Approved Concepts
Below are concepts approved at the most recent National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) meetings. We have posted the approved concepts here to give interested researchers maximal lead time to plan projects. Please note that not all concepts will necessarily end up converting to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and some of the concepts listed below (particularly from older Council meetings) may have already been converted to NOFOs.
January 2024 Council
Approved research and development concepts in this round:
- Access and Manipulation of Brain Cell Subtypes Implicated in Aging and AD/ADRD
- Alzheimer’s Drug Development Program (Renewal)
- Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline and Dementias of Aging in Individuals Within the Autism Spectrum
- Deciphering the Impact of RNA Modifications on Brain Aging and AD/ADRD
- Facilitating T1 Translational Aging Research: Preclinical and Early Phase Human Studies
- The Impact of Stressors on the Biological Mechanisms of Aging and Other Aging-Associated Outcomes in Experimental Model Systems
- Investigating Mitochondrial-Nuclear Communication in Brain Aging and AD/ADRD
- Mentored Career Enhancement Awards to Build Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills for Comparative Studies of Human and Nonhuman Primate Species with Differing Life Spans
- Renewal of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs)
- Renewal of the Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists’ Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) Program
- Short Courses on Utilizing the NIH Stage Model to Develop Behavioral Interventions to Promote Healthy Aging
- Short Courses Promoting Cross-National Analyses Using Data from the International Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP)
- Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying Age-related Changes in Gait Biomechanics and Increased Metabolic Cost of Walking
Approved contract concepts in this round:
Access and Manipulation of Brain Cell Subtypes Implicated in Aging and AD/ADRD
Recent advances in technology, driven largely by the NIH Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative, have generated sophisticated cell-type specific access tools that pair breakthroughs in adeno-associated viruses (AAV) capsid engineering and enhancer element identification. These AAV-enhancer tools allow various cargos to cross the blood-brain barrier and target specific brain cell types with extreme precision in animal models. Previous NIA-funded Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) studies have uncovered and identified disease-associated gene signatures and alterations across multiple brain cell subtypes. Despite this rapidly advancing knowledge, it is still not clear how these changes contribute to brain cell dysfunction.
This concept will encourage the utilization of this powerful new AAV-enhancer technology to develop novel brain cell-subtype specific targeting approaches to explore mechanisms related to aging and dementia across brain cell subtypes. This concept proposes two phases. The first phase will focus on identifying targets, generating AAV-enhancer vectors, validating cell subtype specificity, and demonstrating effective in vivo brain transduction in an animal model. Only projects that successfully complete the first phase will move on to the second phase. The second phase will test the specificity of brain cell subtype targeting of the AAV tools in vivo and activity of the transgene(s), address mechanistic hypotheses related to aging and/or dementia in an animal model, and evaluate the expression profiles of the AAV vectors.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Erin Gray, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Erin Gray
Alzheimer’s Drug Development Program – Renewal
In 2006, NIA launched the Alzheimer’s Drug Development Program (ADDP) as a major funding vehicle to support the most challenging and costly steps of preclinical drug development and seamlessly connect promising drug targets to first-in-human testing. NIA’s large-scale target and biomarker discovery programs and translational centers have successfully expanded the drug discovery target landscape and created a need for next-generation brain imaging compounds as essential tools in this effort.
This concept proposes to renew the ADDP and strengthen its ability to expand the number of investigational new drug (IND) candidates for emerging therapeutic targets; diversify the therapeutic pipeline for AD/ADRD with drug candidates targeting multiple underlying disease mechanisms that can be used as mono-therapy or as part of combination therapy; and enable a precision medicine approach to drug development by delivering INDs for PET ligands that can be developed into companion diagnostics. The ADDP will continue to support mid- and late-stage preclinical development for small molecules and biologics. The renewal of the ADDP will also provide support for novel brain imaging tracers for emerging drug targets that have potential to be developed into companion diagnostics.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Lorenzo Refolo, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Lorenzo Refolo
Shreaya Chakroborty, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Shreaya Chakroborty
Paul Grothaus, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Paul Grothaus
Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Over the past two decades, research exploring the link between dementia and Down Syndrome has provided insight on the impact of age-related neurodegenerative processes and cognitive decline in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent epidemiological data suggests that people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be at higher risk for dementia compared to the general population. However, very little is known about this area of research and adults with ASD are mostly overlooked in aging research studies. Currently, NIA does not have an active program in this space.
This concept aims to help fill that gap by supporting the establishment of observational studies and clinical cohorts of adults living with ASD, with particular interest in neuroimaging, molecular and other approaches to discover and characterize the trajectories of new biomarkers of neurodegeneration and their relation with age-related decline in multiple cognitive domains. The concept may also support evaluation of established dementia biomarkers in this population, development and validation of needed neuropsychological tools, and post-mortem studies to characterize markers of neurodegeneration and/or processes contributing to neurodegeneration.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Alessandra Rovescalli, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Alessandra Rovescalli
Deciphering the Impact of RNA Modifications on Brain Aging and AD/ADRD
Emerging evidence indicates that RNA modification is highly regulated in the brain and that dysfunction in this area is linked to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. However, the regulation of RNA modification and its relationship to brain and neurodegenerative diseases is not well understood. New insights into the underlying mechanisms of RNA modifications will inform new strategies for estimating Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) risk, predicting disease trajectory, enabling drug development, and ultimately paving the way toward precision medicine.
This concept aims to support innovative research to characterize molecular details and functional impact of RNA modifications and to discover new RNA modification-mediated mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets in brain aging and Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Research areas of interest include 1) identify functionally relevant RNA modification sites and genes linked to AD/ADRD; 2) investigate temporal and spatial dynamics of RNA modifications driving brain aging and AD/ADRD; 3) characterize RNA modifying machinery and identify cellular location and function of these proteins; 4) dissect cellular and molecular mechanisms of RNA modifications associated with the onset, progression, and severity of AD/ADRD and in brain aging; 5) identify RNA modification signatures that can potentially serve as biomarkers; and 6) explore therapeutic interventions interfering with RNA modifications and RNA modifying protein-mediated molecular pathways and cellular processes.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Alison Yao, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Alison Yao
Facilitating T1 Translational Aging Research: Preclinical and Early Phase Humans Studies
T1 translational aging research, meaning the application of basic and clinical biomedical findings towards the development of new therapeutics for age-related conditions, continues to evolve. This area of research has generated promising insights for new and repurposed drugs, but few ideas have advanced beyond the discovery phase. Thus, there is a critical need for greater innovation and efficiency in translational research to accelerate clinical testing of novel interventions. While previous efforts have largely relied on traditional methods, there is growing interest in computational approaches.
