Longevity Research Program Developmental Research Awards

Longevity Research Program Developmental Research Awards is sponsored by Longer Life Foundation (a collaboration of Washington University School of Medicine and Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated). The Longer Life Foundation funds and supports the study of factors that predict mortality and morbidity in select populations or influence improvements in longevity, health, and wellness.

Longevity Research Program | Division of Nutritional Science & Obesity Medicine | Washington University in St.

Louis A collaboration of Washington University School of Medicine and Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA), the Longer Life Foundation has as its mission: To fund and support the study of factors that either predict the mortality and morbidity of select populations or influence improvements in longevity, health, and wellness.

For more than 20 years, the Longer Life Foundation has awarded Pilot & Feasibility grant funding to investigators with novel ideas for advancing their research addressing topics related to the Foundation mission. We look to fund research studying determinants of long-term prognoses for common human ailments.

Preference is given to clinical research that involves the potential for new discoveries rather than the implementation of existing therapeutic strategies. The Longer Life Foundation also funds studies that investigate methods to improve disease prognosis or prevent disease from occurring, thereby improving quality and quantity of life.

However, these studies should involve diseases specifically posing a risk or are known to shorten life expectancy. The Foundation is interested in individual pilot and feasibility studies as well as pilot projects that are a component of larger or established studies, such as analyses of existing databases.

View Longer Life Foundation Tips (pdf) Call for Applications: Developmental Research Awards The Longer Life Foundation announces the 2026 Call for Applications for WashU Medicine faculty for Pilot and Feasibility Research Projects addressing topics related to the Foundation’s mission. We are looking to fund research studying determinants of long-term outcomes for common human risk factors or conditions.

Letters of Intent (LOIs) are due by 11:59pm Central Standard Time, February 16, 2026. (required) Decisions regarding approval to submit a formal application will be provided by Applications are due by 11:59 pm, Central Daylight Time, June 29, 2026. Notification of grants will be made by September 18, 2026.

Funding begins October 1, 2026. More details and apply here Dominic Reeds, MD , with the administrative support of Karen Muehlhauser, provides overall supervision of the Longer Life Center (LLC). Dr. Reeds also directs the Longer Life Foundation (LLF) Enrichment and Dissemination Program and works with Dan Zimmerman, MD, on education programs, position papers and opportunities for hosting international fellows.

Bradley Evanoff, MD , directs the Research Program, including chairing the Scientific Review Committee (SRC), presenting the SRC’s reports to the LLF Advisory Group and mentoring grantees who are young investigators.

The Scientific Review Committee, which reviews grant applications, consists of a multidisciplinary group of Washington University faculty, members of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA), and other prominent industry medical directors; it is focused on critical appraisal of applications to the Foundation.

Karen Muehlhauser, along with her duties as Assistant Secretary of the Foundation, serves as Administrator of the Longer Life Center (LLC). LLC personnel provide a novel, contemporary interface between the Foundation and Washington University.

This facilitates functions such as identifying speakers for insurance meetings, securing clinical specialists to provide updates and continuing education to varied insurance groups, and promoting Foundation activities within the Washington University community and beyond.

This group also works closely with the Washington University Office of Corporate and Foundation Affairs to develop strategies for attracting additional funding to the Foundation. Administrator: K. Muehlhauser Scientific Review Committee Members: D.

Reeds, P. Dalawari, P. Miller, C.

Holowaty, A. Masand, P. Nittoli, A.

Remolina, J. Zhang Managing Director: P. Dalawari Deputy Managing Director: J.

Zhang Office of Corporate and Foundation Affairs Associate Director: G. Floyd Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) I do not currently hold a faculty appointment. Am I eligible to apply?

All award recipients must have a faculty appointment in place by the award date of October 1, 2026. Please note that these awards do not extend to post-doctoral fellows. If you do not currently hold a faculty position at the time of your application, but anticipate doing so by October 1, 2026, you must include a letter from your Department Chair or Division Chief in your application confirming this.

Are faculty from the School of Public Health eligible? Yes. Faculty from the School of Public Health are eligible to apply if they have a faculty appointment at either the School of Public Health and/or School of Medicine.

A joint appointment with the School of Medicine is not necessary to be eligible. Do I need to submit a Letter of Intent in order to submit a full application? Yes.

A letter of intent is required in order to submit a full application. Letters of intent are reviewed by the LLF Scientific Review Committee. All applicants will be notified as to whether they may submit a full application to the LLF.

What are the due dates for the LLF application process? Letters of Intent (LOIs) are due by 11:59pm Central Standard Time, February 16, 2026. Decisions regarding approval to submit a formal application will be provided by May 20, 2026.

Applications are due by 11:59 pm, Central Daylight Time, June 29, 2026. Notification of grants will be made by September 18, 2026. Funding begins October 1, 2026.

Should I include indirect costs in the application budget? It is not necessary to include indirect costs in the pre-award application. The LLF currently covers indirect costs at a rate of 20%.

However, your research administrator will need to include the 20% in directs to the RMS document, if awarded. I am using the NIH application forms (not necessary to use but encouraged), do I need to include a signature on the application form? No, an “Official signature from applicant organization” is not needed at the time of application but will be required if awarded.

Does my research administrator need to put in a RMS doc? Yes. The RMS document should be in “Submitted to Sponsor” status once you have been notified of the award.

I have been awarded an LLF P&F grant, but my invoices are not being approved (paid) (such as animal invoices, etc.) even though I submitted an approved IACUC. What should I do? SPA will need to be contacted to open up the appropriate spend category.

To do so, they will need an approved IRB and/or IACUC approval. SPA requires the following to be added to your P&F IRB and/or IACUC approvals: Longer Life Foundation – An RGA Foundation/WashU Medicine Collaboration Developmental Research Award Grant Number (refer to your award letter) Funds will not be distributed to awardees without this information.

I have been awarded an LLF P&F and I cannot complete the project with the first-year award monies. Can I apply for a second year for the same project? No. LLF P&F awards are for one year only.

I was awarded an LLF P&F and I cannot complete the project in the first-year timeframe and will have money left over at the end of the award. Can I request a no-cost extension for this project? No cost extensions are not automatic and require prior approval from the agency.

They are typically granted for extenuating circumstances only. Grantees requesting a no-cost extension must submit a brief progress report and justification for the extension. This report and justification should be submitted as a word document by August 31, 2026, to kmuehlha@wustl.

edu . How do I acknowledge support from the LLF? All published peer-reviewed research papers should acknowledge support from the “Longer Life Foundation: An RGA Foundation/WashU Medicine Collaboration”.

Center for Human Nutrition Nutrition Obesity Research Center Longevity Research Program Developmental Research Awards