PROPOSALS IN LONGEVITY STUDIES

Executive Summary

To the extent that long lived people are physically fit, mentally sharp and financially secure, societies will thrive. If they are frail, dependent on the care of others and impoverished, the well- being of everyone in a society is diminished. The aim of the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL) is to use scientific and technological breakthroughs to bring about profound advances in quality of life for people living longer, which benefit peole of all ages. We seek proposals for research that can help illuminate increased well-being in the 50+ population, with a special focus on solutions that improve life at all ages.

The primary goal of these grants is to create opportunities for faculty to conduct new research of significance to longevity. In general, successful proposals will focus on novel approaches to research areas that have near or medium-term applicability to solving individual or societal problems and that match our key area of focus; mind, mobility, financial security and global aging. Special consideration will be given to teams of faculty representing multiple fields and to scholars who do not typically work together. Applications for pilot projects that hold promise for external funding will be prioritized, e.g., pilot projects that could lead to program project grant applications are strongly encouraged.

The competition is open to all faculty members in all disciplines, including scholars in the humanities and those based in professional schools, who are permitted to be principle investigators.

Project awards will be a maximum of $50,000. Based on satisfactory progress, investigators may apply for additional funds to support an additional year of research.

The deadline for submission is July 15, 2008. The selection committee will communicate decisions to award recipients wihin four weeks of the deadline.

Background

The mission of the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL) is to change the culture of human aging through the use of science and technology. Our vehicles to effect this change are to stimulate the conduct of important work by Stanford scholars, to help translate the result of that work into products and services offered by private industry, and to create and make accessible information that informs public knowledge and government policy. When people reach the advanced ages physically fit, mentally sharp and financially secure, they and those around them will thrive.

In this request for research proposals, we seek to support work at Stanford of the highest academic quality that also bears on solutions to the most pressing societal challenges. We, our advisers, and partners have identified some of these, as highlighted by ongong research projects supported by SCL briefly outlined below, but we welcome projects that focus on other critically important challenges to an aging society.

Themes

Theme- Physically Fit
The ability of people to maintain mobility is key to successful longevity. We know the crucial importance of physical activity in sustaining physical function and thus ongoing mobility. Universally accessible environments designed to accommodate people with all kinds of abilities, and assistive devices that can augment people's own resources can make an enormous difference in mobility outcomes as well. The SCL is interested in proposals for research that can have major effects on the fitness and mobility of individuals, environments and society, where interventions at any age can affect the developmental trajectory of the person. We are interested in novel therapies, devices, designs, programs, environments, and innovations for individuals or communities that improve mobility at all ages.

Theme: Mentally Sharp
Decline of certain cognitive capabilities is a well-known concomitant of normal aging. Some declines are the result of specific disease processes such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular changes. Even among the healthy population there is enormous variability in cognitive outcomes, with some people living to extended ages with very high functioning. The SCL is interested in proposals for research on the causes and effects of cognitive decline, as well as interventions of all types. Proposals are welcome at all levels of analysis, from the cellular, through behavioral to societal/cultural.

Theme: Financially Secure
In our society, personal resources have immense effects on the ability to thrive, especially at advanced ages. We seek proposals for research on the technologies, economic analyses, behavioral economics and psychological analyses of long-term planning and decision making. We also welcome proposals for research that develops novel models of work and lifetime trajectories. As a society, the challenges of demographic shifts, in particular the aging of the ‘baby boom’ generation, are forecast to have a major impact on the our ability to pay for required services, especially medical and pension costs. The SCL is interested in research that seeks to understand these impacts or addresses ways to lower costs and distribute them more equitably.

Theme: Global Aging
Population aging in countries around the world is having profound economic, political, and social impacts. The SCL is interested in proposals for research that illuminate these changes, their causes and effects, and their implications for policy change. We welcome proposals for studies into causes and consequences of demographic change, innovations in methodology for studying and reporting on demographic phenomena, and studies of policies that address demographic issues.

Proposal Guidelines and Deadlines

Proposals will be accepted from members of the Stanford University Academic Council. The deadline for submission of proposals is July 15, 2008. Proposals submitted after close of business that day, cannot be considered. Grant awards will be announced on or about four weeks from the deadline date.

All proposals must be provided in PDF format electronic files. An SU-42 with original signature(s) must be forwarded to the SCL Administrator within two weeks following the RFP posted deadline.

Proposals must include the following information and required forms:

1. Cover Page

The cover page should indicate the proposal title, the names and contact information of the PI or co-PIs, and the total budget requested.