This concept aims to accelerate progress in novel drug development and drug repurposing through multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation in computational techniques. It will support two project categories: a) conventional pathways and b) data-driven computational approaches with subsequent validation in animal and/or human experimental systems. Projects may involve collaborations with academic, nonprofit, or commercial entities. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
- Development of novel treatments for age-related conditions such as sarcopenia, physical functional impairments, immunosenescence, fibrotic conditions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, and wound healing
- Data-driven computational approaches for drug repurposing using heterogenous data resources
- Geroscience-based translation approaches including either computational drug repurposing studies or development of drugs to target fundamental mechanisms of aging.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Chhanda Dutta, Ph.D.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Email Chhanda Dutta
Jennifer Fox, Ph.D.
Division of Aging Biology
Email Jennifer Fox
Lorenzo Refolo, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Lorenzo Refolo
The Impact of Stressors on the Biological Mechanisms of Aging and Other Aging-Associated Outcomes In Experimental Model Systems
The hallmarks of aging represent molecular, cellular, and systemic changes that underlie and drive the aging process. Until recently, the majority of studies examining changes in the hallmarks of aging and its downstream effects have been conducted in model systems under highly controlled conditions with minimal perturbations. However, both humans and animals experience multiple and repeated exposures to stressors over and across the lifespan, and these exposures likely impact the aging process. The impacts of stressors have largely escaped consideration in these studies; and in rare instances when stress is factored into a study, the focus is usually on acute exposures and short-term outcomes.
As a first step toward integrating research on the role of stress into studies on the biology of aging, this concept will solicit biphasic applications that focus on investigating the impact of stress exposures during the post-development period (“adulthood”) using in vitro systems, laboratory animals, and/or well-characterized wild, captive, or domesticated animal populations. The exploratory phase will aim to identify physical, social, and/or environmental stressors that, when initiated during adulthood, result in measurable changes in one or more hallmarks of aging. The implementation phase will expand upon the first phase studies to determine the impact of identified stressors on lifespan, health span, resilience to further or other stressors, and/or interactions with an intervention (pharmacological, behavioral, or genetic). The proposed funding opportunity will encourage comparative studies and will require multidisciplinary teams with expertise in both stressors/stress responses and the molecular, cellular, genetic, and biological mechanisms of aging.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Jennifer Fox, Ph.D.
Division of Aging Biology
Email Jennifer Fox
Investigating Mitochondrial-Nuclear Communication in Brain Aging and AD/ADRD
Mitochondria are the major energy creator of the cell and their dysfunction has been linked to multiple age-related conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). Mitochondria require a variety of proteins from other parts of the cell to complete their important biological functions, and most mitochondrial proteins are encoded by DNA in the cell nucleus. Despite this interconnected nature, little is known about how the mitochondria and nucleus communicate to ensure proper function and cellular health, and how metabolic changes caused by age and disease may impact this communication.
This concept aims to help stimulate the emerging field of organelle communication and will help provide foundational information and improved tools and methods to further study the role of nuclear-mitochondrial communication in aging and AD/ADRD. This concept would allow researchers to collect preliminary data on nuclear-mitochondrial communication, particularly using emerging tools and technologies. Researchers will be encouraged to investigate questions including, but not limited to:
- Do AD/ADRD risk factor genes show altered expression with mitochondrial dysfunction?
- How does mitochondrial dysfunction impact epigenetic changes to AD/ADRD genes?
- What is the functional consequence of epigenetic changes associated with mitochondrial dysfunction?
- Do different cell types exhibit different expression profile changes? Is there communication between peripheral cells?
- What role does mitochondrial heteroplasmy play in mito-nuclear communication?
Scientific/Research Contact:
Paul Barrett, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Paul Barrett
Mentored Career Enhancement Awards to Build Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills for Comparative Studies of Human and Nonhuman Primate Species with Differing Life Spans
Comparative primate research is an important area of aging science that holds promise for identifying potential interventions to extend human health span in ways that may not be possible through human studies alone. Comparative primate research on life span and health span requires experience and expertise across multiple scientific disciplines. However, it is often difficult for mid-career investigators to establish new multidisciplinary collaborations, and to gain new training skills and resources required for developing and conducting rigorous research in this area.
To enhance research capacity and expand the community of researchers in comparative primate research, with a focus on longevity and health span, the proposed concept aims to facilitate cross-training and skill development for mid-career investigators. Specifically, this concept will support training activities that provide researchers with essential skills in a substantively different area of study than their current field of study, to enhance their capabilities to lead future comparative primate research projects. Examples of these projects include, but are not limited to the following:
- Examining the relationship between quantitative trait levels and lifespans in various primate species.
- Comparing biodemographic and life history characteristics of primate species and their impact on species lifespan.
- Analyzing the influence of cross-species differences in behavioral and social factors on primate life histories and lifespans.
- Investigating the effects of genomic changes during primate evolution and their potential impact on species lifespans.
- Studying variations in primate species’ interactions with environmental exposures.
- Exploring differences in age-related pathologies and their progression rates among primate species.
- Assessing the links between differences in brain regions and neuroanatomical features among primate species, their lifespans, and the risk of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease
- Developing and validating measures for cross-species comparisons in primates.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Carol Nguyen, M.S.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Email Carol Nguyen
Renewal of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs)
The OAICs are NIA’s centers of research excellence on maintaining or restoring independence in older adults. Each OAIC develops programs that focus and sustain progress around a theme representing a key area of aging research for substantial populations of older persons and offers training opportunities in aging research. The OAICs have a long history of publications, multi-site clinical trials, successful pilot studies that developed into full-scale research awards, and collaborations.
This concept aims to continue the OAIC program within its current scientific scope, but with increased emphasis on expansion of diversity at multiple levels across the program. These include encouraging collaboration with minority-serving institutions, requiring a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility plan beyond the Research Education Component (REC) program plan, and standardizing reporting procedures for REC participants.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Basil Eldadah, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Email Basil Eldadah
Renewal of the Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists’ Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) program
Ensuring an adequate pipeline of clinician-scientists, especially those in specialty fields, is critical for addressing the needs of a growing population of older Americans with complex medical problems. However, the intensive clinical training required of clinician-scientists in medical, surgical, and dental specialties often interferes with opportunities to develop a strong scientific track record. This can create a competitive disadvantage compared to non-clinician investigator peers. Established in 2011, the NIA GEMSSTAR program supports promising physician- and dentist-scientists at a crucial early career stage to help generate pilot data, obtain education and training in aging research, and establish a track record in aging/geriatrics-focused science in order to enhance competitiveness for subsequent funding. The GEMSSTAR Award funds a small research project alongside a separately funded individualized Professional Development Plan to augment skills in aging research and geriatric medicine. Participation in the Clin-STAR Annual Meeting during the award period is an integral part of the grantees’ experience and promotes collaboration, networking, career development and mentoring opportunities.
