cores) for emerging areas of research in biology of aging.
Leverage local institutional resources.
Collaborate with other NSC and The Nathan Shock Centers Coordinating Center (NSC3) on multi-center research education, mentorship, and outreach programs.
Interface with other NSC, the NSC3, and other NIH funded centers directly (as appropriate) or through the NIA-supported RCCN.
To support these goals, each application must include the following:

A core to support administrative functions. This core will manage outreach activities including courses, lectures and symposia – if such activities are proposed. This core will also be responsible for advertising the activities of the NSC, through development of a functional website, and participation in a common Data Coordination Center (see below). The leader of this core must be a PD/PI.
A research development core to support pilot/feasibility projects, as well as provide support for investigators entering the field of biology of aging research.
At least two research core activities uniquely focused on issues of interest to the biology of aging. These are further discussed below.
Support for Research

Each NSC may select an area of research focus from a broad range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following examples:

Drivers of aging (often considered hallmarks);
Metrics of aging, including biomarkers, clocks, computer-based modeling, imaging, etc.;
Life course approaches to aging biology;
Species-differences and similarities in aging;
Medicinal chemistry for development of gerotherapeutics and geroprotective pharmacological interventions;
Development and dissemination of new technologies to retain age-of-donor traits for in vitro systems;
Facilitation of translation to clinical research; and
Support for biology of aging research in IDeA states.
Support for Outreach and Education

Each NSC should place special emphasis on career development, engaging the public and providing education around the topic of aging biology, including, but not limited to the following examples:

Mini-sabbaticals for mid-career and senior investigators (emphasizing new-to-aging research);
Community engagement – inform about biology of aging and opportunities for citizen science;
Webinars; and
Symposia.
Applicants must provide plans for the following elements:

Leadership succession;
Fostering an inclusive and accessible research training environment; and
Evaluation: Applications must include a clear description of their objectives and a plan for evaluating the NSC, including all activities supported by the NSC, in line with the broader NSC program goals. The application must specify baseline metrics of NSC activities (e.g., numbers and characteristics of workshop participants, scientific dissemination, databases, networking opportunities with other funders, users of resources, etc.), as well as clearly defined milestones with metrics to gauge the short- or long-term success of the NSC in achieving its objectives. Wherever appropriate, applicants are encouraged to obtain feedback from participants to help identify weaknesses and to provide suggestions for improvements. The NSC evaluation plan should focus on the activities of the NSC, not the entire NSC program. NIH will evaluate the entire NSC program and NSC in five years, including the role of the NSC in fostering the success of the program. Based on the review, NIA will evaluate the effectiveness of the program, and determine whether to (a) continue the program as currently configured, (b) continue the program with modifications, or (c) discontinue the program after sunset and review period.
Pre-Application Webinar

A webinar is planned to provide prospective applicants the opportunity to understand and ask questions on the scientific scope of this NOFO and technical details for applying. The webinar will be open to all prospective applicants. Participation in the webinar is not a prerequisite to applying to this NOFO, but prospective applicants will need to register in order to participate. Prospective applicants are also encouraged to submit their questions in advance of the webinar; further details on where to submit the questions will be provided once the webinar has been scheduled. Please refer to the registration page for further details on the pre-application webinar, including the time and date and registration information.