Research on Current Topics in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Related Dementias (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the newly added National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), has released a reissued funding opportunity titled “Research on Current Topics in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Related Dementias (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)” under funding opportunity number PAR-25-331. This initiative is designed to accelerate research relevant to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), including Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementias, Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, and Multiple Etiology Dementias. This opportunity builds on strategic priorities established in NIH-hosted AD/ADRD Research Summits and is aligned with the National Alzheimer’s Project Act's mission to prevent and treat AD/ADRD by 2025. The funding opportunity specifically invites applications for projects proposing new tests, animal models, or techniques that require preliminary data to establish broad scientific utility. The R21 mechanism allows for exploratory or developmental studies, particularly those that are novel and may lack sufficient preliminary data for R01 funding. The emphasis is on building new models and tools that advance understanding or treatment of AD/ADRD. Proposed projects may or may not include clinical trials, as participation in trials is optional under this opportunity. The funding supports both biomedical and behavioral/social science research related to aging and associated diseases. Applicants may request a combined total of up to $275,000 in direct costs for a two-year project period, with a limit of $200,000 in any one year. NIH standard due dates apply, and the earliest submission date is February 11, 2025. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time on one of the standard due dates: March 11, June 16, October 16, or February 16 annually through October 2027. The opportunity expires on November 17, 2027. The earliest possible award start date for the first cycle is December 2025. Applicants are advised to follow the NIH Application Guide closely and submit through either NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. Letters of intent are not required. Eligibility for this grant is broad and includes a wide array of public and private U.S.-based and foreign institutions. This includes public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), various local and state government entities, federally recognized and other tribal governments, as well as certain housing authorities and faith-based or community-based organizations. Foreign organizations and foreign components of U.S. institutions are also eligible to apply, provided they comply with NIH policy for foreign entities. All investigators must ensure their registrations are complete in SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. NIH registration steps can take over a month, so applicants are encouraged to begin early. Principal Investigators must also have eRA Commons IDs. If multiple PIs are proposed, a leadership plan must be included. No cost-sharing or matching is required. Each institution may submit more than one application as long as they are scientifically distinct. Evaluation of submitted proposals will be based on three major factors: significance and innovation, rigor and feasibility of the proposed approach, and the qualifications of the investigators and the research environment. Reviewers will assign an overall impact score based on these factors. Additional considerations include human subjects protection, vertebrate animal use, inclusion of minorities and underserved populations, and data management and sharing compliance. Use of NIH's Clinical Research Operations Management System (CROMS) is mandatory for applicable studies, and researchers are encouraged to use OutreachPro for recruitment planning. For questions, applicants may contact the NIA Scientific Program Contact at NIA_SciContact@nih.gov or reach the Grants Management Contact, Philip Smith, at 301-402-3465 or philip.smith2@nih.gov.

Use NIH ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace to avoid submission delays. Carefully follow formatting, eligibility, and data-sharing instructions. Leverage OutreachPro for inclusive recruitment planning.