This concept aims to continue the GEMSSTAR program within its current scientific scope. It will help talented clinician-scientists establish a track record in aging research, build relationships with NIA and medical and surgical specialty societies, fund small research projects in their specialties, and promote interdisciplinary research among institutions.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Susan Zieman, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Email Susan Zieman
Basil Eldadah, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Email Basil Eldadah
Short Courses on Utilizing the NIH Stage Model to Develop Behavioral Interventions to Promote Healthy Aging
NIA supports research on behavioral interventions to help individuals meet the challenges of aging and to adopt behaviors likely to lead to improved health. NIA’s behavioral intervention development research program is guided by the NIH Stage Model, which is a six-stage intervention development framework that encourages a focus on understanding “how and why” interventions exert their effects all throughout the intervention development process. Understanding how and why interventions work, sometimes called the principle(s) or mechanisms of behavior change (MoBCs) of an intervention, is meant to create potent interventions that can be implemented efficiently in the settings where they are needed.
These short courses will develop curricula that address key elements of the NIH Stage Model. Specifically, courses will be asked to address, interactively, six behavioral interventions research topics essential to a full understanding of the Model: 1) NIH Stage Model Goals, 2) Stages, 3) MoBCs, 4) Fidelity, 5) Methodology, and 6) Scalability. Successful courses will equip investigators to use the NIH Stage Model in their own intervention development research, across a wide variety of theories, research designs, measures, and statistical approaches.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Melissa Riddle, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email Melissa Riddle
Lisa Onken, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email Lisa Onken
Short Courses Promoting Cross-National Analyses Using Data from the International Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP)
NIA has made substantial investments in cross-national research on AD/ADRD through its support for the HRS International Family of Studies and the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol. Despite NIA’s substantial investments in this area, cross-national analyses of the HRS cognitive data and HCAP data, which could further our understanding of how different social, cultural, and institutional factors affect the trajectory of AD/ADRD in different contexts, have been relatively limited thus far. More needs to be done to support use of these valuable resources for transdisciplinary behavioral and social research related to aging and AD/ADRD outcomes.
This concept aims to support development of short training courses to increase utilization of the HRS cognitive and HCAP data. This project will develop training for scientists from multiple disciplines to improve skills in cross-national comparative research of HRS cognitive and HCAP data on a variety of aging and Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias topics.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Minki Chatterji, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email Minki Chatterji
Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying Age-Related Changes in Gait Biomechanics and Increased Metabolic Cost of Walking
Over 25% of older adults walk more slowly and exert more energy walking (metabolic cost) as they age, which can severely limit independence and quality of life. A combination of age-related changes in muscle strength, bioenergetics, balance, and joint mobility can contribute to this decline. The multiple factors and underlying mechanisms that affect walking speed, metabolic cost, and fatigue are not well understood.
This concept aims to support studies to better understand these mechanisms at the molecular level. It will encourage interdisciplinary collaborations that explore interactions among multiple systems and innovative approaches such as computational modeling, imaging and sensor technologies. Areas of interest include:
- Mechanisms and effects of central nervous system changes
- Neuromuscular changes
- Skeletal muscle bioenergetics
- Computational modeling and simulation
- Changes in tissue structure and function
Scientific/Research Contact:
Lyndon Joseph, Ph.D.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Email Lyndon Joseph
NIA Aging Cell Repository — Contract Renewal
For 50 years, NIA has maintained the Aging Cell Repository as a scientific resource. The repository selects, produces, characterizes, and distributes more than 3,000 unique cell lines. Most cell lines are from humans, with others from nonhuman primates (NHPs), rodents, and domestic animals. It also includes cell collections from human longevity studies. The repository is a valuable resource for investigators performing functional and gene expression studies, characterizations of gene function and the effects of mutations, disease modeling, and as controls for assay development. The use of repository cell lines has resulted in 154 publications between 2020-2022 and more than 100 publications in 2023.
This concept proposes the renewal of a contract to ensure the continued availability to the research community of cell lines and DNA. The existing human geriatric collections will be reviewed to explore opportunities to enhance their value. The recent recognition and prioritization of NHPs as a highly valuable human-relevant animal model to investigate the biology of aging drive the plans to establish a biorepository of peripheral blood lymphocytes collected longitudinally and cross-sectionally from NHPs. A subset of these cells will be reprogrammed into a collection of induced pluripotent stem cells and linked to data from the NIA Primate Aging Database.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Tiziana Cogliati, Ph.D.
Division of Aging Biology
Email Tiziana Cogliati
Pathology Monitoring of Aged Rodent Colonies
Mice and rats have long been used as animal models for aging research because they are more closely related to humans than yeast, flies, or worms, and they are easier to study than other mammals because of their relatively small size and short life span. NIA supports biomedical research that requires mice and rats to model the aging process through contracts that maintain colonies of aged mice and rats and ship them to funded investigators across the nation. To ensure the quality of these colonies and related research, it is essential to strictly monitor their health status to prevent the spread of pathogens to other animal facilities. It is also critical that investigators are aware of any non-life threatening pathogens detected in the colony to ensure appropriate housing at their facility and to accurately interpret their experimental data.
The goal of this contract renewal is to continue to provide independent monitoring of NIA’s aged mouse and rat colonies. In addition to providing the above health assurances, this will also inform program evaluation and help gauge performance of NIA’s rodent colony contracts. On a quarterly basis, a new batch of mice and rats from each room that houses the animals will undergo diagnostic tests to evaluate their health status. Tests include physical exams, tests for viruses and bacteria, a complete necropsy, and screenings for parasites and pathogenic protozoa.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Jennifer Fox, Ph.D.
