Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratory (P30 Clinical Trial Optional)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health and specifically the National Institute on Aging, has released a funding opportunity titled Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratory (P30 Clinical Trial Optional). This program is a reissue of RFA-AG-21-009 and carries the funding opportunity number RFA-AG-26-006. It is part of the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratories program that focuses on developing and implementing artificial intelligence and technology strategies to advance research on aging, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias. The program is designed to support innovative, cross-disciplinary collaboration across academia, nonprofit, healthcare, and other sectors to address challenges in aging and dementia care. The grant invites Center Core (P30) applications to establish Collaboratories, which are independent but cooperative centers working in conjunction with a Coordinating Center funded separately under a companion notice. Each Collaboratory must have an Administrative Core and a Research Innovation Core, with an optional Investigator-Initiated Core. The Administrative Core will provide governance, coordinate national competitions for research projects, support data sharing, and collaborate in organizing an annual symposium. The Research Innovation Core will fund and support innovative projects, with a minimum of 80 percent of its research budget dedicated to Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Optional Investigator-Initiated Cores may enhance program activities in areas such as ethics, data science, or clinical translation. The purpose of this opportunity is to create a nimble infrastructure to support AI-driven innovation that improves the health and well-being of older adults, including individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Illustrative project areas include creating machine learning-ready datasets, developing AI tools for clinical decision support, designing health monitoring technologies, and advancing computational biology and imaging analysis for aging-related conditions. Applicants must also address ethical issues such as algorithmic fairness and accessibility of AI tools to diverse populations, including those in rural or underserved areas. Projects are required to follow NIH single Institutional Review Board policies for multi-site research. Applications must be submitted electronically via NIH ASSIST or institutional submission systems and must adhere to the NIH How to Apply Application Guide with specific instructions for multi-project submissions. Each application is limited to one per institution, with only new and renewal submissions permitted. The program is limited to U.S. applicants, and international organizations are not eligible. While unfunded international collaborations are allowed, no foreign subawards or subcontracts are permitted. Eligible organizations include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, tribal governments and organizations, local governments, state governments, federal agencies, independent school districts, housing authorities, and faith-based or community organizations. Funding is anticipated to support four awards with a combined commitment of approximately $19.6 million in fiscal year 2026. Each award is capped at $4.9 million in total costs per year, with a maximum project period of five years. Applications are due by October 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. The earliest start date for funded projects is expected in July 2026 following peer review and council review processes in spring 2026. No late applications will be accepted. The notice will expire on October 16, 2025. Contacts for scientific inquiries are available through the National Institute on Aging at NIAAITC@nih.gov. Specific division contacts include Rebecca Krupenevich, Ph.D. in Behavioral and Social Research, Marcel Salive, MD, MPH in Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, Leonid Tsap, Ph.D. in Aging Biology, and Amanda DiBattista, Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Financial questions should be directed to Megan Hancock at megan.hancock@nih.gov or 301-451-9802. General application process support is available through the NIH eRA Service Desk and Grants.gov support channels. This opportunity is governed under Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act and is subject to federal regulations governing NIH awards.