NIA Stress Measurement Network Annual Pilot Project Competition Request for Pilot Project Applications

Release Date: November 1, 2026

Pre-proposals Due: December 1, 2026

Invited Full Proposals Due: December 15, 2026

Due Date for Full Proposals: January 31, 2027

Submission to NIA for Approval: February 15, 2027

Funding ranges: Awards range $10k - $15k

The NIA Stress Measurement Network (SMN) is pleased to announce its pilot project competition. SMN is funded by a R24 grant from the National Institute of Aging and support for pilot projects come from this grant. The Stress Measurement Network has several priorities including promoting better theory and measurement of psychosocial stress and exploring mechanisms and processes that buffer stress responses across the lifespan. Uncovering when and how psychosocial stress influences mental and physical health has been challenging in part because of the complexity of measuring stress. We are also interested in identifying replicable and (potentially) scalable strategies that reduce stress. With advances in technology, the potential to measure stress has never been greater yet there is ongoing debate regarding best practices to measure stress that would optimize precision in predicting healthy outcomes. Additionally, identifying approaches that reduce stress may shed light on the mechanisms involved in long-term stress-related health outcomes.

Key Questions: Applicants are welcome to submit proposals that are consistent with the overall aims that can be described in two streams: 1) developing new measures to assess stress or 2) identifying mechanisms that reduce immediate responses to stress that might be used in future research to develop stress interventions. We are open to many topics, but some possible target areas include:

Developing stress measures\Secondary data analysis

1. Passive or indirect measures of stress using methods such as natural language processing, machine-learning approaches leveraging wearable sensors, social network approaches, and computational approaches using daily stress\EMA reports

2. Projects that explore innovative or understudied constructs such as safety\security, political or climate stress, or media influences

3. Secondary data analysis of large-scale projects that provide novel insight into mechanisms linking perceived stress to health outcomes

Experiments

1. Developing stress modification approaches: using the SOBC model (science of behavioral change) testing the effectiveness of stress reduction approaches. This might include experimental studies that examine acute stress reduction (see NIHs BESH)

Eligibility: Research scholars with an accredited University affiliation and PI status are eligible to apply. All work on the proposed pilot projects must be conducted in the United States; given current NIH administrative guidance, we cannot accept pilot project proposals from foreign institutions at this time. Postdocs and graduate students can apply but need to include a faculty advisor.

Budget: Projects will be supported for one year, (approximately) from June 1, 2027 – May 31, 2028. Applicants may request up to $15,000 in total costs (including any indirect costs on top of direct costs, in any combination). Expenses covered as part of direct costs can include research staff (data analyst, research assistant), assay costs, software, participant payments, and materials and supplies necessary for the proposed research.

Requirements for proposal: Pilot project recipients will be expected to present results to the SMN scientific advisory board and at least one pre-approved conference (e.g., BPSM) and to cite the Stress Measurement Network as a source of funding support for any publications or presentations that emerge from this funding (Award # R24AG048024). Annual reporting of pilot outcomes to SMN is required.

Final Reports: A requirement of accepting these pilot funds is that award-recipients write a report on the findings. Final reports will be due September 1, 2028, and will be posted on our Network website (for findings that will be published, we will wait to post the results until after paper acceptance). Reports will include a description of the question pursued, methods employed, and data and results from the study along with general conclusions. If publication of the data are not pursued, then the report will be included on the Stress network depository website.

Priority/Review Criteria

1. Priority will be given to projects that seed innovative research, have the potential to produce publications that advance the network’s research themes, are likely to serve as a foundation for external funding (e.g., NIH R03, R21, R01), and can be completed over a 12-month period.

2. The SMN review committee will rate each pre-proposal based on significance, innovation, expected outcomes, and relevance to the theme of the call, and will determine which applicants will be invited for full proposals. Full proposals will then be evaluated by independent SMN members on significance, innovation, expected outcomes, relevance, and approach, very similar to the review of NIH proposals.

3. While a clinical trial would not be appropriate for this call, we will consider experimental studies that are consistent with BESH.

To be considered for a full proposal, please submit a pre-proposal in Word or PDF format to aaron.eisen@ucsf.edu. The pre-proposal should include the following: 1) a title of the proposed project; 2) a description of the proposed research activity (one-page limit, single-spaced excluding references); 3) a preliminary budget and justification (two-page limit); and 4) an NIH biosketch/CV (four-page limit). The description should cover the following topics: the specific SMN thematic area(s) and critical topic(s) for future research that the proposal is addressing, the significance of your research question, how your methodological research is novel, a brief overview of the approach you plan to use, and any expected outcomes.

Full proposals. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, please submit the following:

1. A cover letter, including a title for the proposed project;

2. Abstract;

3. Specific Aims (one-page limit);

4. Research Strategy (two-page limit, excluding references) that covers significance, innovation, approach, and outcomes and includes a brief statement as to how your pilot is related to one or more of the six SMN areas of interest or why your project is innovative from a stress measurement perspective;

5. PHS Budget pages and justification;

6. If relevant, (e.g., projects with human subjects research), complete applicable sections of the PHS human subjects and clinical trials information form. A file required for completion for all human subjects pilots is provided at the bottom of the page here: https://biomarker-network.isr.umich.edu/pilot-projects/” Pilot Projects | The NIA Biomarker Network

7. An NIH biosketch or CV for each named investigator on the project; and

8. If relevant, an explicit link to possible interventions;

9. An explicit indication of whether the proposal is being submitted for funding at any other potential funding organizations.

Any questions regarding this RFA can be directed to Wendy Mendes (wendyberry.mendes@yale.edu).