Division of Aging Biology
Email Jennifer Fox
September 2023 Council
Approved research and development concepts in this round:
- Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD), and Coordinating Center
- Coordinating Center to Support the Consortium for Neuroscience AD/ADRD in Low- And Middle-Income Countries
- Consortium for Neuroscience AD/ADRD in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Consortium for Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan
- Deriving Common Data Elements From Real-world Data for Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias
- Exploring Proteogenomic Approaches to Unravel the Mechanisms of Mis-folded Protein Accumulation in Tauopathies
- Limited Competition: Renewal of, and Revisions to, the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium
- Multi-Scale Models Bridging Levels Of Analysis In Aging and AD/ADRD
- Nathan Shock Centers Of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging (NSC)
- Nathan Shock Centers Of Excellence In The Basic Biology Of Aging Coordinating Center (NSC3)
- Open Measurement Coordinating Network for Non-Pharmacological AD/ADRD Primary Prevention Trials
- Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Approach to Develop Predictive Models of Differential Responsiveness to Treatment
- Re-issue: Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC) Clinical Trials
- Re-issue: Early and Late Stage Clinical Trials for the Spectrum of Alzheimer’s Disease/Alzheimer’s Related Dementias and Age-Related Cognitive Decline
- Renewal of Aging Research Dissertation Awards to Increase Diversity
- Renewal of NIA MSTEM: Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (ADAR) Through Undergraduate Education
- Renewal of Summer Research Training in Aging for Medical Students
- Renewal of Institutional Training Programs to Advance Translational Research on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias
- Research Collaboration Network In Structural Racism Measurement And Modeling
- Safety and Early Efficacy Studies of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Chronic Pain in Older Adults
- Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Low-And Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease and AD-Related Dementias Research
- Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs
- Translational Bioinformatics and Experimental Approaches to Advance Drug Repositioning and Combination Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD), and Coordinating Center
The Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging (D&E Centers) Program was initiated in 1994 to cultivate the field of demography and economics of aging via pilot projects, research networks, conferences and workshops, research resources and infrastructure, and disseminating findings. While recent NIA-supported activities are yielding important insights, sustained scientific investment and the continuation of the D&E program will be required to unravel the complex role of population-level processes on aging.
This concept proposes a continuation of the D&E Centers with the ongoing goal to seed innovative lines of research in the demography and economics of aging (and related interdisciplinary population-based social science areas) and add emphasis on activities that foster a more inclusive and population-representative group of scholars and institutions. This will be achieved via individual centers as well as a Coordinating Center that will serve as a bridge among centers, individual scholars, the NIA, and the research and policy communities.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Amelia Karraker, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
E-mail Amelia Karraker
Emerald Nguyen, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
E-mail Emerald Nguyen
Coordinating Center to Support the Consortium for Neuroscience AD/ADRD in Low- and Middle-income Countries
Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias are a substantial global health issue and a great burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although most people suffering from AD/ADRD live in LMICs, research on AD/ADRD in these regions is limited and under-resourced. Access to AD/ADRD research funding continues to be a concern for scientists in LMICs. Longer term funding programs that support independent and innovative investigator-initiated research for LMIC scientists will be of great importance for the sustainability of research in those regions.
This concept aims to support the development of a Coordination Center (CC) for a companion concept establishing a LMIC Consortium program, as well as a program focused on supporting small research grants for junior faculty investigators in LMICs. The CC will serve as an administrative and coordinating center for the consortium; define a strategy for consortium data collection and analyses; develop an online portal for consortium resources consistent with Findable, Accessible Interoperable, and Re-Usable (FAIR) guiding principles; and coordinate consortium-led analyses and outreach efforts.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Maryam Ghaleh, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Maryam Ghaleh
Damali Martin, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Damali Martin
Dallas Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Dallas Anderson
Consortium for Neuroscience AD/ADRD in Low- and Middle-income Countries
Access to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias research funding continues to be a concern for scientists in low- and middle-income countries. Most LMIC scientists obtain funding support through research collaborations with partners from high-income countries (HICs) within Europe or North America, where the funding environment is substantially better. However, this may diminish the ability of LMIC scientists to lead and perform sustainable research, while building collaborative research networks relevant to them. Longer-term funding programs that support independent and innovative investigator-initiated research for LMIC scientists will be of great importance for the sustainability of research in those regions.
This concept aims to support experienced LMIC scientists to perform innovative and sustainable AD/ADRD neuroscience research within their LMIC environment. This would enhance the ability of investigators to compete independently for sustained funding in AD/ADRD research in future funding opportunities. This concept proposes cooperative agreements with the LMIC institution. LMIC investigators would be required to collaborate with U.S. investigators using the multiple principal investigators approach, however they may also collaborate with LMIC investigators in another country. Research proposed is investigator-initiated and the applicants must demonstrate relevance to their LMIC. In addition, applicants will be required to demonstrate how their proposed research can inform preventative or therapeutic strategies for the United States and globally.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Maryam Ghaleh, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Maryam Ghaleh
Damali Martin, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Damali Martin
Dallas Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Dallas Anderson
Consortium for Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan
Palliative care is active holistic interdisciplinary care focused on improving quality of life for persons with serious illness across the lifespan and their families and caregivers. NIA convened a trans-NIH working group to identify research needs and explore options for palliative care research opportunities. Among these discussions is support for a coordinated palliative care research infrastructure inclusive of the lifespan and a range of serious illnesses that strengthens NIH investment in palliative care research and the scientific workforce. This research infrastructure encompasses Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias, cancer, and many other serious illnesses and populations relevant to the partnering institutes, centers, and offices (ICOs).
This concept aims to establish a Consortium for Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan that expands and intensifies palliative care research across NIH. The proposed consortium will be supported through a cooperative agreement that allows for multiple cores, involvement from project scientists across NIH, and encourages interaction with other NIA- and NIH-supported networks and centers. The overall consortium goals include creating new scientific knowledge, in part through supporting pilot and exploratory studies; fostering development of early- and mid-career investigators; serving as a national platform to provide research resources and facilitate high-quality research; engaging health care systems and community-based organizations as research partners and settings; and disseminating research findings, best practices, data, and other impactful resources to the research and clinical communities. An important focus will be research that addresses disparities in access, quality, and use of palliative care services for underserved populations.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Basil Eldadah, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Alexis Bakos, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Elena Fazio, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Chandra Keller, Ed.D., M.P.H., M.P.P.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email: NIAPalliativeCareResearch@nih.gov
Deriving Common Data Elements from Real-World Data for Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias
Real-World Data (RWD) originate from everyday health care interactions, making it a crucial resource for various medical research and applications. Some examples of RWD include electronic health records, claims and billing data, registry data, and data collected from digital health technologies. But RWD relevant to people living with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) are often not aligned or harmonized. Common Data Elements (CDEs) are defined fields and structures that enable interoperability among data systems and have the potential to harmonize RWD to assist AD/ADRD research. Reducing the efforts required for data harmonization in using RWD for analysis will enable researchers to utilize RWD faster and more efficiently.
