Controlled Clinical Trials on Long-Term Effects of Nutritional Interventions on the Progression of Risk Factors for Age-Related Chronic Conditions Over the Life Span and Their Age of Onset

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for randomized controlled clinical trials on long-term effects of nutritional interventions on the progression of risk factors for age-related chronic conditions over the life span and their age of onset. Although considerable information is available on health benefits and risks of a variety of nutritional factors (e.g., macronutrients, overall caloric intake, differing nutrient sources) there remains a need for better understanding of long-term benefits and potential risks of differing nutritional factors and dietary practices to maintain health across the full range of the life span. Rigorous understanding of these effects requires long-term controlled clinical trials of preventive interventions in younger and/or older persons. Given the rates of risk factor progression in younger persons and of accumulation of morbidities in later life, many such trials will require long-term intervention durations and follow-up of at least 5 years to provide sufficient power and evidence of their long-term effects. In order to support projects of sufficient duration to provide for start-up, enrollment, follow-up, and outcome data analyses in such trials, applications in response to this NOFO may propose projects of up to seven years in length. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO intends to utilize the U19 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of aging research are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO.