NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health and specifically the National Institute on Aging (NIA), has reissued a funding opportunity under the NIH Research Education Program (R25) with the title NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). This program is intended to provide intensive research experiences for recent baccalaureates in the field of Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). It is designed to expand and strengthen the workforce prepared to address the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs in AD/ADRD by equipping participants with the skills, knowledge, and mentorship needed to transition into advanced research-focused degree programs or competitive careers in the private sector. The program’s background rests on the National Plan to address Alzheimer’s Disease, which emphasizes accelerating research toward effective treatments, improving care and support, and reducing risks through promotion of brain health. NIA recognizes that workforce shortages in this field remain a significant barrier. This opportunity supports one-to-two-year structured, mentored research experiences for postbaccalaureates working primarily on independent projects in AD/ADRD and aging. Participants are required to devote nine person-months (75% effort) to research and three person-months (25% effort) to academic or professional development. This may include additional coursework, seminars, exam preparation, or participation in conferences and workshops. Mentorship, training in research rigor, and professional development activities are mandatory components. The award will fund direct costs of up to $400,000 annually for project periods up to five years. NIA intends to commit $2,000,000 in fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to support up to five new awards each year. Allowable expenses include participant salaries and fringe benefits, consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel, and limited evaluation expenses of up to $3,000 per year. Participants may receive remuneration as employees of their host institution, provided their work is essential to the research project, compensation is reasonable, and institutional policy is consistent. Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. Eligibility is open to U.S.-based higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations including small businesses, state and local governments, tribal governments, public housing authorities, independent school districts, and community-based organizations. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment with adequate staff, facilities, and resources. Program directors or principal investigators must be established researchers in relevant fields, capable of providing scientific and administrative leadership, and at least one must have an active research program in AD/ADRD. Eligible participants must be recent baccalaureates and primarily U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using ASSIST, institutional system-to-system solutions, or Workspace. A letter of intent is strongly encouraged 30 days before the application deadline. For the first cycle, applications open on April 27, 2026, with a due date of May 27, 2026. Subsequent annual deadlines are May 26, 2027, with expiration on May 27, 2027. Scientific merit reviews are scheduled for November of the submission year, followed by advisory council reviews in January, with earliest award start dates in April. Applications must conform to NIH submission rules, page limits, and must include required attachments such as advisory committee plans, program faculty biosketches, evaluation, and dissemination strategies. Applications will be reviewed according to NIH peer review criteria including significance, investigators, innovation, approach, and environment, with particular emphasis on developing the AD/ADRD workforce and supporting diversity and broad participation. Applications must include plans for instruction in research reproducibility, responsible conduct of research, and program evaluation. Program oversight, faculty mentoring, recruitment and retention strategies, and institutional support will also be assessed. Funding decisions will depend on scientific merit, program priorities, and availability of funds. Key contacts for this opportunity include Maria Carranza, Ph.D. (Scientific/Research Contact, NIATraining@mail.nih.gov), Jessi Kaufman (Grants Management, jessi.perez@nih.gov, 301-402-7739), and the Center for Scientific Review (Peer Review, NOFOReviewContact@csr.nih.gov). General application support is available through the NIH eRA Service Desk and Grants.gov. All applications are subject to NIH policy and federal regulations governing research education programs.