To facilitate the use of RWD for AD/ADRD research, this concept proposes a cooperative agreement in which researchers will standardize vocabulary and identify, develop, and test longitudinal CDEs by using electronic health record data and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse data. These CDEs will encompass various categories, including but not limited to 1) patient and caregiver information, 2) disease characterization, including multiple chronic conditions, 3) health assessment, 4) biomarkers and genomics, 5) treatment, 6) patient and caregiver outcomes, and 7) non-health (e.g., financial, education, employment status, living arrangement, food, housing, or transportation security) data. Further, this initiative aims to help identify specific risk factors that will aid earlier diagnosis and treatment of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The cooperative agreement would require collaboration with the RFA-AG-24-009 awardee.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Janey Hsiao, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email Janey Hsiao
Nadezda Radoja, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Nadezda Radoja
Marcel Salive, M.D., M.P.H.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Email Marcel Salive
Exploring Proteogenomic Approaches to Unravel the Mechanisms of Mis-folded Protein Accumulation in Tauopathies
The accumulation of misprocessed and misfolded proteins is a defining characteristic of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. However, conventional “omics” approaches are typically not capable of detecting these types of proteins and better methods are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of protein processing in relation to the early pathogenesis of tauopathies in AD.
This concept will provide a proof-of-principal for a novel strategy to identify atypical proteins in Tau diseases using proteogenomics, an integrated approach that combines proteomics and genomics data to identify coding and non-coding regions on the genome. This concept aims not only to identify and confirm changes in proteins, but also to apply a robust approach to biological inference to better understand the proteomic data. This may involve cutting-edge approaches, such as RNAseq, mass spectrometry-based deep proteomic analysis, and transgenic mouse models, to investigate the alteration of protein homeostasis in response to the accumulation of various mis-metabolized proteins that contribute to brain aging and AD.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Austin Yang, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Austin Yang
Limited Competition: Renewal of, and Revisions to, the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium
The Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP) aims to sequence and analyze the genomes of well-characterized individuals with the aim of identifying risk and protective genetic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias. In addition, the ADSP conducts and facilitates analysis of sequence data to extend previous discoveries that may ultimately result in new directions for AD therapeutics. More recently, the ADSP launched the diversity and phenotype harmonization and functional genomics and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) initiatives. As the ADSP enters its second decade it's critical to ensure that the ADSP is more representative of the diversity of the United States and the world and capable of identifying personalized AD/ADRD solutions. Searching for risk variants in diverse populations may also lead to the discovery of new AD variants and mechanisms that could be broadly beneficial.
This concept intends to support the second renewal of the Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC), part of the ADSP. The ADGC will serve as the coordinating center for the ADSP consortium. It will facilitate collaboration and communication across the projects funded under the ADSP umbrella and with other NIA funded consortia. The ADGC will oversee and coordinate consortium-generated methodology, protocols, and tools; development and maintenance of a portal for consortium resources; use of data for AI/ML and other data science initiatives; data sharing and access; support of pilot studies and consortium-led analyses and data collection; collaboration across the ADSP consortia and with the broader AD genetics community; and dissemination of ADSP resources to the larger research community.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Alison Yao, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Alison Yao
Damali Martin, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Damali Martin
Multi-Scale Models Bridging Levels of Analysis in Aging and AD/ADRD
The rapidly developing, multidisciplinary field of computational science — including mathematical and computer modeling, image analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning — is generating new ways to approach aging and Alzheimer’s and related dementias research. Multiscale approaches are capable of the next level of integration across computational models to allow for multidisciplinary and multifunction modeling that dynamically interact and offer insight into biology, function, and real-world complexity linked with aging and dementia.
This concept encourages the development of a multi-scale computational framework to model dynamic changes associated with both aging and Alzheimer's and related dementias. The proposed framework should bridge at least two levels of analysis on the spatial scale (molecules, cells, tissues, organisms, behavior) or temporal scale (spanning from milliseconds to generations). It should also address a targeted research question through a targeted computational model to provide new insights into the function or dynamics of biology, disease, or a behavioral system. The framework should include at least one aim centered on hypothesis testing and model validation respectively. Topics may include, but are not limited to, aging clocks, hallmarks of aging, oscillations in energetics and/or metabolism of aging, age-related changes in synaptic activity across scales, image-based analysis of aging function, biology, and disease, dynamic patterns of interventions to promote healthy aging (e.g., intermittent fasting).
Scientific/Research Contact:
Amanda DiBattista, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Amanda DiBattista
Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging
Note: This is a companion concept to the "Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging Coordinating Center" concept
This concept aims to provide support, through open competition, for the Nathan Shock Centers (NSCs). These center grants will provide funding for leadership, training, and research activities that will increase and disseminate scientific knowledge in research areas related to the biology of aging. Established in 1995, there are currently eight funded NSCs.
The NSC are national resources in the basic biology of aging and geroscience, reaching beyond their own proposed institutions. The proposed notice of funding opportunity would enhance, sustain, and support basic research on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging, and may include support for clinical research (research including humans, but not clinical trials). Required activities include:
- Provide intellectual leadership and innovation;
- Facilitate and develop novel multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research strategies through specific research service cores;
- Stimulate incorporation of emerging technologies, methods, and scientific advances into research projects;
- Provide research education, mentorship, and career development;
- Stimulate translation between basic and clinical research;
- Collaborate with other NSCs on multi-center research education, mentorship, and outreach programs;
- Interface with other NIA-funded centers through the Research Centers Collaborative Network;
- Leverage institutional resources, including other NIH-supported programs and centers, to achieve NSC aims; and
- Serve as a source of mentorship and collaboration to other investigators regarding technology, methodology, analysis, or other expertise.
In addition to required activities, new topic areas of research may include, but are not limited to, newly recognized drivers of aging, metrics of aging, lifecourse approaches to aging biology, species-differences and similarities in aging, and medicinal chemistry for development of gero-therapeutic/protective pharmacological interventions. Education and outreach topics may include, but are not limited to mini-sabbaticals for mid-career and senior investigators, community engagement, courses in biology of aging, and open access webinars.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Christy Carter, Ph.D.