2. Abstract

3. Detailed Project Description

Provide a discussion of the project's goals, and how it addresses one or more of the Stanford Center on Longevity This description should be clear and concise, especially to readers outside of your disciplines. Descriptions should be a maximum of five pages, not including references.

Projects must have a longevity focus, that is, the issues being examined or addressed in the project should have applicability to people in the second half of life, even if the focus or intervention is at earlier years, there should be a well defined path to impact on the later years. Priority in funding will be accorded to those proposals having clear implications for culture change, meaning public policy or technologies for products and services.

4. Curriculum Vitae

Include condensed CVs (maximum 4 pages) for all PIs of the project.

5. Detailed Budget (MS Excel and MS Word format are both accepted)

Include an itemized list of estimated costs to be covered during the grant period. The budget should be categorized by expenditure category anticipated to be used if awarded. Expenditures will be restricted to approved items from the proposal budget. It is expected that the budget will include the anticipated fringe appropriate to the type of payment. In addition to supporting the direct costs of the proposed project, the SCL will also cover any infrastructure charges that are imposed by the University.

Other sources of support, either active or pending, should be noted in the application.

6. Research Product

Provide a description of a potential translational product of this research project, either in the form of a private sector product or service, or in the form of accessible information for public educations or informing public policy.

7. SU- 42 Form (download SU-42 Form)

Proposals will be accepted with the primary PI and associated department administrator signatures. If awarded, a new account cannot be opened until this form is checked for accuracy by the SCL Administrator, revised if necessary, then completed and signed by all appropriate parties. Awardees must be sure that the appropriate boxes pertaining to Research Compliance are filled out. If still required at time of award notification, please send a signed copy of the SU-42 and a copy of any and all protocol approvals from Research Compliance to the SCL Administrator. Awards cannot be opened until all requirements are satisfied.

Protocol Approvals: All SCL awards are pending until any and all compliance issues noted on the Stanford University Proposal Routing Form, SU-42, have been addressed and approvals secured. If a project involves use of human or animal subjects, hazardous agents, or recombinant DNA, the PI should immediately submit either a cross-reference or new protocol to the relevant Research Compliance Panel for this new award. It is up to the PI to provide the SCL Administrator with copies of required Administrative protocol approvals for their SCL awards, if applicable. See the Research Compliance website for more information on Administrative Panels.

Program Administration

Research is administered by the Stanford Center on Longevity under the auspices of the Dean of Research. Proposals for grants are reviewed and awarded by a faculty committee appointed by the Stanford Center on Longevity. The amount of the award is determined on an individual basis.

Program Terms and Conditions of Awards

Use of Funds: SCL funds are awarded for a specific project. As such, they are treated like sponsored project awards and may not be commingled with other funds at any time. In addition, any funds remaining in an account at the end of the award project period will be transferred back to the SCL, unless a one-time no-cost extension has been requested and approved.

Report Summary: At the end of the year, a progress report (1-2 pages) will be required in order to apply for an additional year of funding. At the completion of the project, a final short report (2-3 pages) covering results and prospects for continued work must also be submitted to the SCL Administrator. The report should include a discussion of whether any of the awarded work lead to future support from external sponsors or tangible impact on products or public policy.

Financial Reports: The usual financial restrictions involving allowability, allocatability and reasonableness of expenditures for any sponsored project apply to these awards. Financial reports will be evaluated as part of both the interim and the final reports.

Presenting Research Results: As a requirement of receiving funding, the PI may be asked to present his or her research during the research or funding period or soon after completion of the project to the Executive Committee of the SCL, or at an event sponsored by the SCL. These presentations are to benefit the Stanford community and to encourage participation by others in interdisciplinary research.

Termination of Employment/Change of Scope: PIs with active SCL awards must notify the SCL Administrator should their employment, or the employment or student status of another individual named in the grant, be terminated with the University, resulting in a change in the scope of work covered by the SCL award.

Closing SCL Awards: Notice will be sent from the SCL Administrator to faculty with active SCL awards approximately two months before the expected end of the award. The notice will include a summary of the financial status of the award and will inquire what the intended disposition of any remaining funds will be. If research on the award is expected to continue beyond the end date, an extension must be requested from the SCL Executive Committee. Before final closing of the account, any overdrafts must be covered by the PI or department funds, and any unspent funds will be returned to the SCL. Accounts will automatically be closed on their scheduled date for PIs failing to respond to this notice by the due date on the notice.

For general inquiries concerning this request for proposal, please contact Steve Goldband, Director of Private Sector Initiatives, by email at goldband@stanford.edu.

Please submit all applications in PDF file format by July 15, 2008 to:

Sharon Vazquez <svazquez@stanford.edu>

Stanford Center on Longevity
616 Serra Street, Encina Hall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6055