Social disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 238

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 238

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary research grant opportunity titled "Social disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" under funding opportunity number PAR 23 238 (CFDA 93.242). The focus is on late-life suicide risk and how it is shaped by social disconnection, defined broadly to include both objective social isolation (for example, limited social contact, small networks, or infrequent participation in community life) and perceived social isolation, commonly described as loneliness. The central goal is to support research that clarifies how these forms of disconnection contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors among older adults and, importantly, how that knowledge can be turned into practical prevention strategies.

A major emphasis of the program is mechanistic work that goes beyond describing correlations. NIH is specifically encouraging studies that identify neurobiological and environmental pathways linking isolation and loneliness to suicide risk in later life. That can include research on brain and behavioral processes, stress and inflammatory pathways, sleep and circadian disruption, cognitive and affective changes, or other measurable biological systems that may mediate risk. On the environmental side, the opportunity highlights the importance of understanding real-world contributors such as bereavement, disability, chronic illness, caregiving burden, mobility limitations, housing instability, reduced access to transportation, stigma, discrimination, and barriers to health and social services. The aim is to move toward a clearer, testable model of why and when social disconnection becomes dangerous for older adults, rather than treating loneliness or isolation as a vague risk marker.

The opportunity also prioritizes an experimental therapeutics approach, meaning projects are expected to identify specific, measurable intervention targets and then develop and test strategies designed to engage those targets in ways that could reduce suicidal thinking and behavior. In practice, this can involve building or refining interventions that directly address the mechanisms uncovered in earlier work, and then testing whether the intervention changes the targeted mechanism and subsequently improves suicide-related outcomes. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that applicants may propose studies with or without a clinical trial component; clinical trials are allowed but not required, giving teams flexibility to pursue basic, translational, intervention development, or services research as long as it fits the program goals.

Another strong theme is improving service delivery and prevention infrastructure in real settings. NIH is looking for projects that develop new service models or adapt existing ones to strengthen social connection for older adults in ways that plausibly reduce suicide risk. This could involve integrating social connection strategies into healthcare, aging services, community organizations, or hybrid models that bridge clinical care with community-based supports. The underlying expectation is that successful work will not only generate knowledge but also help shape scalable pathways for prevention, including approaches that can be implemented in routine care and community systems that already serve older adults.

The funding instrument is the R01, which typically supports substantial, multi-year research projects with a clear set of aims, strong methodological rigor, and a pathway to meaningful impact. The sponsoring agency is NIH, and the application window runs through an original closing date of September 7, 2026. While an award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing, the scope and structure imply standard NIH R01 budgeting and review expectations, with competitiveness hinging on significance, innovation, approach, investigator and environment, and overall impact, as well as alignment with the specific priorities around mechanisms, experimental therapeutics, and service delivery innovation.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. applicants: state, county, 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicants, reflecting an interest in diverse institutional partners and settings, 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, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, that eligibility structure signals NIH interest in multi-sector, culturally informed, and community-connected research that can reach older adults across varied populations and contexts.

Overall, this opportunity is designed to push the field toward clearer causal understanding and more actionable prevention solutions for late-life suicide. Projects that tightly link social disconnection to measurable mechanisms, test whether interventions engage those mechanisms, and demonstrate feasible ways to deliver social-connection-enhancing services in real-world systems are especially well aligned with what NIH is seeking.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Social disconnection and Suicide Risk in 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 2023-07-19.
• 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 23 238

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