Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan: Leveraging the Palliative Care Consortium

The National Institute on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health, is preparing to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity for palliative care research across the lifespan. This opportunity will be structured to support research efforts that address the needs of individuals with serious illnesses as well as their caregivers. The initiative is part of a larger effort by the NIH Palliative Care Research Working Group to build a coordinated research community through the NIH-funded Consortium for Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan. It reflects the NIH’s commitment to fostering collaborations that advance the quality, reach, and equity of palliative care nationwide. The purpose of the program is to fund studies that strengthen the evidence base for palliative care delivery. Proposed projects may include clinical trials testing the efficacy, effectiveness, and implementation of palliative care interventions in alignment with the NIH Stage Model, or non-trial research such as health services analyses, health economics studies, natural experiments, and observational research. Applicants are especially encouraged to address disparities in access, quality, and utilization of palliative care services, a critical priority area given the growing aging population and the significant inequities currently documented across demographic groups. Funding provided through this program will allow researchers to explore innovative models of care that serve diverse communities and patient populations. Awardees will be expected to contribute to the broader consortium, sharing findings, methodologies, and best practices to accelerate the field’s collective progress. By leveraging consortium participation, researchers gain access to a community of experts and infrastructure support, enhancing both the quality and impact of their work. This collaborative structure is designed to facilitate scalability of interventions and integration into real-world health systems. The notice specifies that cost sharing or matching will not be required for applicants. While the total program funding, award ceiling, and award floor are not disclosed at this forecast stage, the program anticipates multiple awards. Funding will be made available to support both small-scale and large-scale projects, with sufficient flexibility for diverse methodological approaches. Applicants should plan for multi-year projects, with awards estimated to be issued in April 2027 and project starts occurring immediately thereafter. Eligibility for the program is broad, including state, local, and tribal governments, public housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, higher education institutions, for-profit organizations including small businesses, and Native American tribal organizations. Faith-based and community-based organizations, federal government agencies, regional organizations, and non-U.S. institutions are also eligible, ensuring wide participation across sectors. This inclusive eligibility framework is intended to attract diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to palliative care challenges. The anticipated timeline begins with the publication of the official funding notice in March 2026, followed by an application deadline in June 2026. Awards are expected in April 2027, with funded projects commencing in that same month. Applications will be submitted through Grants.gov, following the standard NIH application process. Applicants are encouraged to begin preparing collaborations and project frameworks during the forecast period. For inquiries, the NIH has provided a program contact email: NIAPalliativeCareResearch@nih.gov. This opportunity represents a significant step toward advancing research in palliative care, aligning with the NIH’s mission to improve health and reduce disparities across the U.S. population.