Social disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Research grant studying social disconnection, loneliness, and suicide risk in later life focuses on understanding mechanisms and developing interventions for prevention.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 16, 2025 (New) | July 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | October 16, 2025 (New) | November 16, 2025 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | February 16, 2026 (New) | March 16, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | June 16, 2026 (New) | July 16, 2026 (Renewal/Resubmission/Revision)
Funding Amounts: Up to $275,000 direct costs over 2 years; no more than $200,000 in any single year; project period max 2 years.
Summary: Supports exploratory research on mechanisms linking social disconnection (isolation, loneliness) and suicide risk in late life, including intervention target identification and prevention strategies.
Key Information: R21 mechanism; clinical trial optional but must be mechanistic; foreign and domestic applicants eligible.
Description
This NIH funding opportunity supports exploratory/developmental (R21) research projects investigating the relationship between social disconnection—including both objective social isolation and perceived isolation (loneliness)—and suicide risk in late life. The initiative seeks to advance understanding of neurobiological, behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental mechanisms that increase suicide risk among older adults, and to identify targets for intervention and prevention.
Research may focus on:
- Mechanisms by which social disconnection confers risk for, and social integration protects against, suicidal thoughts and behaviors in late life.
- Experimental therapeutics approaches to identify and test intervention targets.
- Development or modification of service delivery models to enhance social connection and prevent suicide in older adults.
Projects may include mechanistic clinical trials but are not intended for studies evaluating clinical efficacy, effectiveness, or safety of interventions.