Division of Aging Biology
Email Christy Carter
Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging Coordinating Center
Note: This is a companion concept to the “Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging” concept
The Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging Coordinating Center (NSC3) was established in 2017 as the focal point for coordinating Nathan Shock Centers (NSCs). This concept aims to develop and maintain the NSC3. Major activities of the NSC3 will including improving national visibility of the NSCs; enhancing collaboration and coordination among NSC and other centers for aging research; expanding and tracking training activities; facilitating the sharing of resources; and strategic planning with NIA and NSCs.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Christy Carter, Ph.D.
Division of Aging Biology
Email Christy Carter
Open Measurement Coordinating Network for Non-Pharmacological AD/ADRD Primary Prevention Trials
Recent clinical trials and observational studies suggest that targeting disease and modifiable risk factors in midlife or earlier may help prevent or delay significant cognitive and functional impairment in Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). However, only 15% of AD/ADRD research has participants with mean age < 60 and ~3% < 50 years. In addition to involving younger, population-representative clinical trial participants, constructing a stronger evidence base for AD/ADRD prevention requires the use of valid, standardized measures across trials.
This concept aims to create a shared, open measurement coordinating network to support non-pharmacological primary prevention AD/ADRD trials. The network will serve as a centralized hub for developing, validating, standardizing, and disseminating measures and methods for AD/ADRD primary prevention trials. It will incorporate measures and methods across neuropsychological, biomarker, and functional domains to meet the goal of primary prevention of AD/ADRD centered around brain health equity. Measures and methods of interest will test outcomes and mechanisms of action in settings customized for individuals with different needs and linked to real-world function. The network will work with other NIA-funded programs to ensure interoperability, promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ensure the methods and resources are widely adopted by researchers and stakeholders.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Luke Stoeckel, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email Luke Stoeckel
Kristina McLinden, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Kristina McLinden
Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Approach to Develop Predictive Models of Differential Responsiveness to Treatment for AD/ADRD
One of the biggest challenges in therapy development for AD/ADRD is identifying patients that are most likely to respond to treatment due to the clinical, pathologic and molecular heterogeneity of the disease. Many promising interventions for AD/ADRD (drug trials or non-pharmacologic interventions such as diet and exercise) have shown limited utility, or an overall negative result, due to differences in responsiveness to treatment among the trial participants. NIA has been developing new programs and capabilities for data-driven and predictive drug development and embedding open-science/open-source principles from discovery research to clinical trials. Of particular note is the implementation of requirements for sharing data and biosamples from all NIA supported clinical trials including pivotal/registration trials.
Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) is an approach to translational medicine that combines computational and experimental methods to provide an integrated, systems-level approach to determining mechanisms of action of new and existing drugs in preclinical/animal models and in patients. This concept proposes a new funding initiative that will support the application of quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) approach that integrates rich molecular (multi-omics) data generated on biosamples from legacy trials as well as ongoing AD/ADRD clinical trials (drug trials as well as non-pharmacologic interventions) with patient-level, clinical/phenotypic data to build predictive models of AD/ADRD and discover molecular determinants of responsiveness to treatment. This funding initiative will also support the application of QSP modeling for back translation of failed AD/ADRD therapeutics to understand the molecular drivers of failure in the clinic by providing access to clinical trials data and biosamples, and by evaluating failed therapeutics in a rigorous preclinical efficacy testing pipeline.
This initiative will operate under open-science principles and will encourage academic-industry collaborations.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Suzana Petanceska, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Suzana Petanceska
Nandini Arunkumar, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Nandini Arunkumar
Lorenzo Refolo, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Lorenzo Refolo
Laurie Ryan, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Laurie Ryan
Re-issue: Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC) Clinical Trials
The Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC) is an NIA-supported clinical trials infrastructure and network of 38 member sites dedicated to Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The mission of ACTC is to provide an optimal infrastructure, utilizing centralized resources and shared expertise, to accelerate the development of effective interventions for ADRD.
This concept proposes a re-issue of the ACTC clinical trials NOFO (PAR-20-309). This concept seeks to expand the pipeline of interventions being tested through the ACTC by inviting research grant applications that provide clinical testing of promising pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions targeting cognitive and neuropsychiatric changes associated with age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s and related dementias across the spectrum of disease stages.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Kristina McLinden, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Kristina McLinden
Laurie Ryan, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Laurie Ryan
Re-issue: Early and Late Stage Clinical Trials for the Spectrum of Alzheimer’s Disease/Alzheimer’s Related Dementias and Age-Related Cognitive Decline
Recent biomedical advances and approved drugs for Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias represent important progress in the ongoing fight to effectively treat these diseases. Nevertheless, additional efforts remain necessary to tackle the devastating effects of AD/ADRD. To this end, efficient mechanisms to fund clinical trials pursuing diverse therapeutic targets and approaches to prevent, delay, and treat AD/ADRD are critical. The early and late-stage clinical trials notice of funding opportunities have been mainstays and the primary avenue for NIA-supported clinical trials focusing on AD/ADRD and age-related cognitive decline.
This concept proposes a re-issue of the Early and Late Stage Clinical Trials for the Spectrum of Alzheimer’s Disease/Alzheimer’s Related Dementias and Age-Related Cognitive Decline funding opportunity. The proposed funding opportunity would invite applications that provide clinical testing (Phase I to III) of promising pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals with age-related cognitive decline and in individuals with AD/ADRD across the spectrum from pre-symptomatic to more severe stages of disease. In addition, it would invite applications for studies focused on enhancing trial design and methods. Finally, ensuring diversity of participants within trial cohorts, and timely, broad access to trial data and associated biosamples are key components of this concept.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Laurie Ryan, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Laurie Ryan
Akanni Clarke, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Akanni Clarke
Kristina McLinden, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Kristina McLinden
Renewal of Aging Research Dissertation Awards to Increase Diversity
NIA established the R36 Aging Research Dissertation Awards to Promote Diversity in 2005 with a goal of promoting diversity in the pool of doctoral-level candidates engaged in research and practice on aging and aging-related health conditions. R36 applicants must be Ph.D. students committed to careers in aging research, who need only 1-2 years of funding support in order to complete their Ph.D. and progress to the next phase of their aging research career. Institutions are encouraged to identify candidates from groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. Since its founding, the program has funded 78 awards across all four of NIA’s scientific divisions, with 11 awards currently active. These have shown scientific success, with awardees citing R36 support in more than 100 publications.
