Developmental Research Awards

• Mechanisms or interventions that prevent disease and promote longevity
• Prognosticators to assess disease progression, survival, and longevity
• The collective impact of common comorbid conditions on outcomes in diseases that shorten life expectancy or the healthspan
• Cancer screening methodologies and tumor markers to improve outcomes
• Studies to further understand the underlying physiology and pathophysiology of the aging process
• Physical and cognitive/mental impairments in older adults and their effect on disease severity and survival
• Cardiometabolic disorders and obesity and impact on health and mortality
• Applications of emerging technology, artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, and quantum computing

• General Mortality and Impact of Metabolic Risk Factors
• Predicting short- and long-term population mortality rates and life expectancies
• Modeling mortality through the use of new and emerging non-traditional risk factors
• Analysis of longitudinal data to enhance mortality predictive value (e.g., blood pressure or other biometric data) measured over the course of time  
• Novel uses of synthetic data to simulate large clinical studies
• Understanding and evaluating the reliability of diagnostic and administrative codes when used for predictive modeling
  • Assessing artificial intelligence and data analytics to ensure no explicit or implicit discrimination by proxy
  • Impact and/or value of continuous glucose monitoring in non- or pre-diabetics
  • Studies focusing on primary and secondary aging or exploring the phenomenon of “superaging”
• Epidemics/Pandemics/Infectious Diseases
  • Defining and assessing the impact of long COVID on long-term mortality and morbidity outcomes
  • Pandemic risk modeling and ways to mitigate catastrophic outcomes
  • Antimicrobial resistance – assessment of impact and methods to prevent
  • New technologies to address future risk of pandemics, e.g., development of universal flu or COVID-19 vaccines
• Social Determinants of Health
  • Impact of social determinants, socioeconomic status, and other disparities on health and/or mortality outcomes
    • Consideration could be given to using implementation science to assess study design and determination of interventional value
  • Impact of immigration and/or country of origin
• Behavioral Medicine
  • Understanding the psychological and motivational driving factors which prevent or support people following medical advice and/or making favorable lifestyle modifications
  • Identifying risk factors for developing dependence on opioids or other drugs of addiction, including alcohol
  • Scientific assessment of the clinical benefit or harms of medical or recreational marijuana
  • Short- and long-term impact of vaping
  • Assessment of engagement and outcomes in wellness programs utilizing the methods of implementation science
• Mental and Cognitive Health
  • Identifying and assessing risk of mental health disorders and/or risk predictors of suicide
  • Measuring the impact of mental health disorders on co-morbid conditions
  • Next generation tools and techniques for pre-clinical screening and early identification of cognitive impairment
• Genomics/-omics
  • Impact of genomics on the taxonomy of disease and, in particular, on cancer staging and cancer prognosis
  • Quantifying the predictive value of family medical history in assessing individual morbidity and mortality risk
  • Impact of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing on subsequent behavior change or proactive health actions
  • Uses of other “-omics” in disease detection, diagnosis, prognostication, or treatment
• Social Responsibility
• Impact of climate change on health, wellness, mortality, and morbidity
• Impact of microplastics and other environmental pollutants, e.g., “forever” chemicals

Following are several criteria considered during the Longer Life Foundation’s review of grant applications. These criteria are in addition to the topic selected. One or more of these criteria should be considered for inclusion in each application, if consistent with the proposal. No one criterion is more important than any other.

• Applicability to broad audiences or populations
• Elucidation of mechanism of disease, even if patient population is not large
• Enhancement of length or quality of life
• Clear pathway and suggested timeline outlined to achieve clinical application
• Primary prevention of a particular disease or disability and prevention of sequelae or complications of disease
• Application of new and emerging technologies to topics of interest related to the Longer Life Foundation’s mission

More information on the Longer Life Foundation and a list of past funded studies can be found on the Foundation’s website.

Letters of Intent are due by 11:59 pm, Central Standard Time, February 16, 2026

Letters should include:

• A one- to two-page description of the research, including project title, lay summary, aims, method of approach, relevance to the mission of the Longer Life Foundation, and Scope of Work.
• An NIH-format biographical sketch

The Letter of Intent and biographical sketch should be submitted as a SINGLE electronic file.

Please submit Letters of Intent to:

• Preeti Dalawari, M.D. MSPH preeti.dalawari@rgare.com
• Bradley Evanoff, M.D.  bevanoff@wustl.edu cc: Karen Muehlhauser kmuehlha@wustl.edu

Letters of Intent will be reviewed and feedback provided by May 20, 2026.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm, Central Daylight Time, June 29, 2026

The application should be submitted in a SINGLE electronic file and must include, in this order:

• Face page, which must include:
  • Principal Investigator’s name, degree(s), current position title, department, and Email address
  • Title of proposed study
  • Whether the study is Human Subject Research and/or Vertebrate Animal Study
  • Note:  Institutional Signature is NOT required on the Face Page.
• Abstract
• Summary and description in lay language
• NIH-format biosketch, including other support
• Research plan (six pages maximum, excluding references and budget). Please include:
• Specific aims
• Scope of work and relevance of project to the mission of the Foundation
• Background and significance
• Preliminary data or progress report if applying for a second year of funding
• Research design and methods

• Plans for obtaining additional extramural funding arising from the proposed research
• References
• NIH-format budget and budget justification
• List of (6) suggested Reviewers who are free of conflict of interest.  Do not include collaborators, co-authors, or mentors.  Provide name, position, institution, and email.  This list should be on the final page and include only the list.  The list can include internal (WashU) and external suggested reviewers.
• Note: OSRS Institutional Official Approval letter is not required at the time of the application.  It will only be required if the application is accepted for funding.

Additional instructions:

• Format: Single-spaced, 11- or 12-point font
• Header on each page of application: Title of research, investigator’s name

Please submit completed applications to:

• Preeti Dalawari, M.D. MSPH preeti.dalawari@rgare.com
• Bradley Evanoff, M.D. bevanoff@wustl.edu  cc: Karen Muehlhauser kmuehlha@wustl.edu

For a copy of the Regulations Governing Grants from the Longer Life Foundation or additional information, please email Karen Muehlhauser kmuehlha@wustl.edu.  All funded researchers will receive a copy of the Regulations Governing Grants at the time of their award.