Mechanisms of Brain Hypoperfusion in AD/ADRD (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA AG 23 014

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 23 014

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "Mechanisms of Brain Hypoperfusion in AD/ADRD (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-23-014. It uses the R01 research project grant mechanism and sits within the health funding activity category (CFDA 93.866). The central purpose of the announcement is to support research that explains why and how cerebral blood flow is reduced in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD), with an emphasis on the underlying molecular and cellular biology that drives brain hypoperfusion.

The scientific focus is on mechanistic understanding rather than testing clinical interventions in people, which is reinforced by the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation. In practice, this means applications should be built around foundational or translational research questions aimed at identifying pathways and processes that lead to reduced blood flow in the brain during AD/ADRD. Competitive projects would be expected to dig into biological mechanisms at the level of cells, tissues, and molecular signaling, for example examining how vascular cells, neurovascular unit components, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, pericyte changes, vascular remodeling, or blood-brain barrier-related processes may contribute to impaired perfusion. The intent is to clarify cause-and-effect biology that could later inform therapeutic strategies, biomarkers, or prevention approaches, but without conducting an NIH-defined clinical trial within this specific award.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common U.S. public and private applicant types, such as state, county, and municipal governments; special district governments; and independent school districts. Academic applicants may include public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education. The FOA also permits applications from tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), along with public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The nonprofit sector is eligible whether or not the organization holds 501(c)(3) status (as long as it is not an institution of higher education), and for-profit organizations are eligible as well, including small businesses and other for-profit entities (other than small businesses), plus an "Other" category that can accommodate additional qualifying organization types.

NIH also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories that reflect a strong inclusion and capacity-building emphasis. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); and tribal governments that are not federally recognized. The announcement further notes eligibility for faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility suggests NIH is aiming to draw strong mechanistic proposals from a diverse research ecosystem, including institutions and communities that are often underrepresented in major biomedical research programs.

Key administrative details available from the source data include an original closing date of 2022-07-01 and a creation date of 2022-02-22. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided fields, so applicants would normally look to the full FOA text for budget guidance, project period norms, and any institute-specific funding considerations. Overall, the opportunity is designed for research teams that can rigorously investigate the biological drivers of reduced cerebral blood flow in AD/ADRD using approaches aligned with mechanistic discovery, rather than human clinical trial designs.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanisms of Brain Hypoperfusion in AD/ADRD (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-02-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA AG 23 014

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