Strong financial support for predoctoral students is essential, especially for students from underrepresented groups, who are less likely to have family financial support, and more likely to have caregiving roles. The Aging Research Dissertation Award supports diverse doctoral students with salary and research funding at a critical period in their training: the final 1-2 years of their Ph.D., when other funding sources such as National Research Service Award or institutional support often run out. In the next phase of the program, NIA will continue to consider how best to support this population.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Jamie Lahvic, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Extramural Programs
Email Jamie Lahvic
Joshua Hooks, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Extramural Programs
Email Joshua Hooks
Renewal of Institutional Training Programs to Advance Translational Research on Alzheimer's Disease and AD-related Dementias
Investing in the development of a new translational and data science workforce is an overarching theme from past Alzheimer’s Disease Research Summits. In addition, NIA’s growing investment in open science, precision medicine research, and translational research infrastructure is delivering a wealth of data, research tools, and resources. Currently, application of data science to drug discovery for Alzheimer’s and related dementias research remains a critical need in this area.
This concept aims to promote the development of a diverse, interdisciplinary workforce needed to conduct translational research on Alzheimer’s and related dementias from target discovery through clinical development. This concept proposes to renew the T32 notice of funding opportunity to support institutional training programs for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers with diverse educational backgrounds (i.e., basic biology, translational and clinical research, data science and behavioral research). These interdisciplinary training programs will emphasize the development and application of skills in data science, drug discovery, and clinical research to various aspects of Alzheimer’s and related dementias research.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Yuan Luo, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Yuan Luo
Shreaya Chakroborty, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Shreaya Chakroborty
Laura Major, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email Laura Major
Maria Carranza, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Extramural Programs
Email Maria Carranza
Renewal of NIA MSTEM: Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (ADAR) Through Undergraduate Education
Attracting and training the workforce necessary for rigorous research on aging, including investigators from diverse backgrounds, is a key area of emphasis in NIA’s strategy for addressing health disparities and eliminating health inequities among older adults. NIA seeks to support the development of creative and innovative research education programs to increase participation in aging research among individuals from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from socially, culturally, economically, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
This concept proposes a renewal of the NIA MSTEM: Advancing Diversity in Aging Research Through Undergraduate Education notice of funding opportunity. This concept renewal will support creative research education programs with a primary focus on hands-on research experiences for undergraduate students. NIA seeks applications for academic year or summer programs and activities that offer:
- Structured research experiences
- Tailored learning opportunities
- An emphasis on explaining the relevance of aging and the science of aging to students' lives, and
- Opportunities to engage and develop a cadre of graduates who will help to diversify the aging science workforce on aging, enrich the questions asked, and expand the scope of evidence-based interventions.
Programs should be planned that allow for sustained multi-year involvement from undergraduates.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Maria Carranza, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Extramural Programs
Email Maria Carranza
Renewal of Summer Research Training in Aging for Medical Students
The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program has been one of the NIH’s primary means of supporting predoctoral and postdoctoral research training programs since 1974. The Summer Research Training in Aging for Medical Students is an NIA-specific NRSA short-term research training program that is intended to: 1) encourage medical students, early in their training, to consider pursuing either a basic science or health-services or clinical-research career in the areas of research that are important to the NIA; and 2) increase the pool of physician scientists engaged in biomedical, clinical or health-services research in those areas necessary to continue NIA's mission.
This concept seeks the renewal of the Summer Research Training in Aging for Medical Students. The programs funded through this funding opportunity are intended to provide short-term support for the training experiences of medical student trainees under the supervision of experienced researchers. Through a combination of classroom, workshop, and research experiences, this program is intended to give medical trainees a working knowledge of various potential career directions that makes strong use of the knowledge and skills gained during research training and the steps required to transition successfully to the next stage of their chosen career.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Maria Carranza, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Extramural Programs
Email Maria Carranza
Shoshana Kahana, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Extramural Programs
Email Shoshana Kahana
Research Collaboration Network in Structural Racism Measurement and Modeling
While the field of public health has measured structural racism, there is ample opportunity to integrate approaches from fields not traditionally included in the health sciences (e.g., the humanities, sociology, education, political science) to collaborate with public health scientists to better understand how structural racism may influence health disparities in aging and Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). The key to improving measurement in structural racism is to support a variety of science development activities (e.g., intensive summer institutes, series of workshops and related network activities, advanced seminars on methodology, annual conferences, or short-term residential opportunities) and build interdisciplinary frameworks to assess existing measures/methods and develop new measures/methods.
This concept aims to build a collaborative, interdisciplinary network of scholars to identify new measures, develop conceptual frameworks, and catalyze new research. The network will also conduct pilot studies to test and demonstrate the utility of studying the impact of existing and new measures of structural racism in aging-relevant research.
The following activities are planned:
- Expansion of structural racism measures and methods through input from the broader research community and development of a publicly available data repository for use by researchers, community members, and policy makers through a data portal
- Support of activities that bring together scholars in the behavioral/sciences, humanities, education, political science, and the public health sciences to improve measurement and methods for the study of structural racism
- Collaboration, outreach and dissemination to the community for input on the operationalization of structural racism and formation of a community advisory board
- Engagement with national and international scientific organizations to promote further advances in measurement and methods of structural racism
- Pilot projects on measurement and methods of structural racism, incorporating interdisciplinary approaches from the behavioral/social sciences, humanities, education, and political science with the public health sciences
- Develop and foster an extended Structural Racism Measurement and Methods Research Network connecting the broader field through a flexible range of activities that will advance an interdisciplinary research agenda on measurement and methods of structural racism from the humanities, sociology, education, political science, and public health sciences
- Collaborate with NIA Centers and other research networks on measurement and methods for the study of structural racism
- Serve as a central resource for the organization of meetings and other educational activities, such as intensive summer institutes, series of workshops and related network activities, advanced seminars on methodology, annual conferences, or short-term residential opportunities
Scientific/Research Contact:
Frank Bandiera, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email Frank Bandiera
Safety and Early Efficacy Studies of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Chronic Pain in Older Adults
Up to 40% of older adults in the United States report living with chronic pain, which is associated with impaired mobility, activity avoidance, depression, anxiety, sleep impairment, substance use, and social isolation. Treatment of pain in later life is complex and often inadequate. Pain relief drugs commonly prescribed for younger patients have a greater risk of adverse effects in older adults. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is an emerging treatment strategy that holds promise for a variety of important clinical conditions, including chronic pain. Previous and ongoing trials of PAT have included limited numbers of older adults. Although these older participants have tolerated treatment well without significant adverse effects to date, more focused safety and efficacy studies are needed in older adults.
