Illuminating AD/ADRD Genome to Enable Precision Genomic Medicine

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Institute on Aging (NIA), plans to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Illuminating AD/ADRD Genome to Enable Precision Genomic Medicine." This forthcoming opportunity is designed to support integrative, interdisciplinary projects aimed at uncovering the genomic mechanisms behind Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD). The funding initiative is part of NIH's ongoing mission to advance aging research and improve health outcomes through precision medicine. The program seeks to catalyze cross-disciplinary studies that scale up mechanistic investigations into the genomic drivers of AD/ADRD pathogenesis and progression. These studies are expected to incorporate innovative technologies and analytical approaches such as machine learning, comparative genomics, genome editing, single-cell omics, and spatial omics. Research proposals should demonstrate the use of advanced models, including human stem cell systems and in vivo models that represent diverse genetic ancestries or different neurodegenerative diseases. Emphasis will be placed on projects that leverage cross-species and cross-disease comparisons to identify actionable targets and contribute to the development of mechanism-based therapeutic strategies. The opportunity will be issued under the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism, which involves substantial NIH programmatic involvement. As this is currently a forecasted opportunity, applications are not being accepted yet. The anticipated publication of the NOFO is scheduled for August 6, 2026, with an estimated application due date of October 6, 2026. The expected project start date is July 6, 2027. The forecasted notice provides advance awareness to allow potential applicants to develop collaborative partnerships and construct competitive proposals. Eligible applicants span a wide range of entities, including institutions of higher education, non-profits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), tribal governments and organizations, small businesses, for-profit organizations, and various governmental units. Additionally, foreign institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, and regional or U.S. federal agencies are also eligible, supporting a highly inclusive applicant pool. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this opportunity. Specific award amounts, ceilings, and total funding for the program have not yet been released. Further details on application components and evaluation criteria will likely be available upon the official release of the NOFO. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov and NIH notices for updates. For further information, applicants may contact Alison Yao, Ph.D., at 301-827-7264 or via email at [email protected]. This forecast is intended to facilitate early planning and project development and to encourage robust, multidisciplinary research proposals that align with the objectives of the NIA and NIH in addressing genomic factors in neurodegenerative disease.