This concept aims to develop a strong evidence base for safety and preliminary efficacy of PAT for chronic pain relief in older adults. It will use a two-phased approach to collect safety and early efficacy data in defined groups of older adults. Phase 1 studies will involve safety studies in healthy older adult volunteers across a broad age range. If milestones are achieved to warrant transition, phase 2 studies will include expanded safety and preliminary efficacy studies in older adults with chronic pain conditions such as cancer, musculoskeletal pain, peripheral neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, and recurring headaches. This concept will support a single multi-center consortium that will plan, conduct, and evaluate multiple PAT intervention studies. Emphasis will be placed in both phases of this initiative on recruitment of specific age strata across the full range of older ages, as well as on health disparities and equitable access to care. Awardees should incorporate study design considerations that can inform implementation in future practice settings.
Scientific/Research Contact:
NIA Psychedelic Research
niapsychedelicresearch@nih.gov
Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs
While scientists, engineers, and health professionals offer valuable technical skillsets and practical insights required for technology development, their academic training and professional experience often do not prepare them for successfully navigating the entrepreneurial process, developing and commercializing products, or operating a small business. As a result, new scientist-entrepreneurs, particularly those underrepresented in biomedical research, face acute challenges in securing the mentorship and resources needed to fully contribute to the biomedical entrepreneurial enterprise. Building on the success and learnings from NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) initiative and the NCI Small Business Transition Grant, a successor program with greater coordination and scale is needed to further NIH’s success in developing a diverse pool of trainees with broad skillsets ready and able to succeed in the wide variety of roles critical to the overall R&D ecosystem.
This proposed concept leverages the SBIR/STTR mechanism to facilitate the career development and transition of scientists with an interest in entrepreneurship by simultaneously supporting their entrepreneurial development and the conduct of translational focused research under their direction. This concept specifically aims to support scientists new to entrepreneurship with a demonstrable need for entrepreneurial training and mentorship. The proposed funding opportunity would provide small businesses the opportunity to increase their scientific staff by supporting the hiring, salaries, mentorship, and training of transitioning scientist-entrepreneurs as Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) overseeing the supported research project. In addition, each small business will ensure robust entrepreneurial training and structured mentoring to support the career growth and development of the PD/PI.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Joshua Hooks, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Extramural Programs
Email Joshua Hooks
Todd Haim, Ph.D.
Office of Strategic Extramural Programs
Email Todd Haim
Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Low- and Middle-income countries (LMICs) for Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-related Dementia Research (ADRD)
Diversity in AD/ADRD research participants and global research efforts are crucial in ensuring research findings are generalizable, as well as in advancing our understanding of risk and preventive factors for AD/ADRD in different populations. However, in many institutions in low- and middle-income countries there is very little support for junior faculty investigators to launch an independent research career. While most NIH career development awards utilize the K award mechanism, junior faculty scientists in LMICs have faced challenges (e.g., balancing research time with clinical responsibilities) in setting aside 75% protected time to perform research as required by K awards.
This concept proposes to use Small Research Awards to support junior faculty investigators involved in AD/ADRD and aging research in LMICs; advance AD/ADRD or aging research being conducted in LMICs; support AD/ADRD or aging research career development among LMIC investigators; and build local capacity for AD/ADRD and aging research in LMICs. This award mechanism may provide LMIC junior faculty investigators greater flexibility in determining their level of effort, while still accomplishing research milestones, advancing careers focused on AD/ADRD or aging relevant research, and allowing for the generation of data in preparation for later stage independent funding. In addition, this award may allow these investigators to hire the scientific staff needed to support their research.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Maryam Ghaleh, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Maryam Ghaleh
Damali Martin, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Damali Martin
Minki Chatterji, Ph.D.
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
Email Minki Chatterji
Basil Eldadah, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Email Basil Eldadah
Stacy Carrington-Lawrence, Ph.D.
Division of Aging Biology
Email Stacy Carrington-Lawrence
Translational Bioinformatics and Experimental Approaches to Advance Drug Repositioning and Combination Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Drug repurposing has several advantages over the development of new drugs including, shorter development times, lesser cost of development and higher success rates. In 2017, NIA established a cross-disciplinary program bringing translational bioinformatics approaches to drug repurposing and combination therapy development for Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias. The program has brought investigators with deep expertise in data science and multiscale modeling working on other chronic disorders into AD/ADRD research. Cutting edge computational methods, including artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches, have facilitated the identification of hundreds of potentially repurposable drugs. However, there remains a need for rigorous and reproducible experimental and functional data to validate the efficacy of these putative drug candidates for potential drug repurposing and combination therapy development for AD.
This concept aims to support a renewal of the funding initiative: Translational Bioinformatics Approaches to Advance Drug Repositioning and Combination Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease. The new iteration of the program will build on NIA’s investment in data-driven approaches to AD drug repurposing and combination therapy development. This concept is envisioned to expand the current efforts and focus on prioritization of drug candidates and rigorous and reproducible proof-of-concept efficacy studies in cell-based models, animal models, and mechanistic studies in humans. Computational approaches will be supported only when proposed in conjunction with experimental studies to test the efficacy of prioritized candidate drugs/drug combinations. A key aspect of this initiative will be open science practices and full transparency of reporting of data, methods and results.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Nandini Arunkumar, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience
Email Nandini Arunkumar
May 2023 Council
Approved research and development concepts in this round:
Technology to Facilitate Characterization of the Exposome in Under-Resourced Populations for AD/ADRD Studies
The exposome refers to the comprehensive set of exposures in people’s physical, chemical, social, psychological, and economic environments. In order to fully characterize the exposome, it is necessary to collect both environmental and biological samples. However, while under-resourced populations often carry the highest burden of age-related diseases, they are often precluded from research studies due to difficulties in collecting the necessary environmental and biological samples. New technologies that enable self-sampling and point-of-exposure sampling of the exposome may help lower barriers to data collection among these populations and advance NIA’s understanding of the cause of complex conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD).
This concept aims to facilitate the development of technologies that enable remote or self-sampling of exposome measures that can be combined with remote point-of-exposure measures in long-term population-based studies. These technologies will provide a powerful lens to characterize the exposome by validating measures and reducing costs to increase study inclusion of under-resourced populations.
Contracting Officer:
Karen Mahon
Office of Acquisitions, NIDA/NIA
Email Karen Mahon
Scientific/Research Contact:
Richard Kwok, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience, NIA
Email Richard Kwok
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